The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, was a more difficult read for me than Jemima J. I had begun reading this book shortly after it was published and didn't make it through. The first couple of chapters were hard for me. Two of my kids are teens, one female, and it wasn't something I wanted to read for pleasure. I was glad to see Bones on our required list because it forced me to complete it. It was easier this time. Something interesting, two recent books I just read dealt with mothers that leave their families. All of the mother characters felt like they were never meant to be moms in the first place and that it was their "right" to "find" themselves, leaving the husband to raise the kids and handle all household activities. I was surprised of this. I find that selfish and unjust. As parents, we all need a break now and then but we aren't "entitled" to weeks and months of finding ourselves. I also thought it was interesting that George Harvey's mother left him as a child. I think that child abuse/neglect is pretty common in the early lives of serial killers.
The relationships between the characters were interesting to see unravel or become tighter through Susie's eyes. The book being narrated by the murder victim was engaging, she actually sees her death and has to watch as each member of her family deals with their grief in their own way. It wasn't surprising to me that Susie's family fell apart. You did feel for Susie though as she watched her family now and then shared "before" memories with the reader. Susie gets to experience things that upon Earth she would not be privy too. I didn't get an angry vibe from the narrator, in fact I thought she became curious and entertained by the actions of her friends and family. I also didn't get the feeling that she had reached the real heaven yet. I felt like she was in an in-between place and would only make it to heaven when she was satisfied that her family was going to be okay and she could let go. When Susie was able to let go, her family could move on: "When the dead are done with the living," Franny said to me, "the living can go on to other things." (pg. 145) As the reader, it was comforting to me when Susie was able to meet other victims, and especially when she was reunited with Holiday.
The relationship with Susie and Ruth was curious to me. I wonder if Susie's spirit needed to brush by a living soul or just happened to brush Ruth in it's hurry to ascend. If the spirit needed to touch a living person, was Ruth chosen? Ruth appears to be a perfect choice. She is steadfast in her belief and desire to help Susie. Are her troubled mind and visions a blessing or a curse? Is it because of the touch that she builds a meaningful relationship with Ray? I think so. Susie falling from the heavens was a surprise to me. Their brief trading of places was enjoyable to read. I cheered for Ruth as she was showered with rose petals by the women in heaven. The encounter between Ray and Susie was touching and emtional, and I hoped that Buckly was going to be able to hear her sister on the other end of the phone. I enjoyed the book and was really glad to have picked it up and finished it this time. I think I would enjoy reading another Alice Sebold story.
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Your comment about the mothers leaving is intersting because I began to think that what if the mother's feel the need to leave once something so horrible happens because they feel like it's their duty to always protect their children and know when they need help. In this situation there was nothing Susie's mother could do to get her back.
I strongly agree with your point about mothers who feel they are entitled to leave for a better, more fulfilling live or to find themselves; it is very selfish of them. Why can't they wait a few more years until the children have left home? As parents have kids, I think they should have an unwritten contract to put the kids' interests above their own.
I cheered when Susie was able to fall to Earth and have the interlude with Ray. I was happy that she able to havethat sort of coming of age experience that Harvey had so bruttally taken from her. Not only was that instrumental in her growth and being able to let go of life on Earth, it was just! She had only had one experience sexually and that was horrific and violent. She was able to connect with her only "love" and share herself with him by choice. It was a wonderful part of the novel.
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