I listened to the audio version, read by the author.

The book opens with the depiction of a grisly rape, which is then described about a bajillion more times throughout the book, as Alice reports it to the police and her parents. And then again to the police when a suspect is arrested. And then again in the preliminary hearing and before the grand jury. And during the trial.

I disagree with some earlier reviewers. It doesn't get old. I don't know what it would be like to read the words, but hearing her speak them on the audio CD is rather lyrical. She did have to tell the story dozens of times. I found even the repetition of exact phrasing to be compelling. Especially during the trial when the defense attorney repeats every one of her answers back to her as though she's lying. ("How far away would you say he was?" "A hundred yards, 150 at most." "A hundred yards? One hundred fifty at most??")

Even though nothing like this ever happened to me, I related to her. I imagined that if I were to go through something like that, I would handle it as she had: "The best rape witness ever seen on the stand."

This book was a good read. There were moments when it was incredibly intense, but other moments were you feel like you are wading through the words. I was crying into the first few pages, but I thought I was in for a lack-luster ending when I reached the last chapter of book. Sebold pulled through that though. The ending was not as it first appeared to be headed, but wasn't quite up to the level of the rest of the book.

However, I applaud her for writing this memoir. I could see it helping a number of people. We all have our own stories, and these stories do mold us through out our lives. I know this all too well. It's encouraging that she was able to turn such a negative experience into a driving force and not allow it to diminish who she is.

This is my second Alice Sebold book and it is my last. This book was so drawn out and pathetic. She made the bad thing that happen to her effect her entire life. Move on, a terrible thing happened to you ok we get it. I think there was a total lack of subject matter, blah, blah, blah so, what else and then there was nothing. A true disappointment after Lovely Bones. Alice please go back to your previous style of writing and leave the single tragedies to someone that can expand their knowledge.

After reading The Lovely Bones and coming across this book I thought I'd give it a whirl. Am I ever glad I did. Alice Sebold is such a strong and amazing woman. Her story captivated me. I was impressed with her work in The Lovely Bones, but she took it to a whole new level with Lucky. Her details, so raw and real made me feel as if I knew her, even more so as if I too was experiencing the events she was going through. She didn't hesitate for a moment to reveal details about the rape. It was hard for me to take at times, to grasp what this man was doing to her, beating her and stripping her of everything she was is mind boggling. Sebold wrote so her readers would understand; they wouldn't be sheltered with rose colored glasses or sugar coating, not a detail was left out. I'm amazed by her strength and courage throughout the entire time span. The way she faced her rapist in court, the things she went through to win is bravery at its best. After everything she lost through the rape and trial, I felt for her after reading about the devastating years post-trial. Alice Sebold gets my five stars and endless applause for her courageous tale and her triumph in finding herself in the end.

I searched for this book at the library and at local bookstores for months after I read The Lovely Bones. It was worth the search and the wait. I saw it referred to somewhere (perhaps in the epilogue or final chapters?) as "Rape 101" and it is most definitely that. Just amazing and compelling work. I only hope Alice Sebold is currently writing another novel. As another reviewer described it, this novel is truly a "gift" to the reader.