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  • The Lovely Bones

  • Written by: Alice Sebold
  • Narrated by: Alice Sebold
  • Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (46 ratings)

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The Lovely Bones cover art

The Lovely Bones

Written by: Alice Sebold
Narrated by: Alice Sebold
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Publisher's Summary

Now read by the author, this edition also includes an interview with Alice Sebold and the first chapter of her new book, The Almost Moon.When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public-service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed things like that didn't happen.

In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place where she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets.

With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief: her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor, and they begin the difficult process of healing.

This story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching narrative about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

©2002 Alice Sebold (P)2007 Hachette Audio

What the critics say

"A stunning achievement." ( The New Yorker)
"A keenly observed portrait of familial love...a deeply affecting meditation on the ways in which terrible pain...can be redeemed." ( The New York Times)
"A personal and artistic triumph." ( Time)

What listeners say about The Lovely Bones

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Story with very Monotonous Narration

Loved the story itself but I dont think it was a great idea to have the author narrate the story. She didnt give the story the tone it deserved and in a way made it hard to listen to. If you can get past that and focus on the story itself then it may be able to redeem itself.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Bee
  • 2020-11-13

Narration really not that bad

I was skeptical at first because their were so many reviews saying the narrator's performance was very poor. Her type of narration was subdued not monotone. I don't enjoy narrator's giving characters different voices and I thought that she did very well to convey the omniscient narration of the story. I've been wanting to read this for a while and knew what I was getting into. At times there story seems to veer off course and there are entire chapters that feel like they are just there for the sake of padding the book. all that being said I think the theme and execution of that theme was very well done.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Started out exciting

It started out great, and exciting. I was excited to find out what would happen next but it quickly fizzled out. She paints a lovely picture with words but it got very boring about 8 chapters in. I was very disappointed. The author has a soothing voice but it’s also very bland which added to the overall lacklustre

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend reading instead of listening

This is the worst audio performance I’ve ever listened to. I highly recommend just reading this book. It’s an interesting story that is really, really difficult to get through in Audible because of how poorly it’s dictated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Emotional rollercoaster

Watched the movie first long ago, then decided to listen to the book and there's so much that was missed. Definitely a good listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WOW, amazing and emotional

this story took me to so many emotional spaces. I had watched the movie, but wow, it does not give it any justice. just be warned of harder material discussed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wow

amazingly creative and well put together. Having the author narrate the book made it so much better and being able to hear her inspiration for writing it made it easier to enjoy.

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