The Lovely Bones

So I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to think about this book except that I’m supposed to like it.  Love it, even. The heroine is an innocent and lovely girl but haven’t we seen that before?  A strange pretty ingénue?  Hi Ophelia, hi Bella (Beauty and the Beast, not Twilight).  I found this novel boring.   It took me at least six sittings to read it over four years.  And I found the narrator unconvincing and insincere.  I had to pause and re-write so many sentences in my head that the book seemed jarring and unsettled.  Overall I thought the premise was original and intriguing, but the story just didn’t follow through on the promise I felt the first couple of chapters offered. 

I have to say: my mother, who is a fantastic writer, loved this book, and I spent the entire read trying to figure out why I couldn’t agree.  At first I could attribute my misgivings to the fact that the main character in the book shared a name with someone I love so dearly that I couldn’t wrap my brain around something so horrifying happening to her.  So I gave it (yet again) another chance.  Ultimately, this book just wasn’t for me.  I’d like to hear other opinions.   So far all I’ve heard was “It’s so good!” but no substance or reason why.  So tell me, am I wrong?  I’m currently 84% through; maybe I’ll have a revelation tomorrow.  But it’s been a long road, forcing myself through this book.  Disclaimer: I LOVED The Help so don’t bring me any of that Oprah-book-club-makes-it-suck-BS.

PS Spoiler alert.  Obvi the girl dies in the opening of this novel and the disintegration of her family is heartbreaking and (I am sure but I whish was not) a very real portrayal of families in similar situations but for god’s sake, there’s a reason I don’t read Jodi Picoult and maybe that’s my entire problem here.  Why this is on Rory’s (or my mom’s) book list, I will never understand.

Great books about sadness (if that’s what you’re in the mood for):

A Prayer for Owen Meany

The Sun Also Rises

This Side of Paradise – obviously, Fitzgerald in general

A Staggering Work of Extraordinary Genius

Perks of Being a Wallflower

A Confederacy of Dunces

The Bell Jar

Lafcadio (my favorite childhood book)

Tuck Everlasting (2^nd favorite)

UPDATE:

Ok so football sucks tonight and baseball is over for the day.  GREAT baseball game but I still wish football would have been more entertaining.  Or, fine, give us a boring game, but at least my pick should have won.  Vikes at home lose to Tampa Bay?!  Any given Sunday (or Thursday), I guess.  Even the Packers fan in my league picked the Vikings this week.  Sheesh. [[By the way, any thoughts on Ben & Kate?  That show is getting a lot of this-week-on-Fox love during the Series]]

So I thought I’d try to finish Lovely Bones.  Here we go.

Ugh giving up.  This sentence:

I had left him for hours every day for eight and a half year as I had left my mother or Ruth and Ray, my brother and sister, and certainly Mr. Harvey, but he, I now saw, had never left me.

HE WHO?!  Who is HE?  That sentence sums up why I can’t finish this book and even more supports why I cannot fathom why other, smarter people love it. 

“he” in that sentence could be:

-       him

-       Ray

-       my brother

-       Mr. Harvey

And no, context didn’t matter.  84% it remains.

Don't Trust the B----

Rebecca loves this show.  And if you aren't watching it, it is stupid and fun. Kristen Ritter is crazy, and James Van Der Beek plays himself. On the premiere last night this picture happened--

So if you haven't watched it do it.  Because Rafiki and Simba James Van Der Beek want you to.

Confession & Announcement

In her life, Leah has followed some really horrible shows.  Bad sports teams and guilty pleasures are one thing, but we knew we were at rock bottom when ABC Family came out with Secret Life of the American Teenager.  Only Rebecca knew that Lean watched it and they called it “Terrible Show” so no one would know.  Thankfully Terrible Show eventually got so bad that Leah stopped watching and can now truthfully join the rest of the tv world in the scorn and distaste which the show deserves.

Enter Terrible Show 2, also thanks to the crazies at ABC Family: Switched at Birth.  This has been out for one long season, really two medium-length, and Leah has to admit that she does like it and was truly a little bummed after its season finale last night.

