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hanpowis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautiful prose and commentary on the romanticism of that which we do not understand
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Vomit and Rape
myfff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
It has the energy of an American Classic in the same way Gatsby does and I can see why so many people love it, however I found it much more interesting once I had read some analyses of it after finishing it - so if you’re looking for something with themes and a need for analysis this is definitely for you, if you want a story to enjoy maybe not so much.
The most interesting point (after analysing) is to see these boys who say they loved them actually didn’t know them at all and were just infatuated by the idea of these unknown women who live opposite them but are always just out of reach. The style is also a brilliant insight to the complexities of teenage girls, as the adult men who are trying to remember the events through the eyes of themselves as teenage boys, think they understand these teenage girls but realise they never could. Interestingly the author being male also raises the question for me of how well could he understand these girls, and with that in mind they do have a slightly ‘manic pixie dreamgirl’ quality to them.
My highlight of the book was the prom where the reader is able to engage with the girls properly for the first time, not just through the eyes and words of those around them.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
laneysix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide
Minor: Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Drug use
alyssapusateri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death, Suicide, Child death, Stalking, and Self harm
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, Sexism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Cursing
Minor: Eating disorder, Rape, Racial slurs, Ableism, Racism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Animal death, and Physical abuse
merle98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, and Forced institutionalization
aradeia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The book is narrated by an unnamed group of men who, as boys, did a lot of spying on the Lisbon sisters while their lives spiraled after the gruesome suicide of their littlest sister. The boys were obsessed with the Lisbon sisters. Or at least they were obsessed with the so-called "libertine" Lux, the most defined sister of the five. Lux is only fourteen. The sexualization of her body is disgusting. It seems pretty clear to me that the adult men who narrate the story still find Lux as sexy as they did when they were kids.
The big reveal at the end seems to be that, even though the boys "loved" the Lisbon sisters, it turns out the girls didn't love them back and indeed they were real people the whole time whom the boys didn't actually know, despite all the spying and obsessing. Note that the boys never have real conversations with the Lisbon sisters. They rarely speak at all. The boys-turned-men are not unlike the ineffective, oppressive Lisbon parents. And I suppose this here is the point. I just feel I have heard this point before, and with less graphic description of a fourteen year old kid's sexuality/abuse.
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
kgrace_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Pedophilia, and Mental illness
kelleykamanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Recommend reading this article after finishing:
“In Defense of the Unsatisfying Ending: The Virgin Suicides” by Janey Tracey
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
pagesoftara's review
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Rape
lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Child death, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, and Suicide