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 enlarge | Author: Alice Sebold
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy Used: $0.88
You Save: $24.11 (96%)
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Rating:  182 reviews
Sales Rank: 12219
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2
ISBN: 0316677469
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780316677462
ASIN: 0316677469
Publication Date: October 16, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Difficult to get through November 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I haven't read "Lovely Bones," so I came into this book with fewer expectations than the fans of that book. Still, it's hard to not be aware of the fanfare that surrounded "LB" and I expected to find a fascinating read. And in the interest of full disclosure, I heard the audiobook version of this book.
That said, I had a hard time with this book on so many levels. I didn't quite understand Helen's intentions, her motivations, her mental state.
I could have absorbed the darkness of the book if I had gained some insight into the horrors of mental illness or the complexities of parent-child relationships. But frankly, toward the end, I just wanted it to all be over for Helen -- for her to go out on in a fiery, spectacular way and put all of us out of our misery.
 A Dark and Powerful Book October 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Wow, I'm really surprised at all of the negative reviews surrounding Sebold's second novel. I read the reviews when the book first came out, but purposely put off reading it for a number of months because I wanted to read it with as much objectivity as possible. I found the book dark, but very, very powerful. I became aware of how time itself became a strong character, much like how Kurosawa used the element of time in his movies. The tension in Helen's character was hard to take sometimes, because the tension was so palatable. You could feel the anguish and struggle come right off the page.
I understand how this book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're not expecting the second coming of The Lovely Bones, and keep an open mind, I think you'll find this a powerful read. It's hard to say that I "liked" the book, because that's not a verb that I would readily associate with a book of this nature, but I was quite moved by it. Honestly, I thought it was a more powerful book than "The Lovely Bones."
Not done yet, but disappointing so far October 28, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is a huge bummer. I'm only a couple of chapters in but HATE IT so far...none of the well-crafted characters of The Lovely Bones and really, none of the suspense.
My other beef is that the back cover of the book told me almost nothing about the story. I wish I hadn't bought it. I loved Alice Seybold's other two books and wish this one was just as good.
 Confusing October 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm not sure if I was supposed to like this book or if I was supposed to hate it. It left me feeling befuddled. What, then, was the point of Helen killing her mother, washing her body, cutting off her braid, and, ultimately, stuffing her in the freezer? First she tries to pin it on someone who is innocent, then she tells the people who know about it that she doesn't regret what she has done. My take on this novel was that Helen was the truly crazy one around whom her family revolved. She certainly demonstrated a lack of a functional conscience, as well as a dearth of empathy. I wouldn't recommend this book to other readers, unless one is looking for something truly macabre.
I FINALLY !!! FINISHED THIS BOOK October 16, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
THE ALMOST MOON
I knew by the second paragraph of this book that I would NOT like it. I loved the LOVELY BONES and, while I don't like to compare novels, this one was a waste of my time. Especially compared to the LOVELY BONES, God forbid I compare!
Helen murders her aged mom. Her mom was a horrible person, she took over Helen's life and made everyone around her miserable. Did she deserve to die? Who cares! Did Helen get away with murder? Who cares? Helen was so messed up because of her mom and her past, but I just didn't care. The book revolves around the murder, Helen trying to cover up the murder, her actions for a few days after the murder, and constant flashbacks of her life. I ususally enjoy books that are written in this mode, but did NOT care for this one.
But I guess you, the reader, have figured that out by now. I am so glad I am DONE with this book --
I don't like giving negative reviews. There is no way to mince words here; however, this book was not good. I just didn't care about anyone or anything that happened to anybody. The main reason I did not care for this book was the main character, Helen. I didn't like her as a person and for that reason, didn't care for how she handled anything in her life. In my mind, since I didn't like her, NOTHING she did or anything she said seemed correct to me. That may be a wrong basis for not enjoying a book, but she totally rubbed me the wrong way. However, maybe the author intended for her character NOT to be liked.
I am surprised that I even finished this book, but I wanted to see how it ended. How I wish I would have just peeked at the ending and saved myself some time.
I will not be recommending this book to ANYONE. I will pass my copy along to my local library. However, check out THE LOVELY BONES, it was great.
Thank you and sorry for being such a grouch re this book!
Pam
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