The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

hotncmom · February 4th, 2008, 04:21 PM

I got this book for Christmas and it is one of the weirdest books I've ever read. Any insights? No spoilers, please, I haven't finished it yet.

Dixie Normos · February 4th, 2008, 04:22 PM

Sorry, I've only read The Lovely Bones by her.

sputnik · February 4th, 2008, 04:42 PM

i read the lovely bones and her bad writing turned me off. is this one any better?

hotncmom · February 4th, 2008, 04:52 PM

Bad writing? I thought the Lovely Bones was, well, lovely. To me it was haunting and beautifully written.

This one is weird. The main character is a woman in her 50's that has just suffocated her elderly mother. And then she leaves and goes and fucks her best friend's son (age 30). And calls her ex-husband to help her cover it up. It's just bizarre. The woman's relationship with her mom (explained in flashbacks) is love/hate.

But it is interesting and I'm going to keep reading just to see if she gets caught.

witchcurlgirl · February 4th, 2008, 06:14 PM

I read the Lovely Bones and didn't like it either.....The only thing I know about the Almost Moon is the NY Times Book Review panned it.

Laurent · February 4th, 2008, 06:30 PM

I read The Lovely Bones and her memoir Lucky. I liked both books, and Lucky may give you a little insight into why she writes so dark. The book concerns her own rape and the aftermath in a very detailed way.

birdmadgirl · February 4th, 2008, 08:03 PM

I liked "The Lovely Bones" and "Lucky" but I'm not so crazy about this one. It just isn't written very well.

COVERGERL · February 4th, 2008, 08:55 PM

Supposedly there is a glitch in the book, did anyone catch it?

At one point the body is referred to being one spot but the main character never put it there.

sputnik · February 5th, 2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurent

I read The Lovely Bones and her memoir Lucky. I liked both books, and Lucky may give you a little insight into why she writes so dark. The book concerns her own rape and the aftermath in a very detailed way.

it's not the darkness i take issue with, it's her limitations as a writer. she's pretty terrible. i agree the lovely bones had its moments - the premise was a good one, the character of the dead girl was nice, but in terms of writing it was the literary equivalent of an after-school special. she keeps the suspense up but it's not pretty to read.

witchcurlgirl · February 5th, 2008, 09:10 AM

^^ i'm with you. I didn't think that The Lovely Bones was even exceptionally dark. Just crap. Good premise, but not a good book.

Allie · February 9th, 2008, 10:07 AM

Oh dear, I knew that name was familiar.
Is this book about rape again? If so, how disappointingly similar. It would be the equivalent of me writing 2 books about my obsession with dinner plates. Interesting one time, but two times? No thankyou.

Allie · February 9th, 2008, 10:08 AM

I don't have an obsession with dinner plates, btw.

cmmdee · February 11th, 2008, 10:21 AM

I only read a few chapteres of The Lovely Bones and had to stop. Just could not get into it at all.

Hate when that happens.

bellini · February 18th, 2008, 11:15 PM

I liked The Lovely Bones and Lucky. I'll have to check this one out. Aren't they making a movie out of The Lovely Bones? That will be weird. I don't see that as translating well to film.

radha · February 19th, 2008, 02:01 PM

i think we bought this book for my little sister for christmas, i'll have to ask her if she liked it