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lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Virgin Suicides is a book set amidst the backdrop of mundane suburban life, where a community is forever changed by the suicides of five sisters. Told in first person plural (the male gaze), readers are pulled into the mystery and obsession which will haunt the boys for years to come.
I never expected to enjoy this book so much, much less find it a new favorite. But the compelling writing and dark undertones made it difficult to put down. The story of the Lisbon girls (told through every perspective except their own) is one which I will never forget.
I would definitely recommend (though take time to consider when this was written and the aspects which have not aged well, and please check trigger warnings before reading)!
*I would also recommend watching the movie after, it’s iconic and generation defining!
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
nenya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(Oh also: there is the mention of the N-word which really threw me off, as well as casual racism and other problematic themes that were normalized in the novel and not addressed or seen as problematic by the narrators)
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
hmorawska's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood and Medical content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
The writing itself is good, but that’s about the only redeeming quality to this book. The rest is just men being… well, men. I get what the author wanted to achieve with this, but why it needed to be written in this way is beyond me.
I keep hoping the next “classic” I read is going to be better, and I keep being disappointed because those “classics” were written by allocishet white men in a time women were seen as little more than property.
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, and Pregnancy
jaiari12's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy
bookshelfofamelie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Pregnancy
fronkiekong's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
and again, probably not the best place to say this, but i wish i had a sister.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse
zoewillls's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Pregnancy
aliciaadieguez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy