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The Lovely Bones

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The Lovely Bones

By: Alice Sebold
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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About this listen

A haunting and heartbreaking novel narrated from heaven as a young girl watches over her family and killer.

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

In heaven, Susie Salmon can have whatever she wishes for – except what she most wants, which is to be back with the people she loved on earth.

In the wake of her murder, Susie watches as her happy suburban family is torn apart by grief; as her friends grow up, fall in love, and do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But as Susie will come to realize, even in death, life is not quite out of reach . . .

An astonishing novel about life and death, memory and forgetting, and finding light in the darkest places.

Alice Sebold's book inspired the Peter Jackson film, starring Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan.

'Moving and compelling . . . I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed' – Maggie O'Farrell (author of The Marriage Portrait), Sunday Telegraph

©2002 Alice Sebold (P)2002 Recorded Books LLC
Coming of Age Crime Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Suspense

Critic Reviews

Moving and compelling . . . It will put an imperceptible but stealthily insistent hold on you. I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed (Maggie O'Farrell)
Sebold has given us a fantasy-fable of great authority, charm, and daring. She's a one-of-a-kind writer (Jonathan Franzen)

What listeners say about The Lovely Bones

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  • Overall
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Heartbreaking but amazing

One of my favourite books. I read it as a teen and loved it, but I don't think I understood it fully. Now as an adult, I truly can feel the devastating heartbreak of the story. I love Susie's character, the tragic end of her life is overwhelmed by her beautiful way of viewing the world. I feel like this book captures the nostalgia of youth and makes me grateful to experience growing up. This book makes me mourn for a character that never existed, but also reflect on the tragedy of what happens to thousands of young women around the world everyday. “I wish you all a long and happy life. ”

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A must read/listen

A wonderful story of grief and beauty, I cried with sadness and happiness together. truely Lovely.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An All Time Fave

The Lovely Bones has been a favorite of mine for years and this audio book didn't disappoint. The narration was simple & easy to get lost in. Would recommend to anyone.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Unfinished storyline

I would have liked a stronger ending. It was not a complete story line for me.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent narration

An outstanding and truly moving novel, Alyssa’s narration was exceptional as she had you easily believe you were listening to the voices of the individual characters! A wonderfully diverse range of talking.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Its fine

The narrators voice starts to grate on you after a while, I had to force myself to finish. I love crime and crime fiction and although this contained a crime, it kind of wasn't in either genre.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The narrator is perfect !

I liked and enjoyed every part of this book as I mentioned the narrator is wonderful the story fantastic and captivating.

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Love, love, love

Loved everything about this book and it was beautifully narrated. I was sad when it was over.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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kind of long in parts

A good book, but it did not hold my attention all the way through. I thought it could have been a bit shorter.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of my top favourites

I admit this was a listen after I had already read the book. This is a brilliantly written book. If you come here not expecting much because of the movie please erase the film from your mind as it never did this book any justice

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