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.

Interested in reviewing?

If you would like to share your love of literature or discover the new classics, sign up today to court the classics and enjoy post-modern Western literature with us! If there’s a new classic you want to see reviewed, email us at fictionistawksp@gmail.com.

People who enjoy the online writing and reading communities are eager for creative opportunities in which they can interact with others, for a variety of reasons. Writing can be a lonely process, whether done in private or with others; having a ready pool of other writers, editors, and readers available for immediate discussion and feedback when needed can be extraordinarily helpful.

We believe there is a true need for education, development, and resources that transcend the unfortunate and inaccurate stigma often given to the derivative fiction genre and enable writers to move into the writing process with confidence based on their education and experience.

We’re a thriving, supportive non-profit community of writers, editors, and readers, hoping to assist the greater online writing community through various projects and programs. As a volunteer-run organization, Fictionista Workshop is grateful for the overwhelming support the online writing, reading and editing community has given us. We are dedicated to rewarding your support by bringing you a community for you, by you.

As a republic and not an empire, we seek to do something truly different for our members and volunteers, building an environment that fosters creative license and professionalism, free speech and civil discussion, and accountability for all parties. In March, we expanded our team to include hundreds of volunteers from nations such as Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States!

Fall 2010 Program Directory

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Fictionista Workshop

This workshop has begun accepting applications June 15, 2010-July 15, 2010. We are looking for writers of novella-length creative original and derivative fiction, editors, critique participants, and moderators.

Participants

Participants are readers, observers, and constructive critics, offering detailed feedback in formats appropriate for the workshop setting, as well as support and encouragement. They are a crucial, integrated part of the workshop and forum activity. Interested? Apply here.

Editors

Editors review, rewrite, and edit the work of writers, offer comments as needed to improve the work. An editor’s primary responsibility is to readers, writers, and workshop participants (in that order); this means that they will base their decisions on the needs and interests of these constituents. Apply here.

Moderators

The forum moderator manages and directs operations of one or more individual forums (writing projects) on Fictionista Workshop. This role is critical to the success of a given project, essentially functioning as a workshop leader and project manager in addition to performing more traditional duties of a forum moderator, such as resolving disagreements and maintaining discussion threads. Apply here.

Writer

Authors are an integral part of the workshop as a whole, and are key to the success of the workshop and publishing process. Working with other authors, both established and new, all aiming for personal success and giving credibility to a proven process. Without author participation, the workshop would be non-existent. Author feedback and participation is critical for completion of their own product and offering assistance and ideas in other parts of the workshop. Apply here.

Questions about the Workshop?

• The Workshop—General Questions
• The Workshop—Writer Questions
• The Workshop—Participant Questions
• Notes on Workshop Policy

For more information, visit the forums thread for FAQ and say hello!

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Summer 2010 - Fall 2010 Community Projects

Community Award Recognition

Nominate your valued reader, writer or editor anonymously. Selections are chosen based on your submissions, so tell us what you think! We’re looking to thank special people and need your help to do so.

NOTE: Nominations for the current month are due on the last date of that month. Check out the nomination forms and recommend your muse, favorite reader or editing master!

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Fictionista Workshop Forums

Our forums are now open to those in the workshop and to the community at large. Though we’re just getting started, we hope you will jump right in and make a post. This is your community and your fellow writers, editors and readers want to hear from you! Register and start a conversation, express yourself, or ask a question.

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Fictionista Press

Critique Series by Fictionista Workshop’s Story Scouts

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Fictionista Workshop Classroom

No longer do writers have to sit in a lecture hall to learn the finer points of writing. With modern technology and Fictionista Workshop’s collaborative approach, writers can have access to a classroom on their computer, complete with interactive discussions, writing exercises, story examples, helpful articles, and support from a group of like-minded individuals. In Fictionista Workshop’s new twelve-week program, a group of writers will meet on a weekly basis with a moderator who will guide the activities and discussions. Each meeting will cover a different topic, such as point of view, writer’s block, self-editing, or dialogue.

