An eighteen-year-old is brutally attacked in a park near her University Campus. As she is dragged to a tunnel at knifepoint she puts up a good fight, she struggles, she gouges and all the time she pleads. She pleads that she is a virgin. She swears that she will forget she ever saw her attacker ... Read review
Advantages: Makes You Think - Unputdownable Disadvantages: Makes You Think - Disturbing
...Dad remarks that it was lucky that Alice was attacked and not her older sister, Alice is so much stronger, so much more able to cope. I wonder how she forgave her Father, how she managed to smile and agree, how she seemed to grow ever closer to her somewhat distant parents in the years following. Alice is told by the police that she is lucky to be alive, that indeed in the same place she had been raped, another girl had been murdered and dismembered. ... ...I find myself, against my will, wondering how I would cope in the same situation. Perhaps this was Alice's intent. To make us more aware as well as baring her soul. I doubt I could forgive the flippant remarks, could understand the ignorance behind them. I doubt I could have thought of the words to escape the rapist and I seriously doubt that in the years that followed I could have held my life together and achieved as much as Alice Sebold. Yes, ... more
An eighteen-year-old is brutally attacked in a park near her University Campus. As she is dragged to a tunnel at knifepoint she puts up a good fight, she struggles, she gouges and all the time she pleads. She pleads that she is a virgin. She swears that she will forget she ever saw her attacker if he will just let her go, that honestly she really doesn't know how to give or even what a blow-job is.
Despite this, the young girl has to go through the indignity of trying to help her assailant gain an erection and then she is brutally raped and made to perform oral sex on her attacker. She suffers the shame and self-loathing of being told "you're the worst bitch I ever done this to". Finally her tormentor urinates on her as she desperately tries to give the 'man' a blow-job, tries desperately to stay alive.
This would be a moving and emotional work of fiction in anyone's eyes. The writer extremely brave for bringing this kind of trauma to the public's attention, brutally forcing us to face what happens in rape cases and the aftermath. What makes this novel so powerful and so moving is that this is a true story. This is the author Alice Sebold's account of her horrifying attack and how she coped in the months and years that followed.
I was leant this book yesterday afternoon and read it from cover to cover in the space of a couple of hours. I was held enthralled, horrified, shocked and saddened at the story within the pages. I had to remind myself time and time again that this was not a work of fiction, this was real, this had happened. I tried on more than one occasion to put the book down, to give myself a break as the words within upset me and had me on the verge of tears on more than one occasion - each time the book lay beside me quietly conspicuous and demanding to be read, demanding that I took heed in the words that Alice had so bravely and so defiantly committed to paper and to the world.
The recounting of her rape, because that's what she insist it be called; rape. Not attack, but rape. The recounting of this takes place in the first chapter. No detail is missed and no punches pulled, every sickening gut wrenching harrowing detail is logged for all posterity. The rest of the novel follows Alice through the hours, weeks and years immediately after. The bloody-mindedness and humour she threw back at the world in the face of its ignorance and false sympathy. The mask that was carefully in place almost from the instant that she told her attacker 'I forgive you' in order to get away from his clutches, to remain alive.
I find myself dwelling on the novel, find it popping into my head at the oddest occasions. I popped into my Dad's today and remembered the chapter where Alice's Dad remarks that it was lucky that Alice was attacked and not her older sister, Alice is so much stronger, so much more able to cope. I wonder how she forgave her Father, how she managed to smile and agree, how she seemed to grow ever closer to her somewhat distant parents in the years following. Alice is told by the police that she is lucky to be alive, that indeed in the same place she had been raped, another girl had been murdered and dismembered. Yes, they all agreed she was lucky.
I find myself, against my will, wondering how I would cope in the same situation. Perhaps this was Alice's intent. To make us more aware as well as baring her soul. I doubt I could forgive the flippant remarks, could understand the ignorance behind them. I doubt I could have thought of the words to escape the rapist and I seriously doubt that in the years that followed I could have held my life together and achieved as much as Alice Sebold. Yes, she went to Hell and back so many times she could have got a season ticket, yes she cracked on more than one occasion but mostly this woman is someone of strong spirit, a spirit that couldn't be broken or taken away by a beast in a tunnel. I am completely humbled by this novel and I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's not a nice read; it's not enjoyable though Alice's humour had me laugh aloud at a couple of points. Such a strange feeling, snuffling into your sleeve one moment and taken by surprise with a giggle the next. That in itself is a major writing talent in my eyes. This woman is remarkable; victim is not a word to describe her.
She's a survivor
Is she lucky? - Make up your own mind on that one.
I have.
ISBN 0 330 41836 X
* * * The title is a quote from the book which is NOT a work of fiction as it is for some reason listed in the Ciao Catergory. * * *
Advantages: Upfront, honest, pulls no punches, a SURVIVORS story. Disadvantages: None in my opinion, but may be distressing subject matter for some.
