A review by smallpanini
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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? Yes

3.75

"The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides is a haunting exploration of adolescence, memory, and the enigma of the Lisbon sisters, five mysterious girls who captivate their suburban neighborhood. Eugenides masterfully captures the suffocating atmosphere of 1970s American suburbia, blending melancholy with moments of dark humor. The narrative, told from the collective perspective of the neighborhood boys, offers a unique and distant viewpoint that adds to the novel's eerie, dreamlike quality. However, the detachment of the narration and the ambiguity surrounding the girls' lives left me craving more depth and emotional connection. While the prose is undeniably beautiful and evocative, the novel's elusive nature made it challenging to immerse fully. Overall, it's a poignant, if somewhat distant, meditation on loss and longing, earning a solid 3.75 stars."
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