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?
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"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?
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?
Friday, July 15, 2011
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 8
Chapter 8 focuses on George Harvey. It opens with his dreams of buildings, the locations and details precious to him, particularly the Church of the Transfiguration. This is his favorite dream, the one he is able to have after killing Susie. (page 96)
What does this say about George Harvey's character?
We discover that Harvey's father forces Harvey's mother out of the family car when Harvey is young. As Harvey watches his mother run away, his father says, "'She's gone now, son...She won't be coming back.'" (page 97)
How might this event have helped shape Harvey into the killer he becomes?
What does this say about George Harvey's character?
We discover that Harvey's father forces Harvey's mother out of the family car when Harvey is young. As Harvey watches his mother run away, his father says, "'She's gone now, son...She won't be coming back.'" (page 97)
How might this event have helped shape Harvey into the killer he becomes?
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 7
On pages 91-92, Susie reminisces about a game she and Lindsey play when they are younger; Lindsey pretends to be the widow to Susie's knight under the framed grave rubbing hung by their parents' bedroom door. "'You are dead, knight,' she would say. 'Time to move on.'" (page 92)
How is this remembered scene relevant to their current situation?
Susie saves her brother Buckley's life. He nearly swallows a small twig, choking on it. Susie, without even a learner's permit, takes her father's Mustang and rushes Buckley to the hospital.
"'If she hadn't been there,' the doctor later told my mother, 'you would have lost your little boy.'
Grandma Lynn predicted I'd have a long life because I had saved my brother's. As usual, Grandma Lynn was wrong." (page 94)
What are your thoughts about Susie's action and Grandma Lynn's prediction as they relate to the story?
Buckley believes he can see Susie, though she makes every effort not to appear to him. He remembers the day she saves his life and makes comparisons between the looks in adults' eyes then and now that Susie's gone. Susie, in Heaven, is shaken by watching Buckley. "Had my brother really seen me somehow, or was he merely a little boy telling beautiful lies?" (page 95)
Do you think Buckley actually sees Susie, as he claims? Or is it childish magical thinking?
How is this remembered scene relevant to their current situation?
Susie saves her brother Buckley's life. He nearly swallows a small twig, choking on it. Susie, without even a learner's permit, takes her father's Mustang and rushes Buckley to the hospital.
"'If she hadn't been there,' the doctor later told my mother, 'you would have lost your little boy.'
Grandma Lynn predicted I'd have a long life because I had saved my brother's. As usual, Grandma Lynn was wrong." (page 94)
What are your thoughts about Susie's action and Grandma Lynn's prediction as they relate to the story?
Buckley believes he can see Susie, though she makes every effort not to appear to him. He remembers the day she saves his life and makes comparisons between the looks in adults' eyes then and now that Susie's gone. Susie, in Heaven, is shaken by watching Buckley. "Had my brother really seen me somehow, or was he merely a little boy telling beautiful lies?" (page 95)
Do you think Buckley actually sees Susie, as he claims? Or is it childish magical thinking?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 6
Susie (while alive) and Ray Singh (the boy she likes, who also likes her) skip class and hide on a scaffold in the school's auditorium one day. There, they witness a conversation between Ruth, the art teacher and "Mr. Peterford", whom I assume is an administrator (his position is unspecified). The two adults confront Ruth about a sketch of a nude woman; it is a drawing of Ruth's that another student discovered, altered, copied and distributed. Without directly stating that the disruption is Ruth's fault, they strongly discourage her from drawing nudes.
-What do you think of this censorship?
After the adults leave the auditorium, Susie climbs down from the scaffold and talks to Ruth, who is crying. Ruth shows Susie her sketchbook, and Susie is impressed by Ruth's artistic talent: "I realized how subversive Ruth was then, not because she drew pictures of nude women that got misused by her peers, but because she was more talented than her teachers." (page 77)
-Do you think the censorship had anything to do with envy of Ruth's talent?
After Susie's death, Ruth walks regularly in the corn field before school. From Susie's perspective: "So we met each morning in those first few months." (page 79). While Susie and Ruth are never close friends while Susie is alive, they come to cherish each other after Susie's death.
-What do you think of this bond created after death?
Pages 80-83 describe a growing friendship between Ruth and Ray Singh after Susie's death.
-What are your thoughts on the relationship between Susie's crush while alive (Ray) and friend after death (Ruth)?
"In those first two months my mother and father moved in opposite directions from each other." (page 86) This is the beginning of a growing rift between Susie's parents, catalyzed by her death.
