The Lovely Bones

'The Lovely Bones' depicts the tragic, yet beautiful after-life journey of 14 year old Susie Salmon following her murder in a Pensylvanian suburb. During its intensely emotional start, Sebold vividly and successfully establishes Susie in her position as narrator and unseen protagonist. Swiftly but sensitively, Susie's position in 'heaven' is confirmed following her description of her own death at the hands of the local odd-ball, George Harvey. What follows is Susie's poignant observation of the events as they unfold in the hours, days and months following her disapperance. The descriptions of the interactions between Susie, her family, school friends, the authorities and her murderer and the relationships that develop are as compelling as they are, at times, uncomfortable. Each and every character is empathetically developed so as the remaining pages dwindle, you feel a real desire that they find peace and justice. I couldn't put this book down and was totally absorbed through to the end. I'm hoping the film adaptation, which is released shortly, doesn't disappoint (as is so often the case with books I love)!