*Bookray* the Lovely Bones: A Novel

by Alice Sebold | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0316666343 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Marina1809 on 6/1/2003
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16 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Marina1809 at Café Persee in Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, June 1, 2003
Release planned for Saturday, June 28, 2003 at Cafe Persee in Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands.

Journal Entry 2 by Marina1809 on Sunday, June 1, 2003
Bought this book whilst in the States, thought it was something other than it is....can't stand reading 1st person books, was well written, but disappointing.

Journal Entry 3 by biba89 from Olst, Overijssel Netherlands on Thursday, June 12, 2003
Serendipity, that's what this is all about. When establishing a new Official Bookcrossing zone, we were joined by another bookcrosser who added this copy to the zone. I was the first who grabbed for it! I have started reading right away, into the night and to the following morning, until I was late for work. It is fascinating and at least half of what they're saying about this book is true. I will add more when I have finished and then it will go to Willemijn.
..and, now finished, I might add that ittouched my heart.

Released on Monday, June 16, 2003 at Op bureau collega in Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands.

right before it goes to Willemijn, I am releasing this gem to my colleague and fellow bookcrosser zusenzo. I hope she will enjoy it!

Journal Entry 5 by zusenzo from Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Geweldig boek!
In een adem uit gelezen. 't Kost je je nachtrust, maar dan heb je ook wat.
Na deze tussenstop gaat het boek nu echt naar Willemijn.

Journal Entry 6 by zusenzo at kantoor Jane Goodall Instituut in Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Released on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 at kantoor Jane Goodall Instituut in Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands.

Na een spontane ontmoeting met een raam ertussen en een korte gezamelijke wandeling heb ik het boek doorgegeven aan Willemijn.

Journal Entry 7 by Willemijn from Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Wednesday, July 9, 2003
After reading "Lucky" by Alice Sebold, which I thought a heartbreaking book, I'm very anxious to find out about "the Lovely Bones".
As soon as I've finished it I will make it a Bookray.
Persons allready interested:
Yvonnep
Jgralike
Dutch_flybaby
Owlet
Axelp
Marlene-TC
Suzy26
Leentje

and then it is to be released again. To you?

P.S. Because of journals written in Dutch, this bookray is limited to Dutch reading and/or writing bookcrossers.

Journal Entry 8 by Willemijn from Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Friday, July 11, 2003
Een heel bijzonder boek. De veertienjarige Susan Salmon wordt vermoord. Vanuit de hemel ziet zij toe hoe het leven verder gaat. Hoe vergaat het haar ouders, haar zusje, haar broertje, haar vrienden, haar moordenaar? De ik-persoon is Susie, die zich als ziel vrij kan verplaatsen en dus alles ziend, alwetend is.
Contact maken met de levenden kan ze niet, maar toch weer wel. Vaak voelen haar nabestaanden haar aanwezigheid, zoeken die op in die momenten van rouw die eenzaamheid vraagt, in herinneringen, op bekende plaatsen.
"Life's a bitch and then you die" - hoe luchtig we ook vaak in grapjes over de dood doen, het eeuwige afscheid nemen grijpt toch altijd diep in. En zeker als het zo plotseling en zo gewelddadig is. Het lichaam van Susie wordt nooit gevonden, een extra bron van ellende.
Nog jaren en jaren houdt Susie alles nauwlettend in de gaten, begaan als ze blijft met het lot van haar zo dierbaren. Langzaam, heel langzaam, verschuift de herinnering aan haar. Van overal en altijd, via vaak, naar soms, naar op heel bijzondere momenten. Dan is voor haar ook de tijd gekomen om vrede te hebben met haar dood. Of brei ik nu ten onrechte een conclusie aan een verhaal wat zo prachtig zoekend is, zo vol hoop?

P.S. Ik ga er nu een bookray van maken. Misschien doe ik wel iets heel ondeugends. Als de boekhandel ter stede een paperback-uitgave heeft schaf ik die aan om verder te verspreiden. Dat spaart een hoop porto en ongemak (te dik voor de brievenbus, die hardback) en dan kan ik nog iets heel moois doen met deze uitgave. Even bewaren op de plank en straks nog een keer lezen misschien?

Release planned for Saturday, July 12, 2003 at at request to a fellow bookcrosser in Amsterdam, Noord Holland Netherlands.