-Why do people who love each other neglect their relationship when faced with grief?
-What do you think of this censorship?
After the adults leave the auditorium, Susie climbs down from the scaffold and talks to Ruth, who is crying. Ruth shows Susie her sketchbook, and Susie is impressed by Ruth's artistic talent: "I realized how subversive Ruth was then, not because she drew pictures of nude women that got misused by her peers, but because she was more talented than her teachers." (page 77)
-Do you think the censorship had anything to do with envy of Ruth's talent?
After Susie's death, Ruth walks regularly in the corn field before school. From Susie's perspective: "So we met each morning in those first few months." (page 79). While Susie and Ruth are never close friends while Susie is alive, they come to cherish each other after Susie's death.
-What do you think of this bond created after death?
Pages 80-83 describe a growing friendship between Ruth and Ray Singh after Susie's death.
-What are your thoughts on the relationship between Susie's crush while alive (Ray) and friend after death (Ruth)?
"In those first two months my mother and father moved in opposite directions from each other." (page 86) This is the beginning of a growing rift between Susie's parents, catalyzed by her death.
-Why do people who love each other neglect their relationship when faced with grief?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 5
Jack reports his suspicion of Harvey to Len Fenerman, the lead detective on Susie's case. Fenerman interviews Harvey again but can find nothing incriminating. He questions Harvey about the bridal tent; Harvey tells him that it is an annual ritual he performs for his dead wife, Leah. Fenerman relates this information to Jack, who is sure that Harvey told neighbors his dead wife's name is Sophie. Jack writes down the two names. From Susie, who watches from Heaven: "Though unaware of it, he had begun a list of the dead." (page 66) *foreshadowing*
On pages 69-70, Jack attempts to explain Susie's death to her 4-year-old brother, Buckley. He uses Monopoly game pieces to illustrate his meaning; Buckley understands as much as a 4-year-old can. It is a heartbreaking scene, but I thought it was a good example of how to explain death to a preschooler.
On pages 69-70, Jack attempts to explain Susie's death to her 4-year-old brother, Buckley. He uses Monopoly game pieces to illustrate his meaning; Buckley understands as much as a 4-year-old can. It is a heartbreaking scene, but I thought it was a good example of how to explain death to a preschooler.
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 4
Throughout the fourth chapter, George Harvey is shown to be a ruthless, methodical killer. He has obviously done so before, as evidenced by his knowing exactly what to do to clean up and leave very few clues (and circumstantial ones at that). After successfully disposing of Susie's body, Harvey is at home and decides to construct a bridal tent modeled after something he read in National Geographic. He does this outside in his yard, and is discovered by Susie's father, Jack. He invites Jack to assist him and behaves in a completely benign and innocuous manner. Jack, however, begins to suspect Harvey knows something and confronts him; Harvey dodges his questions, but the seed of doubt is sown.
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 3
As Susie leaves her body (pages 36-37), her soul touches a girl named Ruth, who will later become a main character in the story. Susie describes how, when each soul leaves its earthly body to ascend to Heaven, they often brush past and touch a human who is in close proximity to the scene of death. Susie and Ruth are never close in life, but after this experience Ruth feels close to Susie in a way. Ruth's mind is open to any possibility, including the idea that the dead sometimes communicate with the living. No one believes her, so she channels her thoughts into poetry and art.
I thought of A Raisin in the Sun when I read on page 42 that Susie, while alive, dreams of becoming a wildlife photographer. Knowing that she dies before ever having a chance to make her dream a reality, I thought to myself, "What happens to a dream deferred?"
Susie, while still alive, observes her mother one time without her mother being aware of it. Susie is frightened by the depth of feeling in her mother's eyes and takes a picture of Abigail, the woman. The click of Susie's camera "...startle(s) her into the mother of the birthday girl, owner of the happy dog, wife to the loving man, and mother again to another girl and a cherished boy. Homemaker. Gardener. Sunny neighbor. My mother's eyes were oceans, and inside them there was loss." (43, The Lovely Bones).
Susie's father, Jack, finds catharsis in destruction (page 46). He decides to clean out his office, which is filled with ships in bottles. It is a hobby he enjoys; the only other person in the family to share this interest is Susie, who is now gone. He smashes the bottles. As he surveys the wreckage, Susie's face is cast in each shard of glass. He laughs madly at this, and proceeds to Susie's bedroom, thoughts of further destruction in his mind. He is intercepted by Susie's little brother, Buckley, age 4. Jack becomes again the father he needs to be and puts his own pain on hold. He cannot dismiss having seen his dead daughter's face, though, and dwells on it.
