Lucky by Alice Sebold
I wanted to read Lucky because I had enjoyed The Lovely Bones, one of her previous novels, so much.
Lucky is a true story telling of how, as an 18 year old student, Alice Sebold, was the victim of a vicious rape and horrific beating that took place in a tunnel among dead leaves and detritus.
She chose Lucky, a rather dubious title in the circumstances, after being informed by a probably well-meaning policeman that another girl had been murdered there so she’d been lucky to survive..
It is a harrowing tale, honest and direct, and includes reflections on the inadequacy of her family post attack and during the trial.
I love her writing style; emotions and narrative tension are beautifully dealt with and her courage and tenacity shine through to the relatively positive conclusion.