Over the last few years I have read a lot of books that look at the ideas of what happens when you die. I loved the ideas of Albom, in Five People you meet in Heaven or even Brockmeier's the Brief History of the Dead. What Sebold produces here is a very accomplished addition to this genre.
I have always had a bit of problem with the traditional/Christian sense of heaven and what happens when you die as it seems very unwieldy. Sebold however produces a unique way of looking at this - if you want something you can wish for it and it will materialise; if your wishes are similar to other people's then you will see them and if not then not. Simply put everyone's heaven is slightly different.
Coming to terms with death is always something that, for me at least, makes a very interesting story. Sebold produces a very distraught family that all deal with the issue differently, from affairs to guilt to ignorance and belated acceptance. The role of the community and friends is also a very touching detail, and one that adds to a loss for the whole community.
Rather frustratingly for me though was the section at the end of the book that sees Susie exchange bodies with her school-friend for a moment of passion. I am really not sure what this adds to the story and very nearly ruined a beautifully simplistic story of death and how families deal with a loss - was there any need?!?!
Overall I loved the way in which this was written, and the helplessness of the situation as my father put it was particularly disturbing to someone who has a 14 year old daughter.
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