De bookray voor The Lovely Bones is gestart. Ik ben de vierde journaler en heb besloten het nu een officiële bookray te maken.
De volgende mensen staan inmiddels op de lijst van geinteresseerden:
Yvonnep
Jgralike
Dutch-flybaby
Owlet

P.S. Ik heb een nieuw exemplaar gekocht.Wel het 'oude' nummer overgenomen. Niet alleen is dit veel lichter (ruim 150 i.p.v. 450 gram, deze paperback moet ook door de brievenbus passen :-)) Ik zal het origineel t.z.t. opnieuw nummeren en loslaten.
Deze mooi blurb staat wel op de hardcover, maar niet op de paperback (daar staan ook heel veel en mooie aanbevelingen) en wil ik jullie niet onthouden:
"The Lovely Bones is the kind of novel that, once you're done, you may go visit while wandering through a bookstore and touch on the binding, just to remember the emotions you felt while reading it."

P.P.S. En toen was ik opeens op vakantie en had ik het adres van yvonnep nog niet. Nu wel, dus gelijk opgestuurd (26/7).

Journal Entry 10 by yvonnep from Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, July 28, 2003
The Lovely Bones just arrived... of course with another bookringbook...:-) I'll read as fast as I can without losing the content and feel of the book.

Journal Entry 11 by yvonnep from Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, August 2, 2003
O.K. - I couldn't stop reading, but when finished I wondered what I read. And whether it would make a lasting impression. I don't think so. The Lovely Bones is compelling, but it's also very elaborate. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I read it, but it's just another bestseller - a good story to pass the time. Thinking things like this I always get a bit selfconscious: am I arrogant? So I searched the internet what critics thought of the book. The good old Guardian puts my hesitations in the right perspective. I found an article by Philip Hensher of the Observer that pretty much described my feelings. Nevertheless, it was nice reading, though the book won't make it to my everlasting top ten and Sebold won't become one of my favourite authors.

I will give the book to Jgralike, next in the bookring, on the Deverter Bookmarket this sunday.

Journal Entry 12 by jgralike from Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, August 3, 2003
tbr!

Journal Entry 13 by jgralike from Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Friday, September 26, 2003
Een bijzonder (en) vreemd boek.
Een meisje wordt vermoord, er wordt vrijwel niets van haar teruggevonden. Een jongen van school is een van de verdachten, een buurman ook. Wij weten wie het gedaan heeft, want dat heeft Susie, het vermoorde meisje, duidelijk beschreven.
Door haar ogen zien we hoe het leven verdergaat, bij haar familie en vrienden op aarde en bij haarzelf in haar heel persoonlijke versie van het paradijs.
Aan het eind maakt het verhaal een heel onverwachte draai, als Susie opeens niet meer alleen toekijkt, maar in een wel heel actieve vorm deel gaat nemen aan de relatie tussen haar vroegere vriendje en haar vriendin. Die twee weten ook opeens dat zij er is, terwijl daarvoor wel steeds over haar wordt gesproken als er weer eens een briesje langs iemand strijkt, maar ze nooit echt aanwezig lijkt.
Uiteindelijk lijkt ze toch afscheid te nemen van de levenden, maar daar gaan heel veel aardse jaren mee heen.

Journal Entry 14 by dutch-flybabe from Lent (gem. Nijmegen), Gelderland Netherlands on Tuesday, October 28, 2003
I found this book in my mailbox today. Thanks jgralike!
It may a while to get to it, because I already have another bookring-book waiting to be read after the book I'm currently reading. I'm doing my best, but I'm a bit of a slow reader at the moment.

Journal Entry 15 by dutch-flybabe from Lent (gem. Nijmegen), Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, January 11, 2004
I have not had much time to read, so I read the book a little piece at a time.
The book is nice, easyreading, not urging me to pick it up at every available moment. I had no expectations about this book, so no disappointment there. I found it curious to read a story told by a girl in heaven and interesting to 'know that there's a place for me to go after dying'.
I will try to pass this book on to the next reader on the list at the next bookcrossingmeeting Februay 11th.

Journal Entry 16 by dutch-flybabe from Lent (gem. Nijmegen), Gelderland Netherlands on Saturday, January 17, 2004
The book is all wrapped up (watertight since it has been raining soo much) and ready to be mailed to Owlet.

Released on Sunday, January 18, 2004 at A mailbox near my home in Ede, Gelderland Controlled Releases.

My dh has mailed this book for me today. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 18 by owlet from Maastricht, Limburg Netherlands on Tuesday, January 20, 2004
The Lovely Bones arrived today, all wrapped up (I had to be very careful not to cut the book in half...). I have NO idea when I'll find the time to read it, since I have almost all my bookring books on my to-be-read-pile, but I'll get around it as soon as possible!
I read about the book in Time Magazine a while ago and have been very curious about it since.

