MADreads

Some called her Lucky

September 13th, 2006 Lisa - Central

I don’t know what led me to this book. (If I write more for this blog, you will become familiar with this theme!)  And I can’t believe I read it.  I usually steer very clear of violence in books, television shows and movies, especially when a woman or child is a victim.  But I read Alice Sebold’s very popular Lovely Bones a while ago, and something just drew me to Lucky.

Sebold was raped on the last day of school during her freshman year of college.  It was a brutal rape.  Afterwards, she was determined to act as if she was fine, not only for herself, but for her psychologically frail mother, her academic, distant father, and her studious, quiet sister.  So she returned to school the following fall, and ran into her rapist on the street.  He acted as if what happened was cool.  She pressed charges.

The whole book is riveting, from the awful details of the rape, the determination and intelligence of this young girl, the details of the trial (during which you want to impale the defendant’s attorney…why do they have to be so cruel?)  I now know how Sebold was able to imagine the details of Susie’s murder in Lovely Bones.  What was surprising to me, however, is how a violent act against someone can lead to choices that inform a person’s life.  For many years, Sebold chose to live in run-down areas of New York where she was exposed to a lot of street violence.  She drank and used various drugs.  All in response to the violent act she experienced.

I can’t say that I recommend this book to everyone.  But if you like reading about courageous people who write so well, try it.

Entry Filed under: Memoir & Biography, Nonfiction