Texts between Leah (watching) and Rebecca (definitely not watching):

7.05 Leah: Just finished raking the backyard and sitting down for the fall finale of the horrible show

7.12 Leah: They’re having like a graffiti turf war on this show right now.

7.17 Leah: And this guy is about to be busted for sleeping with the high school student please yes

7.40 Rebecca: Always sleeping with high schoolers

7.40 Leah: He broke up with her and immediately they flashed the twitter handle #DaphneDumped. I hate myself.

7.40 Rebecca: HA HA

7.41 Rebecca: ZOMG IM SO SAD TGAT GUY WAS A LOOSER NEWAY #DaphneDumped

7.42 Rebecca: Nailed it.

7.43 Leah: Ha ha ha, totally.

7.44 Leah: Or ZOMG BUT HE IS STILL SO HOTTTTTTT I LOVE OLDER GUYZ

7.45 Rebecca: LUV <3

7.48 Leah: Ha yes missed that one

7.49 Leah: And I’m pretty sure one of the actors non-ironically called someone else a “looney-tic”

7.52 Rebecca: Gross

8.01 Leah: Oh it’s over until January.  I'm a little sad.     

 (Ohai Raj from 90210)

And finally an announcement.  We will be having a guest blogger, our friend Lorelai, nickname BK, contributing to the page sometime soon.  BK watches Vampire Diaries, is crafty, and has tons of great recipes to share.  Welcome!!

One more thing:

He totally deserved it.