Each writer will come to the meeting having read story examples and articles related to the topic of the week, then will work on a relevant writing exercise in the group setting. Through this method, Fictionista Workshop aims to bring the writing classroom directly to you, starting this June!

Applications for this round are now closed, but will re-open in Fall 2010.

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Anthology Collections

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WitFit

Prompts begin on the 1st of each month and are delivered to each individual daily. There are five days of single word and another varied prompt each week and one day of reflection. Check out the WitFit Rules and Guidelines for more information and register to quick start your writing!

Monthly Registration

Registration closes on the 5th of every month, however you can register  for the following month at any time.

Exit Interview

Your feedback will help us improve and/or show us what we’re doing right! Thank you for taking a moment to complete this survey. Take the Interview.

Prompts and Submissions

December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010

NOTE: Beginning this month, we will be releasing one prompt each day until the month is over, instead of posting them all in advance.

NOTE: We have many writers who are participating in the WitFit challenge who do not post their work publicly, so for those who wish to do so (we encourage this!), Twitter is a major place our WitFit participants gather. You can include @fictionistawksp in your “tweets” about the WitFit challenge, as well as use the #witfitdailyTwitter hashtag when posting, tweeting or discussing your entry over Twitter.

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Participant Position - Applications Open to July 15th, 2010

Updated: April 3rd, 2010

Fictionista Workshop participants are readers, observers, and constructive critics, offering detailed feedback in formats appropriate for the workshop setting, as well as support and encouragement. They are a crucial, integrated part of the workshop and forum activity.

There are two types of participants, depending on whether a workshop forum is open or closed. Open forums have read-only access to open workshops registered users, while active users can read and post. Closed forums are comprised of only active users, who play a role in the creative process of the workshop. Participants must remain active in order to continue participating in the forum.

There are two categories of participants in each workshop:

• Writer Recommended
• Fictionista Workshop Participants

All positions, regardless of whether the participant is recommended by the writer for that writer’s specific workshop, or whether the participant was chosen directly by Fictionista Workshop moderators for that specific workshop, are subject to approval and required to complete the application below.

Application Guidelines

• The current workshop is in session and applications at this time are placed in queue for the Summer 2010-Fall 2010 workshop. This application must be completely filled out and submitted by the assigned deadline, which is by midnight CDT, July 15th, 2010.
• All participants will be contacted and notified of the status of their application being received by the aforementioned deadline. See calendar for details.
• Any changes made to this application must be submitted in writing to the administration team no later than 24 hours after the deadline has closed.
• No modifications will be accepted after that time.
• Apply for only one workshop position at a time.

The participant application includes the following:

I. Introduction

First and last name as well as contact information is required. DO NOT ENTER YOUR COMMUNITY PENNAME.

II. Application Process

A. Workshop History and Critique Style

11 questions

Note: This section is meant to include ALL of your experience, including with professional, academic, and recreational reading, and critical thinking. Please feel free to tell us about yourself when answering.

B. Your Reading Style

14 questions

C. Community Presence

8 questions

Note: If you are new to any type of community membership in general, please provide the answers as best you can. We are looking for the best fit for our workshop, not the most established community contributors.

D. Character Reference

Participant Application

Questions, comments, concerns? Contact the Fictionista Workshop administration team.

Copyright © 2009 Fictionista Workshop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Moderator Position - Applications Open to July 15th, 2010

Updated: April 3rd, 2010

The forum moderator manages and directs operations of one or more individual forums (writing projects) on Fictionista Workshop. This role is critical to the success of a given project, essentially functioning as a workshop leader and project manager in addition to performing more traditional duties of a forum moderator, such as resolving disagreements and maintaining discussion threads.

Application Guidelines

• The current workshop is in session and applications at this time are placed in queue for the Summer 2010-Fall 2010 workshop. This application must be completely filled out and submitted by the assigned deadline, which is by midnight CDT, July 15th, 2010.
• All participants will be contacted and notified of the status of their application being received by the aforementioned deadline. For more information, see the Calendar.
• Any changes made to this application must be submitted in writing to the administration team no later than 24 hours after the deadline has closed.
• No modifications will be accepted after that time.
• Apply for only one workshop position at a time.

