D E A T H .... How final is it? Why is it that we are cajoled into believing that Heaven is a beautiful place to be in? Why is Life so rudely taken away from a person? The dreams, ambitions, aspirations, hopes nourished are shattered by one horrible inconvenience…. D E A T H
Innumerable questions, not one convincing answer. When faced with tragedy, many people find themselves questioning their belief in God. Many people take ages to come to terms with something so soul shattering as the death of a near and dear one.
Self help books, Counsellors, Therapy, Meditation… try them all and yet that emptiness is never filled. Why?
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold gives you no answers. It is but just a fable. No guarantees of instant healing. Nothing. The book is about a 14 year old girl named Susie Salmon who on the unfortunate day of 6th December 1973 was raped and then murdered.
No it is not even about finding the rapist and murderer. The book is an account of Susie Salmons ‘Life’ after Death.
Susie Salmon –the main protagonist on being raped and murdered talks about her life, her rape, her death, her transit to heaven, her dealing with the fact that she is dead, her worldly relationships which she has yet not let go off. She talks about her feelings, her emotions, Most importantly she talks about her ‘Heaven’.
When thinking about Heaven most of us find ourselves picturing angels, and cupids and saints and basically all things nice and beautiful. In Susie’s heaven you will find her talking about buildings she wanted to live in. Cushy swings that she can jump on. Friends of hers that had left for the heavenly abode. Everything she always wanted when alive.
The one thing that is really interesting is to see that heaven changes according to the way Susie deals with her death. Heaven is not constant here. Heaven is not a place Susie likes even though she is surrounded by everything her small heart desires, she misses just one thing---Life. The chance to experience everything on a first hand basis.The chance to experience her first kiss, her graduation day, her family dinners. The chance to experience herself grow from a 14 year old girl to a beautiful lady.
The book also showcases the fall of an otherwise loving family in the wake of tragedy. It also brings to light various ways in which people deal with the loss of a loved one.
In the case of Susie’s family, the father becomes obsessed in finding the murderer. The mother has an illicit affair as she succumbs to the need of finding an emotional outlet which she doesn’t get from her family.
Susie’s younger sister Lindsey becomes over protective about her family. The torture of resembling Susie and being her constant reminder in the family, neighbourhood, high school, society makes her at times resent her sister.
Buckley the 4 year old brother of Susie and Lindsey seems to deal with the situation by going in denial. His young mind cannot fathom the sudden change of attitudes, atmosphere and relationships at home. A constant question asked by him is ‘Where is Susie?’
The Lovely Bones touches you in many ways….. giving a detailed account of every character and their emotions would be a highly impossible task for a 8000 word limit review.
When Susie is being raped by her neighbour Mr Harvey , the reader actually finds themselves there. You would want to reach out and help her but find yourself absolutely helpless. When you hear about her elbow being found, you cannot help but shed a tear.
When Susie’s boy friend Ray Singh (an Indian) declares his love for her in the school year book….. you cry for unrequited love. When Susie’s father is on a mad hunt to trace the murderer you find yourself giving him clues.
When Susie’s mother needs emotional support you want to be her pillar of strength. When Lindsey cries out in the night, you cry with her.
Most importantly when you find Susie yearning for her family, you are reminded of how precious and beautiful life is, of how important family is, of how important is your perception of ‘True Heaven’.
The book does not answer any questions, but it acts as a soothing balm. The story though fictional makes you connect with the characters. It makes you feel for them.
A book that talks about raw unleashed emotions .A book that shows you a faint hint of light in the darkest of places.
A must read for people facing and dealing with tragedy. A must read for people in search of their ‘True Heaven’.