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, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.
My Review:
For those who don't know, the book is about a girl who is murdered. If you can get past the first chapter, where the horriffic actions that cause her death happen, the book is very good. It is very gritty sometimes and you need to be prepared for the turmoil that the famly undergoes. It does contain some subject matter that some would find uncomfortable even after the first chapter. I can't remember if there was any language but there was an extra-marital affair. I still enjoyed it very much. As I was reading the book, I wondered how anyone could write about such a tragedy happening to a child but after I read a little about the author, I suspect that this book and her others is her way of dealing with the events in her life. I would recommend it. I have not seen the movie so I can not say how similiar or dissimiliar the movie was. Actually, after reading the book, I do not know if I want to watch the movie. The movie usually misses the message of the book, leaves some of the details out and twists the plot. We will see.
Did you read it and what did you think?
I saw the movie and am kinda of wanting to read the book. I told the girls that they have to wait until they are older to see this movie. Now that you told us about the first chapter they will have to wait a LONG time before they can! The movie isnt as bad as the first chapter. Actually all you know is he hurts and kills her but no goorie details.
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