"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 10

Ruth experiments with vegetarianism after Susie's death. At home she is adamant about not eating meat; her mother is unappreciative. "'This is not Susie, for Chrissakes!' her mother would say, plunking down and inch-thick sirloin in front of her daughter." (page 114) However, while at the gifted symposium, Ruth eats eggs and sausage (page 115). 

What are your thoughts on modified diets, vegetarianism vs. eating meat, and how it applies to the characters?

Lindsey wants a normal life. While at the gifted symposium, she draws a fish on her name tag in the place of her last name so that she will hopefully go unrecognized as "the dead girl's sister."

What do you think of the notoriety that comes from publicized tragedy?

"The Lip of the Grave" is the title of a poem that Ruth writes about Susie (page 114). It is also a phrase Susie uses while wandering Heaven (page 120).

What is the significance of this phrase?

While at the gifted symposium, Lindsey anticipates building a mousetrap as the final challenge. However, a new administrator decides to shake things up and introduce a new challenge: "CAN YOU GET AWAY WITH CRIME? HOW TO COMMIT THE PERFECT MURDER,  announced her hurriedly drawn-up flier." (page 121)

What are the ramifications for Lindsey? What about Susie's friends? How does Susie, watching, feel about it?

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 9

Chapter 9 begins with the arrival of Grandma Lynn (Abigail's mother). Grandma Lynn has an amazing lust for life that jump starts the healing process of Susie's family. She convinces Jack to unwind by having a drink, makes Abigail laugh and puts Lindsey on the spot on page 102 by intuitively picking up on the fact that Lindsey now has a boyfriend; Grandma Lynn introduces herself to Samuel as "the evil grandma" on page 109. Her sense of humor pulls the family back together.

What is your impression of Grandma Lynn?

Foreshadowing: Detective Fenerman
"He nodded at my parents and seemed to linger on my mother." (page 109)

On page 109, Jack is grateful for the memorial because it is one day that the family can wear their grief publicly.

What are your thoughts on expressing grief in public? Is there a timeline for the appropriateness of said expression?

On page 111, Clarissa notices that Lindsey is wearing her dress and almost says something. She is challenged by Abigail and quickly backs down.

What does this exchange mean to you?

George Harvey shows up to the memorial; Lindsey faints when she sees him (page 112).

Is Lindsey overwhelmed by Harvey's malevolence, or is it her own grief?