In her first novel `The Lovely Bones', Alice Sebold explores the effect of a death on a family, and how they can rebuild themselves in the aftermath. The novel causes the reader to rethink their ideas on the Afterlife. The novel deals with almost unthinkable subjects with humour, intelligence and a kind of mysterious grace that compels you to read more.

`The Lovely Bones' is a haunting novel narrated in first person by Susie Salmon. Susie is a 14 year old girl who was raped and murdered by her neighbour, Mr Harvey. The novel is really her post-death diary, recollecting her brutal and untimely loss of childhood innocence. As we read on, we are faced with many emotions, such as sorrow and pity, which puts us in the position of one of Susie's family members. It is this faint similarity that helps us to understand the novel to its...