The Lovely Bones cover art

The Lovely Bones

the inspiration for the blockbuster film starring Saoirse Ronan

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The Lovely Bones

By: Alice Sebold
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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About this listen

A haunting and heartbreaking novel narrated from heaven as a young girl watches over her family and killer.

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

In heaven, Susie Salmon can have whatever she wishes for – except what she most wants, which is to be back with the people she loved on earth.

In the wake of her murder, Susie watches as her happy suburban family is torn apart by grief; as her friends grow up, fall in love, and do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But as Susie will come to realize, even in death, life is not quite out of reach . . .

An astonishing novel about life and death, memory and forgetting, and finding light in the darkest places.

Alice Sebold's book inspired the Peter Jackson film, starring Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan.

'Moving and compelling . . . I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed' – Maggie O'Farrell (author of The Marriage Portrait), Sunday Telegraph

 Coming of Age Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Crime Suspense Heartfelt Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

Moving and compelling . . . It will put an imperceptible but stealthily insistent hold on you. I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed (Maggie O'Farrell)
Spare, beautiful and brutal prose . . . The Lovely Bones is compulsive enough to read in a single sitting, brilliantly intelligent, elegantly constructed and ultimately intriguing
Takes the stuff of terrible tragedy and transforms it into something hopeful and redemptive
[Sebold] has created a novel that is painfully fine and accomplished, one which readers will have their own difficulties relinquishing, long after the last page is turned
A chilling juxtaposition of innocence against evil
Sebold has given us a fantasy-fable of great authority, charm, and daring. She's a one-of-a-kind writer (Jonathan Franzen)
All stars
Most relevant
One of the best audiobooks I've listened to in a long time...and i've listened to hundreds. A haunting yet beautiful story superbly narrated...

I'm a couple of hours left to go and savouring every second.

If you're reading this don't even hesitate to download.

C

I'm hooked....

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The book so very different to what I expected. I expected it to be sad and full of sorrow, as it told the murder of a young girl. I was mistaken.It was truly wonderful how the author told the 'dead' years of a pre pubescant girl, who was robbed of her fruitful years of love for her family, and first boyfriend. But the joy it lead onto, to conclude and wholly complete the story. I wept, talked back, and laughed throughout the story. What a joy, thank you Alice Sebold.

breathtaking

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Great book but reader has a really annoying voice.

Lovely Bones

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Im so annoyed at the way the this book ends but I suppose it’s the way of life. I loved this book from start to finish. The way it was told was like a spell being cast and the effect was that it made you imagine the story in high definition.

Beautifully told

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lovely book beautiful, sad and different.
Definitely recommend, for an interesting read.
Good voice acting by Alyssa Bresnahan.

beautiful and sad

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