Critique on the novel, The Lovely Bones

 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a novel about a little girl who was murdered.  Little, Brown and Company, New York, published it in 2002.  Alice Sebold, from Wisconsin, had a bad childhood and was brutally raped.  This novel is her telling a story that is similar to her own.   The novel is mainly set in a small urban town in Pennsylvania in the late 20^th century.  The book starts with the main character, Susie Salmon, being murdered which is followed by the story of the little girl’s heaven and how her world proceeds without her in it.  “I knew he was going to kill me.  I did not realize I was an animal already dying.” (14).  It is really sad how she has to die and the fact that she knew that before it happened makes it even worse.  When she passes she leaves behind a brother, sister and her parents, who separate after her death.  There are many important symbols in the novel, a few of which include; Susie’s room, which is where her family goes to visit her, it is the place where they feel she is most alive and Susie’s charm bracelet, which was a gift from her mom that she was wearing when she died.  Her murderer later found it in his pocket, saved the charm and threw the bracelet in the lake.  Also, an icicle is an important symbol because Susie believed that was the best murder weapon when she was in heaven.  An icicle later killed her killer.  “A moment later, the icicle fell.  The heavy coldness of it threw him off balance just enough for him to stumble and pitch forward.  It would be weeks before the snow in the ravine melted enough to uncover him.” (327) 

          The single most important message in this book is that you should always leave your family as if you will never see them again.  Do not leave any connections undone and always tell your friends and family how much you care.  The thing that I liked most about this book was the small amounts of suspense that were thrown throughout the book.  There was one large area of suspense when she was being murdered then smaller ones after the fact.  Teens and parents would connect the most to this story.  Children would connect too but it is more suitable for an older audience.  I personally connected to this novel because I have younger siblings that this could too easily happen to.  This book is one of the best books I have ever read and I strongly encourage any parent or teen to read it. It is even stronger of a book then when it first came out because now it is supported by a movie for those that need help imagining it.   

2 Visual Analyis: Subway and Old Spice

 This Subway Advertisement clearly has sex appeal to it.  Its says a lot for only a few words and no pictures.  Sex is a major part of our society so that would catch a lot of people's eyes.  The Ad is simple yet interesting.  It has humor to it too, catching the eye of many people of many different target audiences.  It does not seem to appropriate for Subway however, so I am curious were such a bilboard was found.  






This Old Spice Advertisement has it all.  The half naked man projects sex appeal, the beach is beautiful and clear portraying perfection.  The horse would appeal to people who ride horses.   The entire Ad puts off a vacation sense therefore attracting the employed audience.  Overall sex appeal combined with nature, perfection and horses will make this one a winner.