I thought of A Raisin in the Sun when I read on page 42 that Susie, while alive, dreams of becoming a wildlife photographer. Knowing that she dies before ever having a chance to make her dream a reality, I thought to myself, "What happens to a dream deferred?"
Susie, while still alive, observes her mother one time without her mother being aware of it. Susie is frightened by the depth of feeling in her mother's eyes and takes a picture of Abigail, the woman. The click of Susie's camera "...startle(s) her into the mother of the birthday girl, owner of the happy dog, wife to the loving man, and mother again to another girl and a cherished boy. Homemaker. Gardener. Sunny neighbor. My mother's eyes were oceans, and inside them there was loss." (43, The Lovely Bones).
Susie's father, Jack, finds catharsis in destruction (page 46). He decides to clean out his office, which is filled with ships in bottles. It is a hobby he enjoys; the only other person in the family to share this interest is Susie, who is now gone. He smashes the bottles. As he surveys the wreckage, Susie's face is cast in each shard of glass. He laughs madly at this, and proceeds to Susie's bedroom, thoughts of further destruction in his mind. He is intercepted by Susie's little brother, Buckley, age 4. Jack becomes again the father he needs to be and puts his own pain on hold. He cannot dismiss having seen his dead daughter's face, though, and dwells on it.
Friday, July 8, 2011
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 2
The second chapter addresses denial. Susie's Heaven conforms to her wishes in all aspects but one: "I could not have what I wanted most: Mr Harvey dead and me living. Heaven wasn't perfect." (20, The Lovely Bones). She struggles to reach through to her family on Earth, not ready to let go.
Lacking Susie's perspective, her family struggles even more. "Nothing is ever certain" becomes their motto whenever discussing the possibility of her death, though the evidence continues to mount. They begin to accept the idea of her death when the detective Len Fenerman informs them that they will be investigating Susie's disappearance as a homicide due to the evidence their search has uncovered (they never find the body). Each member of her family collapses into themselves in their own way, knowing the truth but not wanting to face it.
"Not so deep beneath the earth were the warrens of the wild rabbits I loved, the bunnies that ate the vegetables and flowers in the neighborhood nearby and that sometimes, unwittingly, brought poison home to their dens. Then, inside the earth and so far away from the man or woman who had laced a garden with toxic bait, an entire family of rabbits would curl into themselves and die." (22, The Lovely Bones)
I believe this is an allegory to Susie's family's reaction to her presumed death.
Lacking Susie's perspective, her family struggles even more. "Nothing is ever certain" becomes their motto whenever discussing the possibility of her death, though the evidence continues to mount. They begin to accept the idea of her death when the detective Len Fenerman informs them that they will be investigating Susie's disappearance as a homicide due to the evidence their search has uncovered (they never find the body). Each member of her family collapses into themselves in their own way, knowing the truth but not wanting to face it.
"Not so deep beneath the earth were the warrens of the wild rabbits I loved, the bunnies that ate the vegetables and flowers in the neighborhood nearby and that sometimes, unwittingly, brought poison home to their dens. Then, inside the earth and so far away from the man or woman who had laced a garden with toxic bait, an entire family of rabbits would curl into themselves and die." (22, The Lovely Bones)
I believe this is an allegory to Susie's family's reaction to her presumed death.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, Chapter 1
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is written in first person past tense; the narrator/protagonist is Susie Salmon, who is murdered at the age of fourteen by a neighbor. The story opens with these basic facts, and goes on to tell of her background and the events leading up to her murder. Sebold's timeline in the story goes between current events and memories of living in a spontaneous yet comprehensible way.
One of the first things that struck me was the authenticity of Susie's encounter with her murderer. Sebold, no stranger to violence herself (her memoir, Lucky, tells the story of her rape) creates a convincing exchange between Susie and Mr Harvey. I call this the interview, a term taken from Gavin deBecker's The Gift of Fear (which everyone should read; it could save your life). Ignoring the creepy feeling he gives her, Susie allows herself to become trapped in an underground room with Mr Harvey. Susie overrides her instincts during the interview in an attempt to be polite, thereby putting herself in a dangerous situation. Mr Harvey manipulates Susie's naivete by playing on her desire to be courteous: "Be polite and have a Coke...I'm sure the other kids would." (11, The Lovely Bones). He states that he built the hole as a kind of clubhouse for the neighborhood kids, which Susie knows is a lie but thinks the lie is rooted in Mr Harvey's loneliness as opposed to a more sinister motive. He continues to manipulate her emotionally before attacking and raping her, and beyond. He toys with her right up to the moment of killing her.
