uz_kostlivec 's review for:

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

2.0

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I really like the concept of the narrative, it's what drew me to the book. I worried it would be pushing religion too much with all the heaven stuff, but I'm glad it doesn't at all (in my opinion) and that it's spiritual in a very relatable way.

There's a lot I like, but somehow all of it feels underdeveloped and all over the place, and the last few chapters sort of ruined even what I liked before.

So much frustrated me. I found so many of the characters behaving so unrealistically within the universe of the story that it drove me nuts (

Jack "falling in love again" with Abigail in her absence after she abandoned the family for several years, holding no resentment whatsoever against her, also not talking to the children AT ALL about her leaving, also seemingly forgetting about that they might not be exactly excited about her sudden comeback

  etc. etc.).

I can appreciate that the story didn't want to dwell on the killer much but make it more about how the family and friends are coping with the aftermath of Susie's death. However, I did want to know more about how Harvey could possibly be getting away with so much for so long. I do believe it possible IRL, but I really think the book should have given us more.

What bugged me most was how Len and the rest of the police were so dismissive about Jack's suspision of Harvey and then, 

all of a sudden, we learn they clearly searched the house, found the stain in the garage and animal bones, but like - when? How? Why all of a sudden they got around searching the house? There was absolutely nothing about this and even though as a reader you pray for Len to finally start believing Jack, when he suddenly does, you have no reason to see why.

It should have been a very satisfying moment but instead it's so underwhelming and only lightly brushed over.

Also, wtf is chapter 22? I could write an essay on all that's wrong with chapter 22. What's worse, it's so absolutely unnecessary and so out of place. If chapter 22 didn't exist I might have upped the rating a whole one star.