Book Review: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Author: Alice Sebold

Title: The Lovely Bones

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Thriller

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 372

Published: July 3, 2002

Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend

Summary: 

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

Review:

Been meaning to read this for a while. I watched the movie eons ago but never the book. My friend decided to be nice to me and let me borrow her copy ;) 

Susie Salmon was murdered and she is still trying to adjust to that fact. She is trying to adjust to her new home in heaven. Watching her friends and family continue on earth try to come to terms with first her disappearance and then obvious murder. It breaks her heart watching her killer covering his tracks, her family falling apart because of grief, and her friends trying to cope. Out of this tragedy and loss, we will watch Susie and everyone find their way through grief. 

I first want to mention the format and writing style. Loads of people had some issues with it in Goodreads. I honestly feel that it was fitting. The narrator is a 13/14-year-old ghost who wasn't a writer. She would write simply. I found that the jumping around between her memories and what is going on on earth would make sense. It was easy enough to follow. I found the writing style and format were perfect for this particular story. That is my two cents. 

The story was simply and utterly tragic. However, there is hope. There is some humor. There is some light. I think the author did a fabulous job of balancing this. 

I loved the perspective we got to see. So often we only get to see the family cope with the loss and get through the steps of grief. Here....we also get to see the dead cope with the loss and get through the steps of grief. In a way...being dead seems harder. You can see the people you love but you are mute and can very rarely communicate. Sometimes the living can hear whispers or shadows or have dreams. 

This was for sure a book I would recommend. Just be ready to have some tears here and there. The ending (and I knew from the movie) wasn't going to fully satisfy me. Yes, karma and justice does find the target but not the way I wanted. Not the way we all deserve to see/read. Sighs. 

I also was a little meh about the Ray and Susie scene near the end. Mmmm. I have a love-hate of that. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It is a refreshing read and it will make you feel all the feelings. I do want to watch the movie again. There are a couple of scenes/plot points that I feel meh about, but overall I highly enjoyed this. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Audiobook Review: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Author: Britney Spears

Narrator: Michelle Williams

Title: The Woman in Me

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

Format: Audiobook

Published:  October 24, 2023

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

Review:

I put myself in line for both the ebook, physical, and audiobook and we would see what would come first. I was in the library queue to borrow this book for a month or so. I didn't expect to get this for another month. Miracle upon miracle, the audiobook arrived early. 

This is Britney Spear's story in her own words. She covers her early childhood to currently in her freedom. For the first time, we get to see her truth and what her fame and family did to her. 

I have been a fan of Britney since I was a little girl. I remember learning her dance moves. Learning her songs. I wanted to BE her. She was a superstar in my eyes. As I grew up I still enjoyed her music. I remember watching interviews and the paparazzi harassing her. If you couldn't see how they treated her back then...you were blind. She was our version of Princess Diana.  They put her and her children in danger just to get a pic. I'm surprised they didn't get her hurt or killed with their antics. Nasty, disgusting. 

And then, like the rest of the world, I was shocked by the reveal that her father had her in an unfair conservatorship. Listening to her tales of her suffocated life during this time made me want to sob. The girl had to beg for food. She was on a strict diet. Strict work routine. Strict medical shit. Strict bathroom routine. Strict EVERYTHING. Her isolation she described had me itching to run outside and get in my car and scream "FUCK THE PATRICHY" while I smoke, eat, and wear nothing but a bikini. How her father got away with it for YEARS stuns me. Shame. Shame on all the people who did that to her. 

Yes, the author had ghostwriters to help her write her tale and then had Michelle Williams (the actress) narrate. I think it was good she had other forces help her collect her thoughts and tales and put them into a novel. It flowed well and I could feel her in those words. They felt like her words. 

The narrator was fantastic. I listened to this whole audiobook in a matter of 24 hours. Yes, it was that addictive. Now...as much as I liked this narrator's performance.....a part of me really wished that the author read her own words. I get WHY she didn't want to, but she had been silenced for so long, I feel this would've made this book more impactful. 

Overall, this was a quick read, but it was good. It will make you feel all the feelings. Even though I wanted Britney to narrate, the narrator she hired on was fantastic. I'll give this 4 stars.  

 

Challenge(s):

- #55 for Audiobook challenge

Best of November

Here are our bests of November! 

Best Movie of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Nada this month. 

"Movie? Nah, nothing stood out."

Carole - Napoleon (2023)

"This was captivating and has me itching to re-watch."

Best Book of the Month:

Carole - Third Son's a Charm by Shana Galen

"This was simply delightful."

Blodeuedd - Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand

"Best book because it had meaning."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Solar Opposites 

"New season on Disney. I had to watch it."

Carole - Bob's Burger (S14)

"This show never gets old. Loving the new season!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's pick - "Tough choice this month. But this one resonates with me."

Blodeuedd's pick - "This can have best cover too. You can see more in the print cover."

Honorable Mention:

Carole wanted to give a special nod to this book....You Can Thank Me Later by Kelly Harms

"This is my 4th time listening to this little novella. It is the perfect Turkey Day book. I love it so much but I felt bad giving it best of the month...again...since it is a re-read and I had some other great books in November."

Audiobook Review: The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Author: Tessa Dare

Narrator: Mary Jane Wells

Title: The Duchess Deal

Series: Girl Meets Duke #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published:  August 22, 2017

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:

- They will be husband and wife by night only.

- No lights, no kissing.

- No questions about his battle scars.

- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:

- They will have dinner together every evening.

- With conversation.

- And unlimited teasing.

- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…

Review:

Gotta love a Dare book ;). I saw this at the library and I downloaded it so quick my head spun. 

Here we follow Emma and the Duke of Ashbury. Emma was once a pastor's daughter who was kicked out to fend for herself. She picked up the sewing needle and made something of herself. However, she hasn't been paid for an expensive wedding dress from the Duke's broken engagement and she vows to get paid. Little does she know the Duke is about to start another hunt for a wife. He needs an heir and he needs one now. The two come to an agreement and strike a deal... 

These two poor broken souls melted my heart. Ash was extremely wounded at the Battle of Waterloo. He is scarred on the outside and inside. His ex was a piece of crap. He deserves better dammit! *shakes fist* Emma was tossed out on her ear after she did something silly like fall in love and give awar her virginity while her father sat there and preached forgiveness and love. *shakes head*

Even with the trauma and shitty people they had to endure...this never got overly dark. Yes, they have moments of self-pity, but never to the point it was tragic. Gotta love the author for sitting strong on this fine line and doing it well. There was even humor! All the hilarious (mind you cute) nicknames Emma would call him and his obvious disgust at it had me giggling like a schoolgirl. 

The lust was there, but love took a long, long time. Which was fitting and I loved watching them become friends and then more. 

The narrator was absolutely wonderful. I def recommend doing the audio of this instead of the book-book. She really brought the scenes to life! 

I did want more from the epilogue though. I feel like the side characters that I adored needed some spotlight. Like Emma's preggo friend (I won't spoil anything of the side story there). What happened? GIMME MORE! Maybe we'll see them in the next books? Sighs. 

All-in-all this was a nice Dare novel. Love, hawt smexy scenes, amazing characters, and humor. 4 stars from me. I needed more in the epilogue after falling for the side characters. 

Challenge(s):

- #54 for Audiobook challenge