Monday, October 15, 2007
Lovely Bones - Discussion Question # 4
The Lovely Bones takes place in an American Suburb in the 1970s. In what ways is this setting important to how the story unfolds? What is the significance of specific elements of Susie's landscape: the familiar houses in her neighborhood, the sinkhole, the farmland? Why do you think the author choose this time period? How would the story be different if it were happening today?
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6 comments:
In today's society it is a lot easier to solve murders than it was back in the 60's and the 70's. Also the technology that we have no is way different than back then. When Susie didn't come home from school that day, in today's day we would have called our parents on our cellphone to let them know if we were running late. But because this was happening 30 years back, Susie's mother sat in awe worried where her daughter was.
The book slowly unfolds the murder by Susie giving her dad clues through heaven. The father has the help of detevtive Fenerman to figure out who the murderer is. In today's society the use of more police and technology would be used to help find clues to Susie's muder.
The reason why the author, Alice Sebold decided to have the story set in the 1970 is because to me, because back then people were not as educated it was easier to get away with a crime. The cops and investigaters were intelligent, but they didn't have to stuff that we have today in the 21st century to solve a crime fast and efficent. Also the reason why she set up the surrounding area of Susies house to be neighbors and farm land was to show that she was living the a rural area. Neighbors were friendly and close to one another and that everyone knows everyones business. The farm land and sink hole have significants because its open area and it is easy to hide something, and hide yourself. The setting of a story always tell a lot about what is going on and the Lovely Bones setting definitly helps unwind the story.
I agree with Sam that it was harder for Susie to let her mother know that she was running late that day because Susie had no way of communicating with her mother. Susie was also unable to call for help since cell phones were not around back then making it easier to commit the murder, and the perfect time for the story. I also agree with Hannah that they did not have the technology to solve crimes as we do today. They did not have everything that investigators use today to solve murders and if they had this technology they probably would have been able to solve the mystery a lot sooner. It was a more interesting time for the story to take place because of the lack of technology.
I agree with Hannah that they story was set up in these area to show that they lived in a rural area. I also think it took place in these places because the sinkhole and the farmland are area that there are not a lot of people around and it is easier to commit a crime. The familair houses show how everyone in the area was somewhat a like but it also showed how the people were close to one another. The setting was creating to keep certain things hidden but once one person found something out the rest of the town was then able to know.
Does living in a suburban area like the one found in LB lead to a false sense of security or safety? Why or why not?
well i would have to agree that back then they didnt have the technology we have today. so because of that it gives the writer more of a chance to be more organic and put more feelings into it. if there is no technology, then the author would have to write about how the story folds out, and it has more steps. rather then a story about technology.
so when you think about a lil suburb town you would never think of something bad happening there. so it gives the story the unexpected aspect. when you think about a lil town, you would never expect something like that to happen. so when something like that does happens then most of the time they are not prepared. but if something like that happened in say a new york, or a capitol city. then i would think everything would move faster, and clues wouldnt be that hard to find.
I think that living in a suburb and residental area will make the people living in it feel very safe. The city reaks of havick and has a bad reputation for having bad things happen there. The murder that happened in LB would be something that would usually go on in the city, living in a SB makes people feel safe and more homey. Maybe the author was trying to show the readers that anywhere you live you should always be alert, and very careful with everything you do
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