One phrase that struck a chord with me: "I thought it was the worst thing in the world to be lying flat on my back with a sweating man on top of me." (12, The Lovely Bones). The emphasis on "worst thing in the world" denotes her later realization that living through the experience, surviving and going on about her life, would actually have been a better outcome than her death. That the rape could become tolerable to live with if she had only had the opportunity to live beyond that experience.
I welcome the discussion of these ideas. I believe that the scenario depicted in the first chapter of The Lovely Bones is one that is highly relevant to all women, whether or not they have lived through a similar experience and also to men, who need some perspective in order to truly understand the women in their lives. Gavin deBecker succinctly boils down the innermost fears of men and women concerning the opposite sex when he states: "At core, men are afraid women will laugh at them, while at core, women are afraid men will kill them." (67, The Gift of Fear)
While this is an intensely emotionally charged subject, I ask that all comments be respectful of others points of view.
One of the first things that struck me was the authenticity of Susie's encounter with her murderer. Sebold, no stranger to violence herself (her memoir, Lucky, tells the story of her rape) creates a convincing exchange between Susie and Mr Harvey. I call this the interview, a term taken from Gavin deBecker's The Gift of Fear (which everyone should read; it could save your life). Ignoring the creepy feeling he gives her, Susie allows herself to become trapped in an underground room with Mr Harvey. Susie overrides her instincts during the interview in an attempt to be polite, thereby putting herself in a dangerous situation. Mr Harvey manipulates Susie's naivete by playing on her desire to be courteous: "Be polite and have a Coke...I'm sure the other kids would." (11, The Lovely Bones). He states that he built the hole as a kind of clubhouse for the neighborhood kids, which Susie knows is a lie but thinks the lie is rooted in Mr Harvey's loneliness as opposed to a more sinister motive. He continues to manipulate her emotionally before attacking and raping her, and beyond. He toys with her right up to the moment of killing her.
One phrase that struck a chord with me: "I thought it was the worst thing in the world to be lying flat on my back with a sweating man on top of me." (12, The Lovely Bones). The emphasis on "worst thing in the world" denotes her later realization that living through the experience, surviving and going on about her life, would actually have been a better outcome than her death. That the rape could become tolerable to live with if she had only had the opportunity to live beyond that experience.
I welcome the discussion of these ideas. I believe that the scenario depicted in the first chapter of The Lovely Bones is one that is highly relevant to all women, whether or not they have lived through a similar experience and also to men, who need some perspective in order to truly understand the women in their lives. Gavin deBecker succinctly boils down the innermost fears of men and women concerning the opposite sex when he states: "At core, men are afraid women will laugh at them, while at core, women are afraid men will kill them." (67, The Gift of Fear)
While this is an intensely emotionally charged subject, I ask that all comments be respectful of others points of view.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Introduction
Welcome to BookieMom, an online book discussion forum. Here's how it works: I read a book and make notes about the topics that speak to me. I then post the topics, sometimes using other books or references to support a statement. I will do my best to properly cite all references; any plagiarism is completely unintentional and will be addressed if it is brought to my attention.
I invite anyone and everyone to join the discussion, either by responding to the topics I post or by presenting their own related topics. I ask that everyone bear in mind that different people hold different beliefs and that those beliefs need to be respected, even if you don't agree with them. Disagreements will always be present in any aspect of human interaction, and online discussion forums are no exception. If you find yourself disagreeing with a post or comment, I encourage you to find a way to convey your own perspective in a positive manner. I will not tolerate personal attacks; any rude, antagonistic or discourteous comments will be deleted.
I am always open to suggestions for new reading material. Feel free to send me a message or post suggestions in the comments.
I invite anyone and everyone to join the discussion, either by responding to the topics I post or by presenting their own related topics. I ask that everyone bear in mind that different people hold different beliefs and that those beliefs need to be respected, even if you don't agree with them. Disagreements will always be present in any aspect of human interaction, and online discussion forums are no exception. If you find yourself disagreeing with a post or comment, I encourage you to find a way to convey your own perspective in a positive manner. I will not tolerate personal attacks; any rude, antagonistic or discourteous comments will be deleted.
I am always open to suggestions for new reading material. Feel free to send me a message or post suggestions in the comments.
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