Vampire Diaries-Memorial

Rebecca : I feel like I'm going to want to dagger Elena this season
Leah: I was holding out hope
Leah: ha ha
Rebecca : Her compassion
Rebecca : shut up
Rebecca : I want to see Elena's crazy eyes
Leah: "compassion" should be in the drinking game if it's not already
Rebecca : agree
Leah: ew
Leah: humanity
Leah: It looks more disgusting on her
Rebecca : oh god stop crying
Leah: I mean she ate animals as a human
Leah: What's the big deal
Rebecca : I'm surprised that human elena wasn't a vegan
Leah: ha ha
Rebecca : cause she is that obnoxious
Rebecca : hot
Rebecca : I'm so glad that they are together
Leah: This is why teenage goth girls want to be vampires
Rebecca : yes vampire sex
Leah: Good girl Elena
Leah: ha ha
Leah: wait what
Rebecca : hahah
Leah: hmm
Rebecca : barf
Leah: that can't be a good sign
Rebecca : MAYBE SHE'S PREGNANT
Leah: FUCK NO
Rebecca : commerical
Rebecca : HALP BALLA
Leah: same
Rebecca : HAHA
Leah: HALP BALLA is so funny
Rebecca : HALP, BALLA! TEH OTHER VAMPAHRS DON’T LAIK TEH BEBBE RENAZMEH! OTHER VAMPAHRS JALLUS. YEW GO GED LLAMA AND RUN THREW SNOW. BUT PUD ON YER COAT, TEH SNOW GIVE COLDZ.
Rebecca : http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2012/10/twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2-final-poster
Rebecca : who is this?
Leah: Yeah who is that
Rebecca : it's a black guy, that means he is a wizard
Leah: And ha ha
Leah: Call Bonnie!
Rebecca : and Bonnie is going to fall in love with him
Rebecca : HA
Leah: I love moody drinking Damon
Rebecca : agree
Leah: Are they not bros anymore?
Rebecca : Damon would have ripped their heads off
Rebecca : see
Leah: ha ha dinner party
Rebecca : Liz's makeup is good
Rebecca : what up new guy
Leah: Nice fingerless glove bro
Rebecca : busy body guy
Rebecca : Jeremy is getting hotter every episode
Leah: Oh the town event this week is the memorial
Leah: HE IS
Rebecca : and the memorial is probably at night
Rebecca : cause all their events are
Leah: Ah the returning boarding school story
Rebecca : oh her dad was the crazy one
Leah: "boarding school" = pregnant
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : who did she just call?
Leah: Caroline
Rebecca : from the  year she was born?
Leah: she didn't tell him she puked?
Rebecca : 1993
Leah: not gonna lie champagne looks good
Leah: I love how they all drink constantly in this show
Rebecca : yep
Leah: They're 18
Leah: Did the note from the pastor have a confession in it?
Rebecca : it was to that girl
Leah: Oh right it said April
Rebecca : do it
Leah: Don't do it!
Rebecca : do it
Rebecca : oh it's like they are doing it
Rebecca : if he said it was personal she is being a slut
Leah: Stefan is going to be super jelly
Rebecca : this is slutty
Leah: agree
Leah: Ohai!
Rebecca : haha his face
Leah: grief sex is a thing
Leah: I agree
Rebecca : haha
Leah: Don't be a tease Caroline
Rebecca : she totally is
Rebecca : they are all having a lot of non sex on this show
Leah: ha ha
Leah: Interrupted sex
Leah: TYLER
Leah: YOUR MOM NEEDS YOU
Rebecca : yell for tyler!
Rebecca : CAN'T THEY HEAR THIS CONVERSATION
Leah: good
Leah: OH GOD
Rebecca : OH SHIT
Leah: Vervaine gloves
Rebecca : bad ass
Leah: that was awesome
Rebecca : and she catches them having sex upstairs
Leah: Get a sweater dress Caroline
Rebecca : are they pulling bullets out on the couch?
Leah: yeah
Rebecca : get a tarp
Leah: ha ha
Leah: Is "spelled" a verb now?
Rebecca : yes
Rebecca : drink
Leah: pretty dress
Rebecca : no black dress?
Leah: no sweaters in church?
Leah: April has pretty eyes
Rebecca : yeah
Leah: So many orphans in this town
Rebecca : your dad was crazy
Leah: Better that she doesn't know I guess
