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readwithsummer's review against another edition
5.0
To Read Before I'm 30
Suicide. It's one of those questions that will never truly have an answer.
But, boy, does it raise a lot of questions.
That's what this novel is, an exploration into the darkest side of humans. From a group of boys who are enraptured and captivated by the girls because of their beauty, and mystery. They can't let go of their obsession, because they'll never really crack the code. But they try.
I love how this story is from the perspective of the boys, who know nothing but what they can see through their window, and hear from other people. They're desperately trying to find the truth, but the truth is elusive. The boy's obsession comes from the narrative they weave based on what they see, and the little they know, about the girls. And it's fascinating. We all have neighbours, we all speculate who they are, but you only have very minimal snippets of information about them to build it on. But, it doesn't stop your curiosity.
It also portrays how difficult adolescence is. Like the person mocking saying 'I’m a teenager I have so many problems', but, they didn’t get it. It is hard. It’s one of the most difficult times of life, and how it's impacted in such a cruel, cold world can come into play too…
The novel starts with the suicide of the youngest sister. And how it impacts the whole family, eventually leading to the suicide of the whole family. That contagious act. "Her suicide, from this perspective, was seen as a kind of disease infecting those close at hand. Cecilia had released an airborne virus which the other girls, even in coming to save her, had contracted. No one cared how Cecilia had caught the virus in the first place. Transmission became explanation."
Then the community response. It's really interesting how the reaction of the (adult) community shifts throughout. At the start, they all try to help, they remove the fence for the Lisbon's, sending flowers, and seem to care. But then, the less the Lisbon's care for the house, the community loses their empathy. When the Lisbon's stop playing their games (tending the house, the lawn, and raking up the leaves with everyone else), the community switches to gossiping. It's no longer sympathy, but criticism. They put on a facade of caring, they host a Day of Grieving at school, but they never actually make any effort to involve the family in it, or to even consider their wishes or how it would help them; it's for themselves. Almost in response to the media's increasing questions over what causes suicide, they need to play their part. And then eventually... it turns to attacking. Mr Lisbon acts increasingly strange at school, the narrator even comments how it didn't help that he no longer joined people in the break room, became less social. And, the parents start to complain about him. They say how can he teach their children, when he couldn't look after his own child. We find out, through a brief snippet, that Mr and Mrs Lisbon are perhaps receiving abusive and threatening phone calls regularly.
And that's it then. Rock bottom. They're social pariahs, outcasts, won't have people come to their house to fix the leaking roof because of the shame of the house's neglect. The parents aren't feeding the kids anymore, why? Because they're depressed too. It's easy to focus on the children's depression (was it depression?), but actually, does it stem from the parent's depression? It's the parents who stop caring for the house and their children. Was the girls' suicide just an effect of that?
It's almost like there's no coming back for them. A hopelessness must be felt to do what they did. The parents lock them down, full control, because of the actions of Lux (but, maybe the parents were scarred from Cecelia). But once the girls are under this complete oppression, no freedom, no hope to escape/join back in with society- a society that's showing increasingly day-by-day it doesn't want them, except for men who want them for their own pleasure.
And that's it, they're out. Society and their parents don't care for them. They've left the cabal and they can't find a way to join, in a way that would be desirable for them at least.
That, and solidarity with Cecelia. Cecelia also appears to commit suicide because she doesn't fit in with society. The party marks it glaringly obvious. She throws herself out of the window whilst everyone is taking a fascination with a handicapped kid who they have a derogatory nickname for. It's immediately after she witnesses this that she jumps out the window. Does she want to be part of this society?
"In the end, the tortures tearing the Lisbon girls pointed to a simple refusal to accept the world as it was handed down to them, so full of flaws."
A society that is damaging nature and animals; species going extinct, humans obliterating the environment, spreading toxins and causing harm to innocent animals, and destroying the fabric of the Earth (which was an undercurrent theme throughout the book). The book comments at the end that the girls knew... they knew what was happening to the world, and wanted out.
Especially the way the girls did it. They did it together (poor Mary!), after almost recreating the party where Cecelia did it (except, on the anniversary of her attempt, not the actual day). They put society, and the male gaze, which they were trying to escape, centre-forward. And whilst it was there, looking at them, fantasising about them, they ripped it all up.
Although, the final passages does condemn suicide. It's still from the boy's misguided perspective, but does condemn it. It's not the answer, and it is a tragedy. But, what caused this tragedy? The girls? I don't think so.
Suicide. It's one of those questions that will never truly have an answer.
But, boy, does it raise a lot of questions.
That's what this novel is, an exploration into the darkest side of humans. From a group of boys who are enraptured and captivated by the girls because of their beauty, and mystery. They can't let go of their obsession, because they'll never really crack the code. But they try.
I love how this story is from the perspective of the boys, who know nothing but what they can see through their window, and hear from other people. They're desperately trying to find the truth, but the truth is elusive. The boy's obsession comes from the narrative they weave based on what they see, and the little they know, about the girls. And it's fascinating. We all have neighbours, we all speculate who they are, but you only have very minimal snippets of information about them to build it on. But, it doesn't stop your curiosity.
