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
I loved this book! Convincingly and sensitively read, the story haunted me for three days. I had to ration my listening - the temptation to complete the story in one session was very strong indeed. Never having \"read\" the book previously, I found the storyline startlingly emotive: charged with a childlike intensity yet delivered with a calm detachment which I found at once inspiring and unnerving. This is a story which requires very little suspension of one's disbelief. Though I found some of the final sections a little \"romantic\", I cannot, in all honesty, rate this super book at fewer than 5 stars.

Lovely book!

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I first heard of this book when the recent film-version was discussed on the BBC's Front Row arts programme. The view was that the book was better and having now listened to the audio version I can see why: it's a book full of thoughts and feelings that would be difficult to depict visually. I find it hard to believe that a film could do justice to the complexity of the narrative and get over all the nuances of the writing. It's a well-written book that suits being narrated and the narrator of this version is excellent. My first impression, that this is a book aimed at teenage girls, was wrong: it has something to say to all ages as it encompasses first love, long-lasting love, marriage, loss of a loved one, the desire for revenge and the complex dynamic of family life when tragedy strikes. As it deals with rape and murder the story is harrowing at times but it is also a deeply moving and thought-provoking book that will remain in my mind for sometime.

An unusual and moving book

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A beautiful story, well told and narrated. I enjoyed the film, but the book is even better.

The Lovely Bones

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Such a beautiful story of life and death! Highly recommend to anyone who loves to get absorbed in a book.

Beautiful book

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Would you listen to The Lovely Bones again? Why?

I would definitely listen to this book again, there will be no chance of me removing it from my library. It was a touching, entertaining and exciting book. If you have seen the film...the book is better!

Did Alyssa Bresnahan do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

I think the woman reading had a relatively mono tonal voice which was a little off putting, she seemed to lack energy.

The Lovely Bones

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