Reviews with content warning for Suicide - The Virgin Suicides

Fiquei surpresa quando comecei a ler e descobri que a narração era masculina. Mas fui surpreendida com a delicadeza dos meninos. Mesmo idealizando as meninas Lisbon, e sendo adolescentes normais, cheios de desejos e vontades, eles não reduzem a Therese, Mary, Lux, Bonnie ou Cecilia. Eles as amam e, mais importante, as respeitam. Por isso, eles as deixam morrer, mesmo que passem a vida toda sentido a sua falta e nunca as entendam.

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maria_thebookworm's review against another edition

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This book was so boring and disturbing.

The chapters were extremely long. It was written from the perspective of the creepy (male) neighborhood teenagers, which I did not like.

The young girls, five sisters, were written about in an inappropriate sexual manner, which I also hated. I read about the first suicide of the youngest, Cecilia. She tried to kill herself twice.

First, by slicing her wrists. Second, by jumping onto the fence from the second story of her house and impaling herself. This attempt was successful.

Due to this disturbing beginning, I couldn't keep reading the book. It was boring, too descriptive of the neighbors and seemingly random situations, and lacked focus on the inner life of the sisters.

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maiaiaia's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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melinette7's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Very well written, poetic almost, but I do not enjoy very much being left in a reflective mood like I was after this read. It's beautiful and sad.

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hannahstone22's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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booksandpasta's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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itsreirei's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.25

The story of a family and it's five daughters written entirely from the perspective of the male gaze. At first it might be enraging that we have to see the story of the girls from the outside and especially from an objectifying male point of view but after having finished, it makes so much sense. The way people look at the girls as some sort of mythical creatures is baffling, considering it's those inspecting every little thing about the sisters who behave ridiculously. The irony of having constantly been observed but never actually seen and understood was also brilliantly done. Reading this book is by no means an enjoyable experience, it's like waiting for the inevitable end with a sense of foreboding: you know it's coming and can't help but watch.

Since the title itself is quite obviously telling of the finale there isn't much to be surprised by and most things are left hanging in the air. We never get a straight answer to why the events played out the way they did yet somehow it fits perfectly, leaving all open to interpretation.

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