goldenslug's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Child death
eatwritereadrepeat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Injury/injury detail
upstatelibrarygal's review against another edition
4.0
This can be a little difficult to read because of the subject matter (rape and murder of a teenaged girl). However, I didn't ever feel that the author was gratuitous in her depiction of the violence and ultimately, the story is about Susie's experience in heaven. As she watches her family from the afterlife, the story of her own experience there, and that of the other characters "left behind," is a beautiful one. Great character study.
wyemu's review against another edition
4.0
A novel as poignant as it is devastating. The subject of a child's death is sensitively handled by Sebold and the images he paints of heaven are deftly painted without ever becoming cloying, cliched or overdone. This book is beyond a moving story of one family coming to terms with losing their daughter, and sister, it is a perfect portrayal of the different ways in which people fall apart and rebuild themselves. The opening scenes are suffocating and this is a testiment to Sebold's witing skills that they are so well written as to be almost unbearable to read. I can highly imagine many readers struggling to get through them because of the realism and horror portrayed. It is an incredible novel that should be read but that one shies away from reccommending to friends because of the nature of the material, not something to be taken lightly.
alisa4books's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book BEFORE you see the movie. Although the ending is a bit of a disappointment, the book takes you into the inner workings of family, relationships and those who have gone before. Brought me to new ways of thinking about connections and disconnections. If you can suspend your disbelief for a moment, the tale is moving and the lessons deep.
carlyn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
maryphan93's review against another edition
3.0
pretty good story. a lot more adult content then I expected
dazeluvs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75