The Lovely Bones Chapter 17 Quotes

The Lovely Bones Chapter 17 Quotes

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote 1

They had gone the week before to get haircuts at the same barber shop […] and though Lindsey's hair was lighter and finer than Samuel's, the barber had given them identical short, spiky cuts. (17.8)

Isn't that the cutest thing! Samuel and Lindsey's are almost too romantic to be believed. They make it look easy, but they've worked hard for what they have.

Quote 2

He had been falling in love all over again. (17.67)

We doubt Jack ever fell out of love with Abigail. But looking at the pictures of his wife, candid photos Susie took of her, really makes an impact. In these photos, Jack sees through to the deeper Abigail, and this new understanding spawns this renewed love.

Samuel Heckler

Quote 3

"No, I mean I love you, and I want to marry you, and I want to live in this house!" (17.75)

Another intensely romantic moment, conceived expressly for brightening Susie's day up in heaven. Seeing that her sister is having a happy life helps her let go of Earth.

Quote 4

I listened to the sounds and felt the train's movements and sometimes, by doing this, I could hear the voices of those who no longer lived on Earth. Voices of others like me, the watchers. (17.104)

In this novel, the dead fill the world of the living. But they are restricted to the role of passive "watchers" that aren't involved in the living world (or not much, at least).

"We ran home for you, Mr. Salmon." (17.79)

And a good thing, too! Lindsey is a sensitive daughter, and she knows her dad could literally have a heart attack if she's too late and can't be found.

Quote 6

He saw me standing under the rustic colonial clock and stared. He was drinking champagne. There were strings coming out from all around me, reaching out, waving in the air. (17.103)

Aha! Clocks and time go together like ticks and tocks. Susie even describes herself as resembling a clock, with funny wavy arms, like her funny wavy conception of time.