Leah: don't eat the new girl!
Rebecca : do it
Leah: oh shit
Leah: Oh I don't like the back of the dress
Rebecca : well now its ruined
Leah: ha ha
Leah: Am I being insensitive that I don't get why Bonnie’s upset?
Leah: Grams was already dead
Rebecca : She fucked up
Rebecca : Grams told her not to
Rebecca : Bonnie looks pretty
Leah: She looks super pretty
Leah: Wouldn't you be like, um whose blood is that?
Rebecca : hmmm that's bad timing
Rebecca : oh noes
Leah: Forget the mirror, wipe your face
Rebecca : use your vampire powers to clean up
Leah: Did Stefan warn Damon?
Rebecca : must have
Leah: Phew
Leah: HA HA ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP
Rebecca : that is funny
Rebecca : I'm surprised Damon didn't grab a super slutty dress
Rebecca : OMG
Leah: the fuck?!
Rebecca : whaaat Leah: ha ha just right out in the open
Rebecca : yep
Rebecca : how about a cup
Leah: HA
Leah: Matt will do it for her
Rebecca : maybe I'm better off dead
Rebecca : drink
Leah: uh oh Damon....
Leah: Stefan and Elena could have fun as rippers
Leah: UH OH
Rebecca : oh shit
Leah: eek
Rebecca : what the fuck
Rebecca : haha caroline
Rebecca : OMG
Rebecca : he's going to snipe the crowd
Leah: they did a good job of making her look pale and weak
Rebecca : Elena sit the fuck down
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : gross
Leah: Oh he's trying to trap them
Rebecca : this is amazing
Leah: This is seriously one of the best episodes
Rebecca : sorry
Leah: time to go home Elena
Rebecca : I'm going to go rip his head off now.
Leah: Nailed it
Rebecca : oh matt
Rebecca : you totally nailed it
Leah: that was kind of hot
Rebecca : I was just going to say that
Leah: Ha ha Damon
Rebecca : haha Matt keep eye contact with Stefan
Leah: that was much cleaner than her previous attempts
Leah: NO NO NO
Leah: NO TYLER
Rebecca : He can't kill Tyler
Rebecca : Hybrid bitch
Leah: He must realize that his bullets didn't kill Tyler
Rebecca : Tyler's poor mom
Leah: Good thinking Carol
Leah: yes
Leah: no
Rebecca : oh no
Leah: Damon didn't you just hear Tyler's speech about working as a team
Rebecca : you know what.
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : Elena is going to kill her
Leah: I think so too
Leah: Oh good Caroline
Rebecca : she's such a good friend
Rebecca : maybe they'll write Bonnie off this show
Leah: If this gets too "keep Elena pure" I'll be annoyed
Leah: That was what was so great about Caroline's transition, she made mistakes
Rebecca : she didn't have anyone
Leah: She had Stefan!
Leah: And Bonnie made her a sunlight ring!
Rebecca : oh yeah
Leah: Maybe she can't compel
Leah: Never mind
Rebecca : Matt looks good too
Leah: Yeah he does!
Rebecca : what?
Leah: UH OH
Rebecca : who is this guy?!
Leah: what a dick
Rebecca : drinking again
Leah: Oh my god is someone finally holding Elena accountable for something?
Rebecca : YAY Stefan!
Leah: It should mean a lot to her
Rebecca : I didn't want to hurt you
Rebecca : shut up
Leah: Damon did tell her, to be fair
Rebecca : HE DID
Rebecca : oh god
Rebecca : My life is a never ending funeral
Rebecca : shut up
Leah: ha you're not feeling this little speech?
Leah: I love when the gang's all together
Rebecca : I agree
Rebecca : who damon all killed
Rebecca : fucking Lexie
Leah: ha ha
Leah: this is actually really sad
Rebecca : this is good
Leah: that's a long list poor Jeremy
Rebecca : whos grave is that?
Leah: Ric?
Rebecca : awwww
Leah: awwwww
Leah: His buddy
Rebecca : I love him
Leah: what the what
Rebecca : I'm really sad for Damon
Rebecca : he lost his bro
Rebecca : I miss you too buddy
Leah: SAD
Rebecca : that was so sad
Leah: what a great great episode



