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koryandreas's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, this lady has some gruesome books. I guess it was a good book, but definitely depressing and dark. I also found the ending bizarre and abrupt.
vegantrav's review against another edition
5.0
Lucky is a frank, gruesome first-person account of rape. Alice Sebold courageously shares the story of being attacked, beaten, and raped when she was a college freshman and the aftermath of that rape. This is not an easy read, but it should be required reading for everyone--especially for adolescent and adult males.
In the abstract, rape culture can be difficult too define. But Sebold's concrete, personal story starkly portrays precisely what rape culture is in the way she is treated not only by the police and other officials (who are, for the most part, on her side) but even by her own father and other family and friends and by the grand jurors who hear her testimony and question her. It's all too telling that one of the key aspects of Sebold's case was the proof (confirmed in the medical examination conducted immediately after she was raped) that she had been a virgin when she was raped: for many, Sebold's rape was seen as worse and her story of being raped was found to be more believable because she had been a virgin.
The meaning of the title of the book itself is uniquely horrific: Sebold is told by an officer at the scene of her rape that she is "lucky" because another woman had been murdered. Yes, a police officer told a rape victim that she was "lucky."
This is a powerful book that takes on one of the worst crimes imaginable and viscerally brings home the reality of that crime. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
In the abstract, rape culture can be difficult too define. But Sebold's concrete, personal story starkly portrays precisely what rape culture is in the way she is treated not only by the police and other officials (who are, for the most part, on her side) but even by her own father and other family and friends and by the grand jurors who hear her testimony and question her. It's all too telling that one of the key aspects of Sebold's case was the proof (confirmed in the medical examination conducted immediately after she was raped) that she had been a virgin when she was raped: for many, Sebold's rape was seen as worse and her story of being raped was found to be more believable because she had been a virgin.
The meaning of the title of the book itself is uniquely horrific: Sebold is told by an officer at the scene of her rape that she is "lucky" because another woman had been murdered. Yes, a police officer told a rape victim that she was "lucky."
This is a powerful book that takes on one of the worst crimes imaginable and viscerally brings home the reality of that crime. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
macymurray's review against another edition
2.0
I ended up DNF'ing this book at about page 100. It was a really good book but I'm not a huge true story person.
kristianawithak's review against another edition
4.0
This was really well written. I heard Alice Sebold speak and it was captivating. I have read her two novels, but I like this the best. In a way it reads like a book dealing with grief and loss.
marysessions's review against another edition
5.0
crazy read. broke my heart for this young girl. read for class but would recommend
kashj123's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
wani0187's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
ebc726's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use