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 these things 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 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 begin the difficult process of healing.
In the hands of a brilliant novelist, the author narrates the THE LOVELY BONES through the eyes of her winning young heroine. This story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.
It's an exceptional joy to hear an author read her own work, as the listener is privy to each pause and nuance of language that is intended. Alice Sebold's narration of her work is as touching and evocative as the novel itself. This exclusive edition also includes an introduction by Sebold, which includes insights on the novel's subject matter and source of inspiration. With this intimate knowledge, protagonist Susie Salmon becomes more real, and each heart-wrenching scene is more poignant. Sebold's presentation haunts the listener even when the story is done. As a bonus, a peek at her newest work, THE ALMOST MOON, entices the listener to mark it as a must-listen. D.L.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