Journal Entry 19 by owlet from Maastricht, Limburg Netherlands on Saturday, March 13, 2004
I really liked this book. At first I thought it would be too "sentimental" or "emotional" (in the negative sense of the word, if there is such a thing) or too brutal (because of reading Lucky by the same writer, a brutal account of a brutal rape), but it was none of these things. The book left me a bit dreamy, thinking about life and death, and loved ones already gone; wondering if they are looking at me right now. I don't believe in heaven, but do believe there is "something" and, why not, that the dead are sometimes among us, guiding us and letting us know they are still there. Not that I have ever had that feeling, but I believe there sensitive people can sense them.
Anyway, I'm rambling now! I liked the book, I have no problem with first person books, and I'm thankful for having read this one. Now, I'm off to put my feet back on the ground now! Thanks for sharing this one, Marina & Willemijn!
I'll PM the next one in line to send it asap.

Journal Entry 20 by owlet from Maastricht, Limburg Netherlands on Monday, March 22, 2004
I'm sorry for keeping this book for so long; I'm off to the postoffice to send it to Axelp today...

Journal Entry 21 by Axelp from Portsalon, Co. Donegal Ireland on Friday, April 23, 2004
I apologise for this late entry. I received the book from owlet literally 10 minutes before leaving for four weeks of travel.

Which of course gave me ample time to read. It's one of those boolks that grabbed me from the first five pages on. Of course
it is a little weird being told by a dead girl. What I really liked is the description of the effect of her death on her family members. This became quite touching. The mystery effect ("How are they going to catch the murderer") provided some suspense, I found the ending satisfying.

Probably the most impressing to me was the detached way she describes the crime.

Recommended. Actually, as we were away so long, also my wife and 11 year old son read the book, both liked it a lot.

On to the next recipient.

Axel

Journal Entry 22 by CrazyDutchwoman from Heemstede, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, April 29, 2004
Heb dit boek vandaag ontvangen.
Lijkt me een mooi boek.
Heel erg bedankt.
zal later updaten wat ik er van vind.

axel jij ook bedankt voor het sturen en vooral owlet een dikke dank je wel dat je toen ik vertelde in het forum dat ik dit boek ook erg graag wilde lezen,mij gelijk dit boek beloofde.



Journal Entry 23 by CrazyDutchwoman from Heemstede, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Ik heb het boek bijna uit. Vanaf de eerste pagina was ik geintrigeerd en dat is tot nu toe zo gebleven.
wat een prachtig boek is dit.
Dit is echt een boek waarvan ik nu al weet dat ik het meerdere keren zal willen lezen. Dus ik ben van plan dit boek aan te schaffen.

Ik geniet.
Even iets anders. in het boek heb ik een foto gevonden. een jongetje met een griezelig rood halloween masker op staat naast een halloween pompoen.
Als je weet wat het bewuste jongetje aanhad op die foto dan mag je de foto hebben :-) stuur ik het op.

Update may 5 2004

Finished the book and loved every word of it.
I am gonna buy my own copy cause I want to read this again I am sure.


Journal Entry 24 by CrazyDutchwoman at In de brievenbus in n/a, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Friday, May 14, 2004
Released on Friday, May 14, 2004 at In de brievenbus in n/a, Bookray Controlled Releases.

Op weg naar suzy.
Veel lees plezier.
P.s vraag anders even in het forum of er nog mensen zijn die het willen lezen als je het uit hebt? groetjes

Journal Entry 25 by Suzy26 from Delft, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, May 16, 2004
Found this book in my mailbox yesterday. My first BC book ever! Thank you Marlene-TC for sending it to me.

Journal Entry 26 by Willemijn from Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, May 16, 2004
Na Suzy26 mag het boek naar Leentje.

Journal Entry 27 by Suzy26 from Delft, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, June 2, 2004
I found this a fascinating novel. It has a dreamlike feel to it. As Susie Salmon is telling her story from heaven she has a perfect perspective on things. She can see what everyone does and read everyone’s thoughts. Of course this is also a very sad story dealing with a violent death. Most of all, I was struck by the utter loneliness of all the people in this novel. Susie, being literally separated from her family, has to watch helplessly how her family members are struggling to deal with their grief. Her parents and siblings are drifting ever farther apart from each other as they are all trying to find different ways to get through the day and get on with their lives. And sadly, friends and neighbours avoid them because to them the Salmon family represents their worst nightmare: having to deal with the loss of a child.
And yet, this is also a comforting novel. I am greatly impressed by the way this family manages to live through this difficult time. All in all, a good read.

