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hannahdilks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
susiebee's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
biocatrina's review
dark
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
3.25
kimvanness's review against another edition
3.0
A respectable first novel. Eugenides' uncensored, if perhaps exaggerated, representation of the male adolescent mind is a perfect framework for detailing the main subject matter -- the *female* adolescent. As the narrative voice and the ssubject matter could be considered inherently dichotomous, the pairing is a notable success.
Keen observation and precise detail engage the reader without feeling tedious; an inherently grisly plot is cleverly diluted by a pristine, subdued descriptive style. What could easily be a ghastly and off-putting subject is instead presented with judiciousness, allowing it to be inoffensive while still remaining true to the story and its true nature.
With the rising popularity of "shock value," I think subtlety is greatly under-appreciated in modern literature. As such, this would be an excellent work to use in teaching student writers how to address difficult, disturbing subject matter in a manner that itself is not difficult or disturbing -- a skill too infrequently seen on the best-sellers' lists these days.
Keen observation and precise detail engage the reader without feeling tedious; an inherently grisly plot is cleverly diluted by a pristine, subdued descriptive style. What could easily be a ghastly and off-putting subject is instead presented with judiciousness, allowing it to be inoffensive while still remaining true to the story and its true nature.
With the rising popularity of "shock value," I think subtlety is greatly under-appreciated in modern literature. As such, this would be an excellent work to use in teaching student writers how to address difficult, disturbing subject matter in a manner that itself is not difficult or disturbing -- a skill too infrequently seen on the best-sellers' lists these days.
jxib's review against another edition
2.0
obviously TW for mentions of suicide
well written, but weird. unnecessary descriptions of underage girls relating to their “developing bodies” which adds nothing to the overall story except for uncomfortableness. romanticises suicide and suicidal ideation as these girls are painted out to be mythical figures. this would’ve been a way better read by the girls themselves and the parents, not these boys who had like one interaction with them. beautiful descriptions, the author has a way with words and the plot has potential, however the narration and inherent social issues with the story do not allow this to shine through. anticlimactic ending, reinforces the blatant mysogonistic narrative of the book, also some weird racism sprinkled throughout the book which is so unnecessary as it has NOTHING to do with race. i would recommend this to people who have watched the movie and want more insight but there is better literature covering the topic of suicide which isn’t told through a mysogonistic lens.
well written, but weird. unnecessary descriptions of underage girls relating to their “developing bodies” which adds nothing to the overall story except for uncomfortableness. romanticises suicide and suicidal ideation as these girls are painted out to be mythical figures. this would’ve been a way better read by the girls themselves and the parents, not these boys who had like one interaction with them. beautiful descriptions, the author has a way with words and the plot has potential, however the narration and inherent social issues with the story do not allow this to shine through. anticlimactic ending, reinforces the blatant mysogonistic narrative of the book, also some weird racism sprinkled throughout the book which is so unnecessary as it has NOTHING to do with race. i would recommend this to people who have watched the movie and want more insight but there is better literature covering the topic of suicide which isn’t told through a mysogonistic lens.
la_daze's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
listenbeforeigo's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Never quite read something similar and I think it was particularly interesting to read from the boys perspective, representing the male gaze. I do feel like the author did this intentionally and therefore just tried to underline the obsession with the lisbon girl instead of writing a sexist book. Really enjoyed!
storytold's review against another edition
2.25
I think this is shlock! It tries to do some interesting things. Its perspective work is deliberate, for example. Unfortunately the deliberate choice doesn't execute well.
That the book barely even attempts to explicitly address its central question—why would five white, suburban teenaged girls all kill themselves on a certain date?—is its central failing in the trickledown effects it has on what the book does do well. It means the clearly deliberate choice to view the girls through the boys' retrospective lens has absolutely no purpose except to render both the girls and the boys' characters in extremely limited dimensions. Allusions are made by the collective second person narrator that the boys have fared poorly as adults as a result of what they witnessed in that year, but again this is not explicitly elucidated upon.
The author wanted to write a novel about the halcyon days of youth (gore edition), but it felt incredibly sanitized from start to finish because, instead of leaning into or exploring the fundamental horror of what's being explored, the halcyon feeling is prioritized. This is deliberate, and it could have been interesting if it was also intentional. What I mean is that the author had a plan and he executed it, but he didn't bother to think very deeply about how he was executing it. This is a book about suicide that managed not to have any depth as a result.
Perhaps in fairness, it's not actually trying to be deep. Instead, it's trying to explore the eroticization of these suicides through the lens of teenage lust. People who have been teen boys might like this book better because the lens feels relatable. People who have been teen girls, especially troubled ones, are probably going to wonder how this book managed to achieve so little, how little manages to get explored. The book would be more aptly named, Witnessing the Virgin Suicides; that is what it is about.
That the book barely even attempts to explicitly address its central question—why would five white, suburban teenaged girls all kill themselves on a certain date?—is its central failing in the trickledown effects it has on what the book does do well. It means the clearly deliberate choice to view the girls through the boys' retrospective lens has absolutely no purpose except to render both the girls and the boys' characters in extremely limited dimensions. Allusions are made by the collective second person narrator that the boys have fared poorly as adults as a result of what they witnessed in that year, but again this is not explicitly elucidated upon.
The author wanted to write a novel about the halcyon days of youth (gore edition), but it felt incredibly sanitized from start to finish because, instead of leaning into or exploring the fundamental horror of what's being explored, the halcyon feeling is prioritized. This is deliberate, and it could have been interesting if it was also intentional. What I mean is that the author had a plan and he executed it, but he didn't bother to think very deeply about how he was executing it. This is a book about suicide that managed not to have any depth as a result.
Perhaps in fairness, it's not actually trying to be deep. Instead, it's trying to explore the eroticization of these suicides through the lens of teenage lust. People who have been teen boys might like this book better because the lens feels relatable. People who have been teen girls, especially troubled ones, are probably going to wonder how this book managed to achieve so little, how little manages to get explored. The book would be more aptly named, Witnessing the Virgin Suicides; that is what it is about.