The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (2002, Hardcover)

Although the perspective was unique (murdered girl looking down from heaven), I found little else to recommend this book. I fail to understand what kept it on the best-seller list for so long. I found the writing style awkward, the plot forced and the ending disappointing. The grisly retelling of the rape and murder was beyond good taste, rather like the over-use of profanity of certain movies--unnecessrily overdone. The graphic details were in sharp constrast with the themes of forgiveness and peace in the afterlife.