Leah: A +++++++
Rebecca: This was one of the best episodes of the series.

Revenge-Confidence

Leah: SCARY
Rebecca : super scary
Rebecca : I love those dogs!
Leah: I hate them
Rebecca : I miss other Japanese guy
Leah: nightmare dogs
Leah: THEY ALL BELIEVE HER
Leah: Victoria
Rebecca : uh oh
Rebecca : some pay thing happened with the faculty
Leah: I love that white coat
Leah: I am happy  he misses Emily
Leah: She did make him a better person
Rebecca : He wanted to be mad at her
Leah: tic tacs ooooh mysterious
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : I don't like this new guy
Leah: He is scary
Leah: I don't get why Victoria still hates her so much
Rebecca : I guess he is making sure that Emily gets what she wanted
Rebecca : Victoria hates everyone
Leah: No give Nolan the phone!
Leah: Not this guy!
Rebecca : agree
Leah: WHAT IS HE DOING
Rebecca : OMG DECLAN
Rebecca : STOP
Rebecca : OMG
Rebecca : STOP
Leah: EEEK
Rebecca : He is so dumb
Rebecca : haha
Leah: ha ha is she smelling the booze?
Rebecca : yeah
Leah: That's funny
Leah: So we don't officially know if the baby is Jack's
Rebecca : I think it is but Emily lied to Amanda?
Leah: She's pretty demanding considering
Rebecca : nice Charlotte
Leah: Very nice
Leah: I get where he's coming from though
Rebecca : Her forehead looks terrible
Leah: Are they "back together" now?!
Rebecca : Gross Ashley
Rebecca : you would think Victoria would have super tiny stitches on her forehead
Rebecca : so she doesn't scar
Leah: She wants the attention
Rebecca : HA
Leah: Cute shirt Ems
Rebecca : is that a bullet hole?
Rebecca : oh god
Rebecca : Rebecca
Leah: I seriously can't take her as another person
Leah: Another role
Rebecca : nope
Leah: ha ha Nolan
Leah: I think it's time for those two to accept that they're friends
Rebecca : Nolan is kinda cute now
Leah: Yeah he looks great this season
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : emily what a B
Leah: hilarious though
Rebecca : totally deserves it
Rebecca : She didn't check him while he was out?
Leah: I guess not
Leah: what did she mean by that?
Leah: "half sister at that"
Rebecca : no idea
Leah: I love Emily's hair
Rebecca : It looks great
Leah: Victoria is being crazy
Rebecca : She has crazy secrets though
Rebecca : I don't blame her
Leah: What else is that guy in?  ANything?
Leah: Emily has video of Conrad beating her up
Leah: Nice
Rebecca : no gloves white ninja?
Rebecca : EMILYS MOM
Leah: bye bye accent
Leah: Really??
Leah: MEAN EMILY
Rebecca : Emily is being a B
Leah: Yeah she is completely manipulating Amanda
Rebecca : fukcing rebecca
Leah: Is Nolan into chicks now?
Rebecca : OF COURSE the number is going to help
Rebecca : Emily is going to get a dummy phone
Rebecca : and so people call that
Rebecca : DUR
Leah: Rebecca thinks they're together
Leah: And she actually is sad
Leah: Weird
Rebecca : Rebecca stop looking like a librarian
Leah: Jack is so unhappy
Rebecca : yep
Leah: They never talked about what happened
Rebecca : nope
Leah: Oh sad I just remembered the dog died
Rebecca : oh they did talk about it
Leah: The dog knew who the real Amanda was
Leah: They did?
Rebecca : yeah Jack came and said thank you
Leah: Conrad sucks
Rebecca : Conrad is crazier than Victoria
Leah: I'm glad Lydia is dead, is that bad?
Rebecca : ME TOO
Rebecca : not bad
Rebecca : WHY DOES NO ONE EVER TURN ON A GD LIGHT
Leah: Uh oh
Leah: ha ha seriously
Leah: NOT ANYMORE
Rebecca : shoot him
Leah: What does she want with that stupid watch
Rebecca : are they going to do it
Leah: I hope so!
Rebecca : oh they love each other
Rebecca : awww
Rebecca : do it
Leah: awwww
Leah: Of course his name is Aiden
Rebecca : ooh hot
Leah: I suppose they had to do something like this since she can't have Daniel or Jack
Leah: Sad he failed
Rebecca : Daniel, Jack, Aiden all hot boy names
Leah: Agree
Leah: So that was definitely her mom huh
Rebecca : yep
Leah: don't go Nolan!
Leah: why does she think that?
Rebecca : cause of the watch
Leah: Oh because of the watch?
Leah: WERE THEY TOGETHER
Rebecca : ick
Rebecca : intimately
Rebecca : DON"T LEAVE NOLAN
Rebecca : why can't they be friends
Leah: Emily needs someone there with her, she's too alone all the time
