Mariah's Book Reviews: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Synopsis

"In a quiet suburb of Detroit, the five Lisbon sisters—beautiful, eccentric, and obsessively watched by the neighborhood boys—commit suicide one by one over the course of a single year” (Google.com)'.

Genre for The Virgin Suicides

Drama

Awards for The Virgin Suicides

1991 Aga Khan Prize for Fiction

Length

243 pages

Year Published 

1993

Favorite Quote

“We knew, finally, that the girls were really women in disguise, that they understood love and even death, and that our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them.”

Review

I remember The Virgin Suicides making a big impression on me. I first came across this book when I was younger, and now as an adult, it's interesting to see how it still resonates with me. One thing I really liked about the book was how it depicted the strong bond between the Lisbon sisters. They were often seen as "weird" or "awkward," but I saw it as them just being themselves around each other and not feeling the need to open up to strangers. It's like how siblings can be more comfortable around each other and not as quick to show their true selves to others. Additionally, the details in this book was amazing. Every crevice, nook, and cranny was described in a way that I would not have even imagined. Jeffrey made this book feel cinematic which is probably why the movie adaptation was received well. From the sound of tha the rain to the Lisbon girls similar yet different features,  everything about the descriptions made me fully immerse into the world. 

The way the guys in the book were obsessing over the Lisbon girls was kind of creepy. It felt like they were objectifying the girls, especially because of their virginity and religious beliefs. I also felt like the characters were a bit one-dimensional. I wanted to know more about their dreams and plans for the future, especially since they're teenagers. These are the things that usually get talked about at that age, but the book didn't really address them.

The central theme that resonated with me in this book was the exploration of girlhood and sisterhood. After the tragic loss of the first sister, the remaining Lisbon girls appeared to undergo a transformative journey of self-discovery and a newfound curiosity about the world around them. Their attendance at a dance as dates with Trip and the other boys marked a pivotal moment, serving as a catalyst for the sisters' realization that they could aspire to more in life. Their bond was strong, and they collectively navigated the complexities of girlhood, growing and evolving together.

Rating

I rate this book ⅗ stars.