BITTERSWEET

I was given a copy of the book, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

I was hesitant at first because the book has no recall whatsoever, aside from the fact that it has been materialized in a movie in 2009.

I have the right to hold judgment as I have bought random books that turned out to be a waste of time and money. Horrible finds.

But then I gave it a try, and boy I made a right decision. It was an awesome read.

I just finished reading the book last night and the euphoria of how I managed to get through this melodramatic book still hugs me like a mother does to her child. It was hard to find the right words to explain the whole book and yet, it came to my head swiftly. BITTERSWEET.

Susie Salmon is fourteen then when she was raped and murdered by the most unlikely suspect in their neighborhood. With the end to her life is the beginning for her family and the people around her. The whole family; Jack, Abigail, Lyndsey, Buckley and even Grandma Lynn as well as two people she has last made connection with on Earth; Ray and Ruth.

To her, watching their every struggle to move on from her death and finding happiness eventually was both bitter and sweet. For in their sadness, she felt missed and in their happiness, she has been missed.

Susie was just starting to live her dreams when a man took it away from her. The only refuge to her desperation is seeing Lyndsey grow better in time. Sisters do quarrel a lot. They seek attention; they compete on anything especially for the affection of their parents. But no matter how hard they pull each other’s hair, or say the harshest words at each other, sisters have a special bond that even your bestest friend cannot give.

The way Susie watched over Lyndsey and how proud she felt for her, breaks the barriers of their sisterhood rivalry. Susie might have been stuck on her 14 year old self, but her heart and her head grew to a woman, to the big sister she’s supposed to be.

Being apart makes love grow deeper. This was true in the case of Jack and Abigail, Susie's parents. I guess their fallout was not entirely caused by Susie's death. It was in the intent to break out from the routine of their family ties with Abigail, and Jack's intent to keep everything to a whole new routine. It's in these intentions that they collided and sought refuge in someone else. Len and her dreams for Abigail, and their kids for Jack.

It may have ended nicely for them, but I am still unconvinced with Abigail, because if not for Jack's heart failure, will she ever return to her family?

And who says young love doesn't last? I am dumbfounded by Sam Heckler's eternal love for Lyndsey. He and his brother, Hal, has been a great help to the Salmons. I could not wait to find such great men in my life. :P

Sam had to endure college for Lyndsey. That really sealed the deal with them. As for Ray and Susie, time and separation is nothing to their love. Years after Susie's death and they still yearn for each other. Though Ruth has been a great friend for Ray, his heart never forgot the girl that she wanted to be the "moor" for. 

I found Buckley to be such a sweet kid, and I feel the pain in his innocence to deal with Susie's death and their mother's departure. And I feel for him as well after seeing his mother who has abandoned them for eight years. 

Grandma Lynn served to be the calming force in the family, amidst her loud statements and vague views in life. I actually liked her.

As for George Harvey, the murderer, every serial killer has a mental incapacity or emotional tortures from the past that are too hard to bear. Watching CSI made me realize that not all serial killers are just psychos and bloodthirsty individuals. They sometimes have a story to tell or a mistake to realize. Their satisfaction will never be enough, hence their serial crimes. He is a sick man though. 

It may seem like a typical family story, but nothing is typical with a family story seen through and narrated from a dead girl in her own heaven.

Now that is another topic.