Tyra's Bookshelf: 4 Stars

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4 Stars 01:20:00

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

4 Stars 22:00:00

Hey everybody!

Today I will be reviewing a novel that I bought not too long ago (see here)...

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold!

GoodReads | Amazon

Blurb:

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.

I first heard about this novel five years ago, when I was twelve years old and had just started High School! I remember we were in the library for an English class and as I was browsing through my school's selection of books, I came across The Lovely Bones. One of the girls in my class saw what I was holding and rushed over, explaining that they had read this novel and it was the scariest book they had ever come across. Even though the title, cover and blurb intrigued me, I was far too nervous to read a book that she said had shocked her to her core, so I put it back down and didn't think about it ever again.

UNTIL, I was walking by a stand selling secondhand books at a local fete and saw it lying there. I knew that I owed it to my twelve year old self to buy it and read it.

Man, I was NOT disappointed.

You see, although the book does revolve around the murder of Susie Salmon, in reality, it is about the way that those in Susie's life react to her death and how they eventually grow and move on. The book is written from Susie's perspective, as she looks down on the world from her heaven (I love Sebold's idea that each person creates their own heaven after they die where things that they loved on Earth can be recreated up in the sky...it's a rather comforting concept). However, even though you do see it all through her eyes, Sebold writes this story in a way that effortlessly incorporates the thoughts and viewpoints of Susie's family and friends, as if you're reading from their point of view. I love how different it is to write about someone that has died, from the perspective of the person that has died! I personally haven't read a book from that standpoint before, so it was quite refreshing!

Sebold creates a variety of characters that all react differently to Susie's death and all have quite complex and interesting backstories themselves, which help shape and impact their response to the earth-shattering news that someone in their life has died. For example, this is A SPOILER, as the book progresses the reader learns that Susie's mother had essentially been depressed and had been wearing a mask as she tried to look like the perfect mother to her children and wife to her husband. Sebold links the mother's seemingly everlasting unhappiness to the way that she deals with the grief of losing a daughter (which causes her to leave). It's obvious that Alice Sebold carefully thought about each character in this story and how they would react to such devastation, because no two people acted the same way and their coping mechanisms truly did reflect their personalities. The one person I felt sorry for the most was Susie's father. Eventually, he became obsessed with his daughter's death and he tried so hard to catch the killer, as if he was trying to prove himself to Susie. So sad.

I'm going to try and not give much away (for those that haven't read this book), but I must talk about Mr. Harvey - talk about the perfect antagonist! He's the quintessential creepy neighbour who no one seems to know anything about and that everyone gets weird vibes from and because you know who he is from Susie's perspective, you simply HAVE TO HATE HIM...I mean, who wouldn't? However, Sebold does briefly write about Mr. Harvey's past, which appeals to your sense of empathy and while reading this book there was a part of me that tried to understand where he was coming from (but then I reminded myself that he was a horrible horrible horrible person and I went back to hating him).

Although it would seem that the saddest part of The Lovely Bones is having to see someone's family and friends go through the mourning process, but it actually isn't. What I thought was really tragic was that Susie watched everyone she knew - the boy that was her first kiss, her younger sister, even the last human she brushed past before she went to heaven - grow up and do all the things she missed out on. Susie should've been there with her friends graduating from High School, going to University, getting married and buying a house. If that was me, I think I'd be happy for everyone that I love, but there would be a part of me that would think...well, that should be me too.

Even though this book is magnificent, one thing I was a little annoyed about - SPOILER ALERT - was the ending. I really wanted to see an ending to the Lindsey vs. Mr. Harvey plot-line or have Susie's body found and Mr. Harvey getting convicted of the crime. I wish Susie's family, Ruana, Raj and everyone else in their town had the chance to see Mr. Harvey go to jail - but they never get that opportunity. In fact, he does get away. I mean, - SPOILER ALERT the fact he dies is still a great ending and in a way the story does come full circle, however the last few pages feel rushed to me.