I. Expectations of an Ideal Candidate

• As a forum moderator, you will facilitate the process in a public forum.
• Moderators will be working with administrators, authors, editors, and registered participants and must maintain strong, friendly, and professional relationships.
• Acquire skills in website management to assist Administrator in keeping forum topics organized.
• Moderators are discussion leaders and will occasionally need to encourage workshop members to focus on specific elements of craft and story concepts of character/plot, directing them toward the desired goal for the workshop.
• Modeling the critical process for the other workshop members is as important as the critique itself.
• Moderators should be perceptive individuals and have a good understanding of how various issues can affect others when directing the outcome of a situation.
• Anything requiring personal attention (ex. negativity expressed to another participant and/or moderator/author, abuse of thread, disregard of workshop rules, etc.) will be handled tactfully by initial contact via PM.

II. Application Process

A. Moderating History

5 questions

Note: This section is meant to include ALL of your experience, including with professional, academic, and recreational moderation. Please feel free to tell us about yourself when answering.

B. Your Communication Style

7 questions

C. Community Presence

8 questions

Note: If you are new to any type of community membership in general, please provide the answers as best you can. We are looking for the best fit for our workshop, not the most established community contributors.

D. Character Reference

Moderator Application

Questions, comments, concerns? Contact the Fictionista Workshop administration team.

Copyright © 2009 Fictionista Workshop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Editor Position - Applications Open to July 15th, 2010

Updated: April 3rd, 2010

Fictionista Workshop editors work closely with writers and readers in the workshop environment, reviewing, analyzing, redacting, and sometimes even rewriting the work of writers.

There are two kinds of editors in the workshop: story editors and copy editors. Story editors look for plausibility in the work as a whole, evaluating plot, storyline, and character development, developing the material and clarifying ambiguities. They evaluate the manuscript and challenge the writer when they find faulty logic, inconsistencies, and vagueness. They also may rewrite, cut, clarify, and format the work as needed. Copy editors proofread a writer’s work, but also address stylistic issues to a limited degree, pointing out problems but not reworking them. Because of the nature of these different types of editors, workshop projects will be assigned at least one story editor and as many as two copy editors.

Key Qualities/Ethics/Code of Conduct

For our purposes, a good editor:

• Understands and is sympathetic to the challenges writers face.
• Recognizes and appreciates literary talent, and acts to foster and support it.
• Open to many different styles of writing; treats them all respectfully.
• Confident and secure in their judgment without imposing their own style on a writer.
• Accepts that writers have final say on their own work, even when it goes against their editorial opinion.
• Trustworthy; acts to protect the copyright and distribution of a writer’s work.
• Has the moral and mental strength needed to resist pressure to create work aimed at earning a writer popularity and fitting in with community trends; protects the quality and integrity of the work.
• Advocates for the needs of readers, even over the needs of publishers, agents, and sometimes writers themselves.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and resourceful in helping authors to discover the truth, purpose, and meaning in their writing.
• Has great reserves of patience and tact; understands the difference between constructive criticism and negativity, opinion and fact, attending to the ways that their comments can affect a writer, their confidence, and quality of work.
• Has the kind of character and generosity required to lend their time, energy, and all of their own creativity to projects for which they might never be recognized.
• Supports writers through all the advantages and pitfalls of writing, including writer’s block, bad reviews, negativity from community members, popularity issues, and marketing ideas.
• Likes writers and enjoys working with them.

Application Guidelines

• This application is ONLY for the workshop.
• The current workshop is in session and applications at this time are placed in queue for the Summer 2010-Fall 2010 workshop. This application must be completely filled out and submitted by the assigned deadline, which is by midnight CDT, July, 15th, 2010.
• All participants will be contacted and notified of the status of their application being received by the aforementioned deadline. For more information, see the Calendar.
• Any changes made to this application must be submitted in writing to the administration team no later than 24 hours after the deadline has closed.
• No modifications will be accepted after that time.
• Apply for only one workshop position at a time.

