The Virgin Suicides

Why did all five of the Lisbon sisters commit suicide? The lingering question throughout the entire novel by Jeffrey Eugenides lingers over the entire neighborhood of a suburban American city, especially since the suicide of the youngest, Cecilia. The novel is written from the perspective of the neighborhood boys. The ones that loved the girls from afar, but never gained real access to their world, that has been shut down by their parents, Mr and Mrs Lisbon. For me, the novel is timeless, sultry and lyrically impressive. It's like a Lana Del Rey Song in Book-Form - and that is quite a compliment!

The narrative, which takes place in the 1980s, centers on the five Lisbon sisters: Lux, Mary, Cecilia, Bonnie, and Therese. The sisters reside in a household that feels claustrophobic, governed by their mother's strict rules. All five girls have died by suicide within two years. Narrated from the viewpoint of four adolescent males who develop crushes on the girls, they track the girls' lives and accompany them on the sole date they will ever have. Unfortunately, this wasn’t my cup of tea. While this book wasn’t terrible, I just didn’t care about the characters or what happened to them. The narrative wasn’t bad; I can definitely see what it aimed to accomplish. I don’t have much to say; because it just wasn’t something I found enjoyable or interesting. This book lowkey gives Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey vibes (idk why), so I’m particularly disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it.