It has been mailed to Leentje on June 4.

Journal Entry 28 by leentje from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
er was een hoop gedoe rond dit boek, ik had me er op verheugd. Viel een beetje tegen. Wel lekker lezen.

Journal Entry 29 by Readsome from Breda, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Thursday, June 24, 2004
Have heard a lot about this book, has stayed with a lot of bookcrossers already. I will take it to Texel this weekend, hope I will have a lot of time to read it and forward it to Jessica soon!

Journal Entry 30 by Readsome from Breda, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Sunday, July 4, 2004
The subject of "The lovely bones" is very interesting and I really like the perspective: the story told by a girl in heaven after being killed at page 16.
As a ready you already know who did it, where, when etc, so I really wondered what would be the story after this first chapter.

It was kind of disappointing to me, because:
- I could not understand why Suzy was talking about her killer in such a calm, unprejudiced way. I know that she is capable of feeling emotions in heaven, so why is there no anger/fright/rage in her when she is speaking of him... and she keeps calling him Mr. Harvey, unbeleivable, there would be a lot of other namings I could think of.
- The order of the book was very confusing to me. It was not chronological (which is ok of course), but I thought it was very messy. I often had to read one or two alinea's until I understood that the timing had switched again.
- One occurance in the end of the book was really too "yeah, right" for me. To me it seemed like the writer did not want to go through too much trouble in thinking of a good end, so she took the easy way out.
- Although I know nothing about literature, my amateur vision tells me this book has not been written in a technically good way.

An a few other things that I won't mention not to spoil the fun for readers after me...

It was, however, interesting to read how a family/neighbourhood/murder copes with the lost of a daughter/sister/friend/victim.
I think a lot of the emotions/reactions in Suzies family were very beleivable. I can definately see why the different family-members reacted in very different ways.

Conclusion: very interesting read, but would not recommend.

I will mail this book to boekgrrl Jessica (don't know her BC-screenname yet) tomorrow.

Journal Entry 31 by Jesi from Havelte, Drenthe Netherlands on Friday, July 9, 2004
I received the book earlier this week. I am very curious for this book, since I have recently finished reading Lucky, also by Alice Sebold. I will read it as soon as I have finished the current book I'm reading. Then I will write here what I think of the book.

Journal Entry 32 by Jesi from Havelte, Drenthe Netherlands on Sunday, July 18, 2004
I finished the book. I liked reading the story, but the end was a bit hard to believe. Otherwise I enjoyed reading it. The story is gripping and allthough you dont expect it, it works towards a climax and therefore is a nice read.

At first I did not agree with Sebold's idea of heaven, but later on I could more understand her concept. Still, it is not my idea, and someone here already remarked: where is God in this heaven?
The scene in the end with Ruths body was hard to believe and also how the mother and father ended up was a bit too much like a fairy tale. The climax was a bit too constructed, it seemed like Sebold couldn't come up with anything else and wanted to finish writing the book no matter what.

I reserved this book for a friend of mine, Linda. She will also become a member of Bookcrossings! If there is anybody else who is interested, let me or Linda know!

Jesi


Journal Entry 33 by Jesi from Havelte, Drenthe Netherlands on Tuesday, July 20, 2004
The book first goes to Bengeltje, since she is living close by. Linda might nog even notice! Well... maybe not.. ;-)


Journal Entry 34 by Bengeltje from Mijdrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Tuesday, July 20, 2004
The Lovely Bones, just delivered to me by Jesi in person. A little BC-Mijdrecht meeting. I'll read as fast as I can, because the book is planned to travel to Linda. Thanks Linda for letting me read it first, although you might even not know...yet ;-)


Journal Entry 35 by Bengeltje from Mijdrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Tuesday, August 10, 2004
I really love this book. Especially the way the situation in heaven is described is catching. Although I agree with some readers the situation in the end with Ruth is a bit overdone, my overall judgement is very positive.

Journal Entry 36 by lintje on Monday, September 13, 2004
Ok, ik heb het boek van Jesi gekregen... en heb mezelf eindelijk maar eens geregistreerd... Ben je nu blij Jes ;-) ??
Ik ben benieuwd naar het boek...

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