I bought this book back on one of my Half Price Book shopping sprees! Finally our book club read it in February. My thoughts? I thought it was a really good book – well written, creative, captivating. It definitely is not a book for everyone though. Since you find out in the 1st chapter, I’ll just tell you – the narrator of the book is an 8th grade year old girl who is raped and murdered. She narrates the entire book from heaven as she looks down at her family and friends that she has left behind. I thought the author’s idea of heaven was really interesting (although God was never mentioned). The story of the family left behind is full of grief but also of healing. It’s definitely a sad book, but it didn’t strike me as altogether dark. I really enjoyed it. 
If you are a girl and live in Austin, you really need to check out our book club. It’s so much fun to get together with other girls – we just eat great food and talk about the book and life – it’s just so fun! For March we’re reading The Bell Jar by Sylcia Plath. Check it out at www.austinbookclub.com We’ve recently posted the next four books we’ll be reading:
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
Freakanomics &/or The Tipping Point by Steven D. Levitt / Malcolm Gladwell
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Posted by Jennifer on March 12, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Yay book club! Your post and Beth’s reminded me that I need to get the next book!