An eighteen-year-old virgin, a freshman at Syracuse University is raped at knifepoint on her way back to the Campus after visiting a friend. She is attacked from behind, dragged down a disused tunnel and subjected to a terrifying and brutal ordeal during which she is not only sexually molested but also physically attacked and her tormentor uses psychological techniques to maintain the upper hand. When her attacker has finally had enough she manages ... ...is raised. We are then taken through the first steps of the aftermath of her ordeal. The hospital examinations, the evidence gathering and the police interview where Alice is so tired she can barely think in a coherent manner let alone be accurate with everything she is stating. When she gets back to her room she contacts her parents but refuses to rest until they get there, until they arrive to take her home. She dresses in her smartest clothes ...
rachels_ratty 12.06.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lucky - Alice Sebold
...and yet heartbreaking. Lucky tells us her own story, taking you through how she was brutally raped when she was a mere 18 year old freshman student, niave in the ways of the world almost, her innocence made it all the more difficult to read, when I say difficult what I should really mention here is how compelled I was, how after the first few pages I was unable to put it down yet often felt like sticking it in a drawer never to be opened again, but ... ...involved told her she was lucky because some time before her attack, a young girl went through a similar experience, brutally raped, murdered and her body dismembered but somehow I don’t believe Alice felt lucky to be alive, would you?
There was times within this 251 page book I had difficulty retaining interest, as there seemed to be a lot of padding that to me was unnecessary, but all in all I would still recommend, a truly gifted lady and ...
herby30 07.02.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lucky - Alice Sebold
Advantages: She Survived to tell her story Disadvantages: It's disturbing
...who told her she was lucky not to have been murdered as well as raped. Another young girl had been murdered in the same place near the university. There are probably times after the rape when Alice wishes she were dead too.
The first chapter describes the actual event with the rapist and is very disturbing and gruesome to read. He pulled a knife on her and strangled her until she went unconscous for a second. After that she decided that if she was ... ...and give him what he asked for. He raped her and she bled and then he forced her to have oral sex with him too. She did scream when she heard some passers by but she wasn’t heard and she couldn’t escape. Bizarrely once he had finished with her he seemed to be upset and even cried, and asked her name, but then he even stole her eight dollars that she had. She has to find her way back to the halls of residence where she lives covered in blood and with ...
ClaireG86 13.03.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lucky - Alice Sebold
Advantages: An amazing tale of bravery Disadvantages: None
Having read and really enjoyed The Lovely Bones I was keen to read Lucky. I kept it on my shelf for a long time because I didn’t feel ready to read this story of how the author, Alice Sebold was brutally attacked and raped at the age of 18. It is a subject that brings fear into the hearts of anyone to think that this disgusting act could happen to a loved one, and yet it goes on. This is Alice Sebold’s story:
From the first sentence ... ...to read on but in shock at what is happening, this is because you are taken right to the attack itself. The first line is ‘This is what I remember. My lips were cut. I bit down on them when he grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth’
I don’t recall ever reading a book with such a powerful beginning. You are taken straight to the rape, it is almost as if you have stumbled on this and are watching but can do nothing to stop it ...
ruth23 22.06.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lucky - Alice Sebold
Advantages: An interesting insight into a strong woman Disadvantages: Horrendous start and description of the attack
...this thought. Was Alice lucky – or unlucky? I think we all have our own views. What I see in Alice is a hugely brave and strong woman. ‘You save yourself, or you remain unsaved’.
I, for one, am glad to have read this book. Inspiring and heart wrenching. 5 stars.
Thanks for reading. ...
kirstymack80 05.10.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lucky - Alice Sebold
Would you read it again?
Story
Characters
Readability
How does it compare to ...
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Lucky - Alice Sebold"
Advantages: Uplifting, Accessible, Innocent with fresh ideas Disadvantages: poor ending
Wrapped in its angelic blue covers, Lovely Bones appeared an intriguing title, what could be conceived as forming Lovely Bones?
Having not read AliceSebold previously (I?ve since read her follow up book of Lucky), I fell into a 3 for 2 offer. Browsing the shelves, the cover jumped out at me, I had to read the back cover and of course the last few lines of the final page ( I still haven?t quite grasped the fact that this is something you shouldn?t do).
From the short hand selected extracts forming my person prologue, I fell into total absorption of AliceSebold?s writing style. Felt as if I had to read more, and brought the book completely forgetting about the 3 for 2 offer! This would be how I would sum up her writing, so absorbing that all around you is forgot, even your search for a bargain! Once home, I read and read, until ...
Advantages: An Unusual Perspective of Death Disadvantages: An Unreal Last Chapter(s)
The Lovely Bones is written by AliceSebold, who is an American author. I have read her previous book, Lucky, which is Alice's story of being raped while at college, and how she progressed after that.
Certainly the author's real life experiences have helped her write The Lovely Bones.
The narrator of The Lovely Bones is Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who was murdered by her 36 year old neighbour (George Harvey) in the cornfield near her home. (Note, the rape and murder are obviously written about, not just alluded to, however there are no unnecessary graphic details). The book begins with Susie's rape and murder, and then progresses to Susie's entry into heaven, where she is initially confused and struggles to adapt.
Susie looks down from heaven onto her family and friends constantly, and also watches her George Harvey ...
Advantages: Moving, brings up a lot of issues, Disadvantages: Drags on a bit, unrealistic parts
satisfied.
VERDICT
I'd definitely recommend this, but only if you have the time and patience. It retails for £6.99, although it can be bought for around £5, and is published by Picador. AliceSebold also has written another book entitled Lucky, which is an autobiography surrounding the horrific attack she endured as a college student. ...
