The Lovely Bones
I began reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold with the expectation that I might be able to connect with Susie Salmon’s family after she was raped and murdered by her seemingly harmless neighbor, Mr. Harvey. Although I was connected, I was extremely haunted by the novel. Being a girl, I was terrified along with Susie during her rape. Being a younger sister, I understood the pain and void that would occur from the possible loss of an older sister, the same pain that Susie’ sister Lindsey felt. Although Sebold wrote an accomplished novel, I understand why many individuals would have difficulties reading this novel.
Susie Salmon was murdered, raped, and cut to pieces on December sixth, 1973 when she was just fourteen years old. Mr. Harvey had a problem that he attempted to suppress by killing animals but when Susie was walking home from school, his obsessive urge to kill overtook him. In a hole-like shelter built by Mr. Harvey in the middle of the town cornfield, Susie struggled to free herself but failed. During this violent, filthy, and descriptive scene, I found myself curled in a ball on the coach practically shaking. While I felt chills go down my spine, I wanted Susie to be safe. Although I have never personally experienced anything comparable to this, I almost felt like I was watching in on what Mr. Harvey was doing. The feeling continued throughout the entire book.
After her murder, Susie watches the effects it has on her own family from heaven. Her mother, Abigail Salmon, feels so lost that she cannot deal with living in the town Susie grew up in without her. She has an affair with the investigator Len Fenerman whose working on Susie’s case. Lindsey Salmons attempts to cope being the “murdered girl’s sister,” and tries to be her own person. Susie’s father is determined that Mr. Harvey is Susie’s killer and practically goes mad trying to prove it. Susie’s younger brother, Buckley, continues to ask where his big sister is, too young to comprehend what is going on. As Susie watches this from heaven she wishes that she could help her family cope and catch Mr. Harvey but is unable to. Instead, she has to learn to let go of life on earth.
Throughout the entire novel, I was hoping that Mr. Harvey would be caught and sent to jail for his crimes, and that Susie’s family could come to terms with what happened and move forward with their lives. I had hoped that good would conquer evil. However, Mr. Harvey is impaled by an icicle and dies before he is caught. Susie’s family is torn apart. Abigail abandons her family for roughly eight years. Her father turns to drinking and isn’t emotionally strong enough to raise Buckley and Lindsey. I had hoped for a happy ending, instead I received glimpses of happiness; Lindsey and her husband, Samuel, have a baby named Abigail Suzanne is Susie’s honor. Abigail returns and the family begins to piece itself back together. Despite the glimmers of happiness and the reforming of a family, I would recommend Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones but caution any reader that it takes courage and persistence to read. (539)
Sarah, I agree with your final statement that the novel has its rewards but that it involves a bit of hard work and emotional courage to get to that point. I also liked the way you described your identification with Lindsey, a character whose growth I very much enjoyed as I read. Thanks for your good thoughts.
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