Leah: To the Grayson's yo!
Rebecca : fuck you jack
Leah: Amanda was the one who asked her to be godmother
Leah: STUPID DECLAN
Rebecca : so stupid
Rebecca : you are big trouble little buddy
Rebecca : oh god
Rebecca : make the van move ashley
Leah: so good looking
Leah: Yes throw Victoria under the bus
Leah: WHOA
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : Emily has shocked down
Rebecca : oh I'm so surprised!
Rebecca : DECLAN
Rebecca : don't lie
Leah: hot dad
Rebecca : yeah
Leah: another hot rich dad
Leah: He;s not going to be able to give it back
Rebecca : nope
Leah: He only has half of it
Leah: This guy is kind of serial killer huh?
Rebecca : his blue eyes are creepy
Leah: Why would he be nice like that
Rebecca : cute dress
Leah: Now they owe him
Rebecca : yep
Leah: Super cute dress
Leah: good work Amanda
Rebecca : totally
Leah: Oh and it's during her Vanity Fair interview too!
Rebecca : yep!
Leah: Charlotte is so dumb
Rebecca : I hate when charlotte says "my father"
Leah: She has good plots this season
Rebecca : yeah
Rebecca : ooh
Rebecca : Daniel sad
Rebecca : hot
Leah: The Grayson children are not happy with their parents
Rebecca : nope
Rebecca : OH SNAP
Leah: OH SHIT VICTORIA
Rebecca : This is the best family ever
Leah: Theon Greyjoy
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : totally
Rebecca : Head on a Pike is super dramatic
Leah: Conrad's right they should leave
Rebecca : now kiss
Leah: ha ha
Leah: YES
Rebecca : Daniel looks smokin hot right now
Leah: He looks a little too republican for me
Rebecca : oh snap
Rebecca : emily
Leah: Ugh Emily
Rebecca : I feel bad for Amanda
Rebecca : she is just a dumb girl
Leah: I do too
Leah: She just wants a family and she's so gullible
Rebecca : oh shit
Leah: WHAAAA
Rebecca : WHAT NOW CHARLOTTE
Leah: Poor Charlotte
Rebecca : it's what she wanted
Leah: YESSSSS
Leah: Phone call
Leah: that's Emily
Rebecca : oh the higher powers
Leah: She is good
Rebecca : no she is standing next to him
Leah: They can't do anything now
Rebecca : that couldn't have been emily
Leah: It was recorded?
Leah: DON'T DO IT DANIEL
Rebecca : haha
Rebecca : Victoria always wins
Rebecca : EMILY
Leah: He's the boy Amanda in this show
Rebecca : hahaha
Leah: NO WAY
Rebecca : NOT ASHLEY
Leah: AMANDA
Rebecca : OH
Rebecca : shit
Rebecca : oh no jack
Leah: Uh ohhhhhhh
Rebecca : haha no one loves you ashley
Leah: There's no way Emily could have known that
Leah: Right?
Rebecca : Ashley looked like he was ready to walk up
Leah: Yeah bitch please (to Ashley)
Leah: Emily looks real shocked
Leah: That was a really good twist
Rebecca : yep
Leah: And they all looked beautiful and powerful standing up there
Leah: So no one but Nolan and Emily know the white haired man is dead right?
Leah: Well and white ninja
Rebecca : yeah
Leah: Daniel plotting?
Leah: He's too dumb for that
Rebecca : I think he's too stupid
Rebecca : why is she still there
Rebecca : uh oh
Leah: WHAT CONRAD
Rebecca : what?
Rebecca : wedding?
Leah: They're getting remarried!
Rebecca : gross
Leah: Conrad and Victoria!
Rebecca : the white haired man?
Rebecca : is that who they are talking about?
Leah: I guess
Rebecca : Jack face needs to calm down
Leah: Good lying Amanda
Leah: This is kind of sad
Rebecca : Jack loves Emily
Rebecca : and he is using this
Leah: Well Jack has always loved Emily
Rebecca : can't tell if this guy is hot or not
Rebecca : white ninja
Leah: I liked him better with an American passport
Leah: accent
Rebecca : he has little eyes
Leah: so this is when they were supposed to meet at midnight
Rebecca : yeah
Rebecca : oh that is why she is pissed at him
Rebecca : cause he left without her
Leah: for his sister!
Leah: Her hatred seems a little harsh
Leah: What do you want to bet he didn't really leave her?
Rebecca : OH NO
Leah: YES
Rebecca : Emily's mom loved him!!!
Leah: I KNOW
Leah: And she was hearing her voice for the first time
Leah: that was a great episode
Leah: I want Emily to start getting some more revenge though
Rebecca : that is emily's mom on the phone
Rebecca : I just listened to it again
Rebecca : it has to be
Leah: Yes
Leah: For sure
Leah: She must have left the message right after she realized white ninja wasn't a cop