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hhamlet's review against another edition
4.0
The Virgin Suicides is unlike any story I've ever read. Perhaps what's so different about it is the choice of narration--though the story is told by a group of men reflecting on when they were boys who took it upon themselves to become teenage sleuths, so to speak, the story revolves around a group of girls. Most specifically, the Lisbon sisters. The boys' infatuation with them can clearly be seen through the language Eugenides uses and the manner in which the boys are said to speak of and act around the girls. It's almost as though they hold some sort of magical spell over these group of boys. It's refreshing, breath-taking, and in a sense, a little disturbing.
The book in itself is rather twisted, when you think about it. Right from the beginning, the narrators reveal to you that by the end of their story, all five of the Lisbon daughters will have committed suicide. And yet, even though you know what's coming, there's still the added suspense of wondering which page it will occur on, how it will be executed, etc. etc. And in that, The Virgin Suicides wasn't disappointing in the slightest; after Cecilia's death, I hadn't expected the other girls to kill themselves in the manner that they did. It was shocking, to say the least.
The Virgin Suicides presents itself as a book that poses many questions and fails to answer the vast majority of them. It's assumed that even the men themselves don't understand everything about the Lisbon girls, so a lot of it is left up to the interpretation of the reader. Why did the Lisbon girls kill themselves? Did Cecilia really die because she was an outcast? Did the other four follow suit as a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Personally, I think it had to do with the family--Mrs. Lisbon in particular was an extremely infuriating character. But then again, that's just my interpretation. Either way, this book was a fantastic read, and I'm glad I took the time to go through it.
The book in itself is rather twisted, when you think about it. Right from the beginning, the narrators reveal to you that by the end of their story, all five of the Lisbon daughters will have committed suicide. And yet, even though you know what's coming, there's still the added suspense of wondering which page it will occur on, how it will be executed, etc. etc. And in that, The Virgin Suicides wasn't disappointing in the slightest; after Cecilia's death, I hadn't expected the other girls to kill themselves in the manner that they did. It was shocking, to say the least.
The Virgin Suicides presents itself as a book that poses many questions and fails to answer the vast majority of them. It's assumed that even the men themselves don't understand everything about the Lisbon girls, so a lot of it is left up to the interpretation of the reader. Why did the Lisbon girls kill themselves? Did Cecilia really die because she was an outcast? Did the other four follow suit as a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Personally, I think it had to do with the family--Mrs. Lisbon in particular was an extremely infuriating character. But then again, that's just my interpretation. Either way, this book was a fantastic read, and I'm glad I took the time to go through it.
solliereads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
I wanted to like this book far more than I actually did, and ended up having to force myself to read it in two bursts, trying to read as many pages as I could. I got the sense that the boys never really knew the girls, or thought of them beyond a mystery to solve, and I got that this was likely the whole point, but honestly? At times, the story dragged and the narrative had a very desolate view lacking in empathy that made the deaths feel slightly unreal, dense in fog. Overall, I'm glad that I read this book, I just don't think it really impacted me.
vscomuzzi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
annkathrin01's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
haileyldavidson's review against another edition
3.0
What would you (a man) know about the complexities of girl's suffering?
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This is so odd. At it's worst feels so blatantly disrespectful, at it's best- interesting but lacking in any intelligent compassion, woefully ignorant to its subjects. Just one shallow man's nauseating story about a group of bland and uninteresting men, obsessing over these dead white girls, Manic Pixie Dream Girls, hyper-sexualized teenagers, with a deeper meaning of....what? Exactly? Hot girls might need Lexapro too? Women are not just annoying growths sprouting from the vagina? If this is really meant to convey how you don't truly know your neighbour- maybe it's because you refuse to gaze at them with anything other than your privilege and male desire! food for thought!
I know this is a classic and that doesn't mean it automatically earns my respect as a reader but I feel like I might revisit this- or watch the film to form a second opinion. I don't want to feel as if I didn't put in the effort to understand this. I know the whole book is meant to be a critique on the male gaze but it doesn't feel like one at all. It feels like a man who is a little nervous to poke his fingers deep enough into a systemic issue that would ultimately include himself. It doesn't seem overly concerned. The critique, if there is any there to be found- comes off as shallow and underfed.
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This is so odd. At it's worst feels so blatantly disrespectful, at it's best- interesting but lacking in any intelligent compassion, woefully ignorant to its subjects. Just one shallow man's nauseating story about a group of bland and uninteresting men, obsessing over these dead white girls, Manic Pixie Dream Girls, hyper-sexualized teenagers, with a deeper meaning of....what? Exactly? Hot girls might need Lexapro too? Women are not just annoying growths sprouting from the vagina? If this is really meant to convey how you don't truly know your neighbour- maybe it's because you refuse to gaze at them with anything other than your privilege and male desire! food for thought!
I know this is a classic and that doesn't mean it automatically earns my respect as a reader but I feel like I might revisit this- or watch the film to form a second opinion. I don't want to feel as if I didn't put in the effort to understand this. I know the whole book is meant to be a critique on the male gaze but it doesn't feel like one at all. It feels like a man who is a little nervous to poke his fingers deep enough into a systemic issue that would ultimately include himself. It doesn't seem overly concerned. The critique, if there is any there to be found- comes off as shallow and underfed.
dudajoia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
Certas frases caem como um martelo na sua cabeça. Incrível para pensar sobre narratologia.
seasaltlatte00's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mollies_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
aleadle6's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
azure_blue's review against another edition
2.0
Is it 1 star is it 2 stars? I don’t know.
Just like i know nothing about this book and nothing about the girls.
The only thing that happened in the whole book is that the girls kill themselves. But let me tell you, the narrator “we” is creepy, that’s it. And I really liked Cecilia, i don’t know if that’s creepy or not but that character is the only good thing in the book. She needs more credit, she was the only actually mystery that i would love to unravel.
Long story short; a bunch of nothing, what you read in the first two pages is the conclusion of the whole book.
You want to know why they killed themselves? You wouldn’t know, no one does and no one will.
I feel I am missing something, a lot of readers liked this… why? Where? What was so interesting about this book that made it so good? I get it, the vibes, but what else?
I’ve been searching the reviews for the past two hours for an excuse to open my blind eyes to why this book is amazing, and I couldn’t really find any.
Please please please, if you read this and you loved/liked it, please give me a reason to because i really wanted to love this.
And for those who haven’t read it, I guess it’s either you’ll love it or kinda hate it.
+ i don’t know why I pushed the spoiler button tho, we all know what happened by reading the title.
Just like i know nothing about this book and nothing about the girls.
The only thing that happened in the whole book is that the girls kill themselves. But let me tell you, the narrator “we” is creepy, that’s it. And I really liked Cecilia, i don’t know if that’s creepy or not but that character is the only good thing in the book. She needs more credit, she was the only actually mystery that i would love to unravel.
Long story short; a bunch of nothing, what you read in the first two pages is the conclusion of the whole book.
You want to know why they killed themselves? You wouldn’t know, no one does and no one will.
I feel I am missing something, a lot of readers liked this… why? Where? What was so interesting about this book that made it so good? I get it, the vibes, but what else?
I’ve been searching the reviews for the past two hours for an excuse to open my blind eyes to why this book is amazing, and I couldn’t really find any.
Please please please, if you read this and you loved/liked it, please give me a reason to because i really wanted to love this.
And for those who haven’t read it, I guess it’s either you’ll love it or kinda hate it.
+ i don’t know why I pushed the spoiler button tho, we all know what happened by reading the title.