Category: Community

The New Classics: The Lovely Bones

On August 4, 2010, In Award Winners, Courting the Classics, Projects, Workshop, by Admin

The Lovely Bones Review

Review by Shantelle

For years I had been meaning to read Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, and for years a friend of mine had been raving about how amazing it was and how I absolutely had to read it. I would keep saying, “Yeah, I’m getting to it!” and would then forget all about it until she mentioned it again.

When the film came out in late 2009, I was adamant that I wasn’t going to see it until I had read the book. The film had been out for a few weeks, and still I had not even looked for a copy of the novel, let alone got my hands on one, so the same friend who had been raving endlessly about it decided to intervene and buy me my own personal copy for my birthday in January. I’m now kicking myself for not having read it sooner–it was so amazing that I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.

The Lovely Bones is unlike any other story I have ever read. I’m not just saying that to try and convince you to read it, either. It truly is a remarkable piece of literature that is a heck of a lot more interesting to read than some of the novels that I was tortured with in high school English class. If this had been on my set reading list, I would have found writing essays far more enjoyable, I think.

The story is seen through the eyes of Susie Salmon, who, murdered at fourteen, tells the reader the story of her murder and the events that follow from inside her personal heaven. This is one of the interesting aspects of the story–Susie’s location. She describes with great detail her surroundings–her version of heaven–and the people whose heavens cross at points with hers. As the narrator of the story, Susie gives the reader an insight into a type of afterlife that some may not have thought of before, especially with her ability to see everything happening to the people she knows back down on Earth.

What intrigues me the most about this story is the way it’s told–it’s not your typical murder mystery where the whole story is focused on finding out who the murderer is and how it came about. In The Lovely Bones you find all that out in the first chapter. You start off knowing the who, what, when, where, and how of the story, and discover the why throughout the remainder. The suspense the reader feels while reading the story is all to do with what happens to the murderer following the crime, and what the victim’s family is going through in the aftermath, as well as what happens to the victim in the afterlife.

Although the story is told in first person from Susie’s point of view, the characterization is not just limited to her. Through Susie’s narration, Alice Sebold has created some extremely strong characters in the Salmon family, Susie’s friends, and in Mr. Harvey. One of the ways she does this is through flashbacks and memories, which is very effective in not only building the characters, but also unraveling the whys in the tale.

Many events happen in the story, some of which lead you to believe you know how it’s going to end. Trust me; you don’t (unless someone’s already spoiled it for you). When I first finished the novel, I thought I was missing part of the story. I couldn’t believe it had ended how it did. My initial thoughts were, “Oh, my gosh! No! That can’t be it!” Actually, that’s not quite what I thought, but if I told you what really went through my mind after finishing the story, I would give away the ending. And I don’t wish to do that on the odd chance that some of you reading this may not have read the book or seen the film yet.

In all honesty though, once I had got over the initial shock and disappointment of how it ended, I actually really appreciated it. Alice Sebold has left us with an open-ended tale of sadness, heartbreak, the importance of family, and adventures in heaven to ponder, allowing us to create our own ending in our minds. It may not have been the outcome I was hoping for, but it sure did leave me thinking! And that’s what a good book should do; it should leave your mind reeling with questions and thoughts about different aspects of the story.

The Lovely Bones is a novel that I think everyone should read at least once in their life, and although it’s a modern piece of literature, I truly do believe it deserves its place in the list of classics. Alice Sebold has written a moving and emotion-filled masterpiece that will forever hold a place on my bookshelf. Never again will I put off reading a novel that someone so mercilessly praises.

Alice Sebold is an American author who has written three books. She won the Bram Stoker Award for First Novel in 2002 and the American Booksellers Association Awarded her Book of the Year for Adult Fiction in 2003.

Shantelle is an Australian Childcare Assistant who feels most at home under the bright lights of the theatrical stage. Although performing is her first love and passion, writing and reading come a close second. She is currently taking her time writing her first novel and volunteers with Fictionista Workshop in her (not-so) spare time. She also maintains a personal writing blog, click here to view.

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July 2010 Award Winners

On August 1, 2010, In Award Winners, Monthly Awards, by Admin

Congratulations to our July 2010 Winners!

Each month, Fictionista Workshop recognizes writers, editors, and participants who contribute above and beyond what is expected of an online community. The scope of these awards includes both creative original fiction and derivative fiction. We encourage you to nominate special community members in these categories for the recognition they deserve.

Click here to nominate your choices! (Note: Nominations for the current month are due on the last date of that month. Otherwise, please nominate for the following month.)

Writer of the Month—Carol Hoenig

Editor of the Month—CandyTwi

Participant of the Month—Jules

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Past Winners

June 2010 Award Winners

May 2010 Award Winners

April 2010 Award Winners

March 2010 Award Winners

February 2010 Award Winners

January 2010 Award Winners

December 2009 Award Winners

June 2010 Award Winners

On July 19, 2010, In Award Winners, Monthly Awards, by Admin

Congratulations to our June 2010 Winners!

Each month, Fictionista Workshop recognizes writers, editors, and participants who contribute above and beyond what is expected of an online community. The scope of these awards includes both creative original fiction and derivative fiction. We encourage you to nominate special community members in these categories for the recognition they deserve.

Click here to nominate your choices! (Note: Nominations for the current month are due on the last date of that month. Otherwise, please nominate for the following month.)

Writer of the Month—ChampagneAnyone

Editor of the Month—Lindz

Participant of the Month—Bonnie

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Past Winners