NAME: Fiona Jackson DATE: February 10th, 2011
TITLE: The Lovely Bones TIME: 2 hours
AUTHOR: Alice Sebold PAGES: 80-157
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 77
How did what you read today make you feel? Why?
As you might have heard, this book is a very sad and horrific one. Some people may not enjoy books or stories like this one because of that. Some people may not want to spend time thinking about the possibilities of things like a little girl being murdered are. But so far this book has taught me a lot. It's not like I enjoy sitting there and reading about horrible things, but to me books like this are a lot more meaningful, and have a better message then a silly book trying to hard to be funny. For example, this book has taught me a lot about death and about what it does to people. No one I have ever been close to has died yet. Seeing how the family deals with Susie's death has taught me a lot. I expected that because Susie died, the family would grow closer. That they would lean on each other. But the opposite happened. Abigail, (Susie's mother) had an affair with the police officer Len Fenerman. She chose to lean and depend on him instead of her husband who was actually right about George. Lindsey went to Samuel her boyfriend. Buckley has started to talk to himself, pretending he's seeing and talking to Susie. Her father Jack focused a lot on Buckley, but when that started to deteriorate he focused on trying to prove that George was guilty. But the police gave up on him. Instead of watching this family bloom and grow together, I have watched them wilt and die.
What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was he/she right or wrong to do that?
When I realized that Abigail was falling for Len, it upset me a great deal. I had faith that the family would not fall apart. And I understand why that she did it. She needed a way to get away and forget Susie. But why couldn't she do it in a different way. I think that cheating on your husband would never be the right way to go in a situation like that. How would Jack feel? He didn't do anything crazy like that! All he was concerned about was getting evidence about George killing Susie. I think that that actually may be the reason that she went to Len for comfort. He is a police man. His job was to catch Susie's killer. No matter what Jack says, Len would always be right and know best because he is a Police man. Even though Jack was right, and Len was wrong. I also feel ashamed of Len. I can't believe that he would do that to their family given the situation. And he knows exactly what their situation is. Everyone does. He is the one trying to help their family and all he does is make it worse. Much worse. And obviously other people are going to find out. Lindsey will, or Jack will. Lindsey's grandma could just tell from seeing Abigail. She confronted Abigail about it, and Abigail completely ignored it. I think that Abigail's actions were wrong, but I don't really blame her actually. She had to do something. But she wasn't strong enough, so she chose a very bad outlet. I feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for Susie. I feel sorry for their whole family.
What was one of your favorite lines (or sentences) in what you read today? Copy it down and tell why you liked it.
"It's one of my secret pleasures," she admitted. "After all these years I still love to watch the souls that float and spin in masses, all of them clamoring at once inside the air." "I don't see anything," I said the first time. " Watch closely," she sad, "and hush." But I felt them before I saw them, small warm sparks along my arms. Then there they were, fireflies lighting up and expanding in howls and and swirls as they abandoned human flesh. "Like snowflakes." Franny said, "none of them the same and yet each one, from where we stand , exactly like the one before."
I really liked this quote because it kind of confused me but intrigued me at the same time. It is a interesting way of describing souls, like snowflakes. But I liked it, because it seems like it would be correct, especially if you were in heaven watching all these new people come. They are all different and unique people, but all the same. They all made the same mistakes, they all feel the same way. I also thought that this quote was kind of meaningful because it made me wonder if Franny had been watching when Susie's soul was leaving Earth. And then there they are now watching even more people come. It also made me kind of sad because it talked about how many souls they could see, and that obviously represents how many people are dying, and that made me start wondering how many other people's death was like Susie's, so horrific and wrong. This quote was interesting to me, so I included it.
I totally agree with your 1st answer...I thought the same thing when I read the book, but I guess in reality statistics show that families who experience tragedies like this do often split apart...in particular parents who lose children are more likely to divorce. So devastating on so many fronts :(. --Mrs. I.
ReplyDeleteHey Fiona,
ReplyDeleteYet again I have really enjoyed reading your book response. I too thought that Susie's death would bring the family closer together. I thought that they would have to lean on each other to get through this but they didn't, they did the opposite. They separated themselves from their family leaning on other people for support. Instead of growing closer together they are becoming more distant. I also agree that this book, although it is horrific and sad can teach you a lot. It is not a fairytale, there is no happily ever after but sometimes that's what makes the best books. It's so real, it makes you think.
I also wrote about Abigail's affair with Len. It upset me because I wanted the family to grow close because of this and instead they were falling apart. I understood, as you did, why Abigail did this. She was leaning on the police for support. Her husband was obbsessed with George Harvey who he was convinced killed Susie and Abigail needed someone to support her. She was in so much pain she needed to forget about Susie. I do not think what she did was right, and it will hurt the whole family. I am also shocked that a police officer would do this to this family. How could he hurt them even more? His job is to find the man who killed Susie but instead he is helping rip apart their family. I know that eventually they will find out and I can only hope that their family will be strong enough to hang on.
That quote was very interesting to me. Alice Sebold is a very good writer, she writes in a way to make you think. I agree it is an interesting way to describe souls like snowflakes and they are all floating away. The are floating away from the families that love them. From their friends, and from their lives. It is so sad yet beautifully written. Great job on your response!