It also portrays how difficult adolescence is. Like the person mocking saying 'I’m a teenager I have so many problems', but, they didn’t get it. It is hard. It’s one of the most difficult times of life, and how it's impacted in such a cruel, cold world can come into play too…
The novel starts with the suicide of the youngest sister. And how it impacts the whole family, eventually leading to the suicide of the whole family. That contagious act. "Her suicide, from this perspective, was seen as a kind of disease infecting those close at hand. Cecilia had released an airborne virus which the other girls, even in coming to save her, had contracted. No one cared how Cecilia had caught the virus in the first place. Transmission became explanation."
Then the community response. It's really interesting how the reaction of the (adult) community shifts throughout. At the start, they all try to help, they remove the fence for the Lisbon's, sending flowers, and seem to care. But then, the less the Lisbon's care for the house, the community loses their empathy. When the Lisbon's stop playing their games (tending the house, the lawn, and raking up the leaves with everyone else), the community switches to gossiping. It's no longer sympathy, but criticism. They put on a facade of caring, they host a Day of Grieving at school, but they never actually make any effort to involve the family in it, or to even consider their wishes or how it would help them; it's for themselves. Almost in response to the media's increasing questions over what causes suicide, they need to play their part. And then eventually... it turns to attacking. Mr Lisbon acts increasingly strange at school, the narrator even comments how it didn't help that he no longer joined people in the break room, became less social. And, the parents start to complain about him. They say how can he teach their children, when he couldn't look after his own child. We find out, through a brief snippet, that Mr and Mrs Lisbon are perhaps receiving abusive and threatening phone calls regularly.
And that's it then. Rock bottom. They're social pariahs, outcasts, won't have people come to their house to fix the leaking roof because of the shame of the house's neglect. The parents aren't feeding the kids anymore, why? Because they're depressed too. It's easy to focus on the children's depression (was it depression?), but actually, does it stem from the parent's depression? It's the parents who stop caring for the house and their children. Was the girls' suicide just an effect of that?
It's almost like there's no coming back for them. A hopelessness must be felt to do what they did. The parents lock them down, full control, because of the actions of Lux (but, maybe the parents were scarred from Cecelia). But once the girls are under this complete oppression, no freedom, no hope to escape/join back in with society- a society that's showing increasingly day-by-day it doesn't want them, except for men who want them for their own pleasure.
And that's it, they're out. Society and their parents don't care for them. They've left the cabal and they can't find a way to join, in a way that would be desirable for them at least.
That, and solidarity with Cecelia. Cecelia also appears to commit suicide because she doesn't fit in with society. The party marks it glaringly obvious. She throws herself out of the window whilst everyone is taking a fascination with a handicapped kid who they have a derogatory nickname for. It's immediately after she witnesses this that she jumps out the window. Does she want to be part of this society?
"In the end, the tortures tearing the Lisbon girls pointed to a simple refusal to accept the world as it was handed down to them, so full of flaws."
A society that is damaging nature and animals; species going extinct, humans obliterating the environment, spreading toxins and causing harm to innocent animals, and destroying the fabric of the Earth (which was an undercurrent theme throughout the book). The book comments at the end that the girls knew... they knew what was happening to the world, and wanted out.
Especially the way the girls did it. They did it together (poor Mary!), after almost recreating the party where Cecelia did it (except, on the anniversary of her attempt, not the actual day). They put society, and the male gaze, which they were trying to escape, centre-forward. And whilst it was there, looking at them, fantasising about them, they ripped it all up.
Although, the final passages does condemn suicide. It's still from the boy's misguided perspective, but does condemn it. It's not the answer, and it is a tragedy. But, what caused this tragedy? The girls? I don't think so.
bookish2024's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.0
A well-written story of the horror of the mundane. I can see why the author previously won a Pulitzer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
italianissima73's review against another edition
2.0
I kind of lost interest half way through this book. Not sure why.
natburg's review against another edition
Leaving it unrated bc I'm not sure how to feel
vampirebill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
nikki_hathaway's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book. Beautifully written, another one I need to reread.
disgracele's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sad and quite creepy but also interesting and hard to put down
fiowoo's review against another edition
5.0
This seems to be a one star or five star kind of thing. And it’s true that the plot it pretty much laid out for you in THAT opening line. But this book isn’t really about the mysterious and enchanting Lisbon sisters - it’s about the boys who watch them.
Decades later the boys, now men, are still trying to understand why all five sisters, who seemed so perfectly imperfect to them, chose to take their own lives. The prose is so nostalgic it’s almost queasy - but that only adds to the suffocating suburban atmosphere.
If you don’t like books that don’t resolve everything then maybe this isn’t for you. To me, more than anything, this book is about how not everything can be explained and understood. The boys never really get to grips with why the Lisbon girls did what they did, because, how could anyone really understand?
The Virgin Suicides has so many layers to it. It’s about adolescence, the American middle class, memory and mortality. It's a masterpiece.
Decades later the boys, now men, are still trying to understand why all five sisters, who seemed so perfectly imperfect to them, chose to take their own lives. The prose is so nostalgic it’s almost queasy - but that only adds to the suffocating suburban atmosphere.
If you don’t like books that don’t resolve everything then maybe this isn’t for you. To me, more than anything, this book is about how not everything can be explained and understood. The boys never really get to grips with why the Lisbon girls did what they did, because, how could anyone really understand?
The Virgin Suicides has so many layers to it. It’s about adolescence, the American middle class, memory and mortality. It's a masterpiece.