Despite that, Sebold is a master storyteller and truly gives Susie a voice, which she uses to paint a picture and bring the story to life. With her words, you're able to develop all of the people in Susie's life - and all of their secrets - in your mind as you read.

Favourite Quotes:

“Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never even knew you had.”
“Because horror on Earth is real and it is every day. It is like a flower or like the sun; it cannot be contained.”
“You look invincible,' my mother said one night.
I loved these times, when we seemed to feel the same thing. I turned to her, wrapped in my thin gown, and said:
I am.”
“There was one thing my murderer didn't understand; he didn't understand how much a father could love his child.”

RATING: 4 STARS

If you've read the book, want to read it, or had never heard of it until now, make sure to leave a comment telling me about your thoughts!

Thanks for everything, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate) and Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to 2017!

- Tyra xo

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School Of Deaths by Christopher Maninno

4 Stars 05:37:00

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Kitty Hawk and The Curse Of The Yukon Gold by Iain Reading

4 Stars 18:15:00

I was contacted through email earlier this year and was asked to possibly review, Kitty Hawk and The Curse of The Yukon Gold by Iain Reading. Of course, I jump at any opportunity to read new books, so I graciously accepted.

Recently, I have finished reading this book, and I would love to share with you, my honest opinion. I would also like to insinuate that although I was asked to review this, I am still going to be truthful, and say how I really feel about this book!

GoodReads | Amazon

The Blurb

After leaving the Canadian fishing village of Tofino, which she calls home, in order to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales, Kitty finds herself caught up in an adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, bone-chilling curses and haunting shipwrecks.

Kitty's adventure begins with the mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada. As the plot continues to unfold, this story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike, anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along. Through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush, there is a final climatic chase across the terrain of Canada's Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska's inside passage and Canada's Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

My Thoughts

Honestly, when I first began to read this book, my mind was filled with all the reasons why this book wasn't for me. I am not used to reading action/adventure novels, especially those types of books that are also linked to historical events. So, I was beginning to wonder whether it was worth reading.

However, a couple of chapters in, once the character's have been introduced and the adventure begins, I couldn't help but become fully engrossed in the story.

Now, there is no point in lying - there were minuscule sections of the book that were a bit long-winded, however all in all, the story was fast-paced, and definitely action-packed.

The characters in this novel were so easy to connect to. Kitty Hawk, the protagonist, is this strong female that I could instantly relate to, and she could definitely be a role model for young girls, because if Kitty taught me anything - it's these things: your dreams can become a reality, as long as you believe in them and, anything a boy can do, a girl can do better. Kitty doesn't let people try and bring her down, and if an obstacle stands in her way, instead of running and hiding, she stands up and fights for what she wants. Her passion for flying, travelling, and researching whales, is beautifully illustrated by the author Iain, and I really love that she lives out her passions. That is something I can really connect to, as well as dream of, because I want to grow up and have the opportunity to continue being passionate about something. Also, Charlie is one of my many book crushes - I always love those characters that start off as villains, but are actually so perfect that I can't help but adore!!!

When reading the blurb of this book, you may think the story is very unrealistic. However, this actually isn't the case. Yes, stories about hidden gold and wild chases through Canada seem far from the truth, Iain writes in the way that makes you believe the story is real. Even Kitty's characteristics help bring the story closer to home. She is constantly talking to the little voice in her head, which is obviously her conscience, and those funny arguments between the two of them, turns the story into a reality. Also, the fact that Iain has used historical events, real places and photographs assists in painting a picture that a reader will believe.

The Yukon Gold Rush was something that I had never learnt about, or really heard of, as it isn't exactly the topic of discussion in Australia, so it was quite interesting to learn as I read. This book is perfect for young children, as it not only sparks your imagination, but you also gain more knowledge about history as you read.

I had my doubts, because I had never come across this book and this author before, however, Kitty Hawk And The Curse Of The Yukon Gold was a book that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Sooooooooo,