A few years ago I read the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and I loved it. I am not sure love is appropriate because it is such a sad storyline but it is just written so well. I have never read a book like it before either as it is actually told from a 14-year old girls perspective.

On her way home from school in December 1973, Susie Salmon was raped and murdered by a serial killer, who she knows. The story is told as she watches from heaven, her friends and family’s reactions to her death. She watches her family as they change and grow and she struggles to accept her death. Now even though she is in heaven it does not have a religious tone, but deals with Susie’s own version of heaven.

The Lovely Bones is sad, frustrating, and yet it is so hard to put down. I actually read the book in two sittings. I have to warn you though the description of Susie’s rape and attack is chilling and is powerful. That is where I got so mad, but kept reading because I wanted to hear her story.
In December 2009, Lovely Bones is coming to movie theaters. If you haven’t read the book , I highly recommend reading it, especially if you think you are going to see the movie. I know I am curious about the movie to see how Dreamworks interprets what happens. You can watch the movie trailer here.

Alice Sebold is also the author of Lucky: A Memoir, which is her own story of being raped herself when she was a college freshman. It is also a powerful and touching book.