The Lovely Bones - Page 2

Ea · 01-19-2010, 10:16 AM

I didn't put anything into the description of the after-life. I don't believe in an after-life, but here it worked as part of the story, a story-telling device. I guess I'm a little puzzled over 'empathising' with the notion of heaven or not and whether that would influence one's view of the story.

montsnmags · 01-19-2010, 10:43 AM

I cannot empathise, share the feeling of, relate to, appreciate the conception of the character in and the abilities within and parameters of the afterlife, and it's somewhat pivotal role in the book. A lack of ability to empathise, to share the feeling of, to appreciate the concept of that afterlife lead to a reduction in interest in the book for me.

I have no expectation that anyone would share my personal notions and abilities and empathies and by some extension taste. I do not extend the probable basis for my lack of empathy (the personal makeup of my lack of belief in an afterlife) to others with a similar lack of belief. However, that personal lack of belief in an afterlife made it difficult for me to extend any empathy to the parts of the story that relied on that afterlife and the workings of one of the story's characters from that afterlife.

I didn't relate to it. Thus distance and some disinterest. Lack of empathy.

Cheers,
Marc

Ea · 01-19-2010, 10:50 AM

Thanks

I didn't mean to critisise or anything, I just didn't understand what you meant, because I couldn't say I empathised espcially with the characters myself, but I did enjoy the story. I can 'do' sympathy, but generally I'm not so good at empathy.

desertgrandma · 01-19-2010, 11:04 AM

Read the story, wanted to throw it in the trash........

Lets see. A young girl is raped, murdered, and her body dismembered by a serial killer and her parents have no clue what happened to her. Then.......she has to watch her family being destroyed by this...they have to live their lives wondering, wondering....

Maybe because I empathized with the child throughout her ordeal, and then with her parents.

Could you not feel the pain, the horror, the fear this child lived thru? I did.

Could you not feel the anguish of the parents? I did.

I'm sorry I ever picked it up.

Not depressing? If I read books like this on a regular basis, I'd put a bullet in my head.

Sorry.......but thats just me. I can't read about crap like this and take a lofty view of the literary aspects.

Dr. Drib · 01-19-2010, 11:26 AM

And yet, for those who picked it up and didn't care for it - in any form or method - are [mostly] able to engage in an adult, passionate, detailed, and informative dialogue with other people on this thread who may not share their views regarding what they think about the story's premise (or lack thereof).

Don

montsnmags · 01-19-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Thanks

I didn't mean to critisise or anything, I just didn't understand what you meant, because I couldn't say I empathised espcially with the characters myself, but I did enjoy the story. I can 'do' sympathy, but generally I'm not so good at empathy.

I'm sorry if I came across as defensive. I may have been, just a little, which means it would pay me not to try write responses at near 2am from bed on that little on-screen iPhone keyboard. Thanks for your patience with me.

Cheers,
Marc

AbFabGab · 01-21-2010, 10:29 AM

I read the book (it's been awhile) and it was a good read (for me). I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw the movie trailers and said "What???"

Sparrow · 02-06-2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I cannot empathise, share the feeling of, relate to, appreciate the conception of the character in and the abilities within and parameters of the afterlife, and it's somewhat pivotal role in the book. A lack of ability to empathise, to share the feeling of, to appreciate the concept of that afterlife lead to a reduction in interest in the book for me.

Yes, that's a good summary of my opinion too. I found it a difficult book to engage with, and one that I struggled to finish.

The idea that dead people spend their time snooping on us is horrific

- so Susie Salmon was a character I took an instant dislike to.
It's a book that appeals more to women than men imho.

A better book (in my view) dealing with similar themes is 'The Child in Time' by Ian McEwan.

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01-19-2010, 10:16 AM	#16
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I didn't put anything into the description of the after-life. I don't believe in an after-life, but here it worked as part of the story, a story-telling device. I guess I'm a little puzzled over 'empathising' with the notion of heaven or not and whether that would influence one's view of the story.

01-19-2010, 10:43 AM	#17
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I cannot empathise, share the feeling of, relate to, appreciate the conception of the character in and the abilities within and parameters of the afterlife, and it's somewhat pivotal role in the book. A lack of ability to empathise, to share the feeling of, to appreciate the concept of that afterlife lead to a reduction in interest in the book for me. I have no expectation that anyone would share my personal notions and abilities and empathies and by some extension taste. I do not extend the probable basis for my lack of empathy (the personal makeup of my lack of belief in an afterlife) to others with a similar lack of belief. However, that personal lack of belief in an afterlife made it difficult for me to extend any empathy to the parts of the story that relied on that afterlife and the workings of one of the story's characters from that afterlife. I didn't relate to it. Thus distance and some disinterest. Lack of empathy. Cheers, Marc

01-19-2010, 10:50 AM	#18
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Thanks I didn't mean to critisise or anything, I just didn't understand what you meant, because I couldn't say I empathised espcially with the characters myself, but I did enjoy the story. I can 'do' sympathy, but generally I'm not so good at empathy.

01-19-2010, 11:04 AM	#19
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Read the story, wanted to throw it in the trash........ Lets see. A young girl is raped, murdered, and her body dismembered by a serial killer and her parents have no clue what happened to her. Then.......she has to watch her family being destroyed by this...they have to live their lives wondering, wondering.... Maybe because I empathized with the child throughout her ordeal, and then with her parents. Could you not feel the pain, the horror, the fear this child lived thru? I did. Could you not feel the anguish of the parents? I did. I'm sorry I ever picked it up. Not depressing? If I read books like this on a regular basis, I'd put a bullet in my head. Sorry.......but thats just me. I can't read about crap like this and take a lofty view of the literary aspects.

01-19-2010, 11:26 AM	#20
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,448 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	And yet, for those who picked it up and didn't care for it - in any form or method - are [mostly] able to engage in an adult, passionate, detailed, and informative dialogue with other people on this thread who may not share their views regarding what they think about the story's premise (or lack thereof). Don

01-21-2010, 10:29 AM	#22
AbFabGab Gadget-Luster Posts: 330 Karma: 2157280 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NY - USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Galaxy Tab S2	I read the book (it's been awhile) and it was a good read (for me). I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw the movie trailers and said "What???"

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