A review by itsreirei
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

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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