The editor application includes the following items:

I. Introduction

First and last name and contact information are required. DO NOT ENTER YOUR COMMUNITY PENNAME.

II. Application Process

A. Philosophy of Editing

11 questions

B. Workshop Experience

3 questions

Note: This section is meant to include ALL of your experience, including with professional, academic, and recreational reading and critical thinking. Please feel free to tell us about yourself when answering.

C. Editing and Writing Style and Experience

10 questions

D. Community Presence

9 questions

Note: If you are new to any type of community membership in general, please provide the answers as best you can. We are looking for the best fit for our workshop, not the most established community contributors.

E. Character Reference

III. Editing Test

Within 24 hours after we receive your application, FW will send you an editing test via email for completion and return within 72 hours. Any application for which a completed editing test is not submitted will not be considered.

Editor Application

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Questions, comments, concerns? Contact the Fictionista Workshop administration team.

Copyright © 2010 Fictionista Workshop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Writer Position - Applications Open to July 15th, 2010

Updated: April 3rd, 2010

The Fictionista Workshop writer is an integral part of the workshop as a whole. Writers are key to the success of the workshop and publishing process. Working with other writers, both established and new, all aiming for personal success and giving credibility to a proven process. Without writer participation, the workshop would be non-existent. Writer feedback and participation is critical for completion of their own product and offering assistance and ideas in other parts of the workshop.

Writers produce storyboarding and outlines, work with editor(s) to write and rewrite their story into a final product ready for publishing. They participate in the writing workshop under a set timeframe, keep a schedule of their progress, participate on forums, and interact with readers and moderators.

In order to be considered for the Fictionista Workshop environment, all writers must submit both an application and a manuscript by midnight CDT July 15th, 2010.

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

• The workshop is for works-in-progress and completed stories, though we encourage only creative original stories for the workshop environment.
• In order to be considered for the workshop, all writers must guarantee no plagiarism under contract and provide history of published work, if applicable. The “manuscript” consists of a full story outline and one (1) edited chapter submitted to Fictionista. Submissions@gmail.com.
• Writers with existing stories must submit their completed story in an MS Word (2003 or 2007) document.
• Submissions must be in 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Please review Terms and Conditions of Manuscript Submission under the Terms of Service prior to submission.

Application Guidelines

• This application is for the workshop ONLY. If you wish to submit to our short-story projects, please locate the Ambrosia Series or the Menagerie Series.
• The current workshop is in session and applications at this time are placed in queue for the Summer 2010-Fall 2010 workshop. This application must be completely filled out and submitted by the assigned deadline, which is by midnight CDT, July 17th, 2010.
• All participants will be contacted and notified of the status of their application being received by the aforementioned deadline. For more information, see the Calendar.
• Any changes made to this application must be submitted in writing to the administration team no later than 24 hours after the deadline has closed.
• No modifications will be accepted after that time.
• Apply for only one workshop position at a time.

The writer application includes the following:

I. Introduction

First and last name as well as contact information is required. DO NOT ENTER YOUR COMMUNITY PENNAME.

II. Application Process

A(1). Writing History for published writers (all genres, creative original and derivative)

2 questions

A(2). Writing History for new writers

3 questions

Note: This section is meant to include ALL of your experience, including with professional, academic, and recreational reading and critical thinking. Please feel free to tell us about yourself when answering.

B. Workshop Experience

5 questions

C. Your Writing Style

10 questions

D. Community Presence

9 questions

Note: If you are new to any type of community membership in general, please provide the answers as best you can. We are looking for the best fit for our workshop, not the most established community contributors.

E. Character Reference

Writer Application

Questions, comments, concerns? Contact the Fictionista Workshop administration team.

Copyright © 2009 Fictionista Workshop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.