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rosiec's review against another edition
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
tricyclestudent's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think you have to be at a certain point in your life, or remember a time you were at that point, to enjoy this. I hadn't had that happen when I started reading this, but by the end I had reached that point.
mollyharris's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this, it was very much along the vein of [b:The Virgin Suicides|10956|The Virgin Suicides|Jeffrey Eugenides|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1319032910s/10956.jpg|812415], or maybe [b:What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal |13258|What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal |Zoë Heller|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1317792264s/13258.jpg|18650], but not quite as 'effortless' as the aforementioned novels. There felt like something a bit forced about the narrator's tone, which I admit might be completely calculated by the author, but just felt a little fake to me. The story was interesting enough but I couldn't get past the idea that it was all just made up in the narrator's head (especially since he actually explicitly says so a few times). Every time he'd mention it it would bring me out of the action, so to speak.
destuek's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was excellent, characters well-drawn, but I still could not get over the fact that the narrator tried to force himself on Aviva and it was very hard to hear the story from his POV, with that knowledge knocking around my head.
lilacs_books's review against another edition
5.0
In a few words, “The Virgins” by Pamela Erens could be described as a mature “Looking for Alaska”. Like the young adult book by John Green it captures perfectly the spirit of youth; the breaking away from parents and the experimentation with everything, from alcohol to cannabis to romance and sex. It has all of that, and more. It includes the exhilarating discovery of who you are in this world and the captivating tragedy of first heartbreak.
However, “The Virgins” is so much more than “Looking for Alaska”, thanks to the frustratingly unreliable narrator. The narrator, a 60 year old man, is recounting his memories from his high school boarding school. Well, more than his own memories he is recounting the stories of Aviva and Seung, two of his fellow students. Straight away this made me wonder why a 60 year old man would be so interested in events from his youth that barely concern him. More than that, I wanted to know how he would know some of these events even happened. Nowhere does he tell us how he knows these things; how he knows these people's thoughts and what they get up to when they're all alone. There is absolutely no evidence. And so, you begin to question: how much is real and how much is the narrator’s imagination?
More than a simple romantic coming of age story this is a mystery, full of intrigue and confusion. It will leave you questioning everything that happens, days, and even weeks, after you finish the book.
On the surface, a thrillingly riveting story about two teenagers becoming adults, whose rapid page-turning will exercise the hands; underneath layers of mystery, the story of an old man deeply troubled by his past, where the deep puzzling will exercise the mind. This book is most definitely worth a read by people of all ages.
I won this book through Goodreads First Reads, which doesn't change my opinion in the slightest.
However, “The Virgins” is so much more than “Looking for Alaska”, thanks to the frustratingly unreliable narrator. The narrator, a 60 year old man, is recounting his memories from his high school boarding school. Well, more than his own memories he is recounting the stories of Aviva and Seung, two of his fellow students. Straight away this made me wonder why a 60 year old man would be so interested in events from his youth that barely concern him. More than that, I wanted to know how he would know some of these events even happened. Nowhere does he tell us how he knows these things; how he knows these people's thoughts and what they get up to when they're all alone. There is absolutely no evidence. And so, you begin to question: how much is real and how much is the narrator’s imagination?
More than a simple romantic coming of age story this is a mystery, full of intrigue and confusion. It will leave you questioning everything that happens, days, and even weeks, after you finish the book.
On the surface, a thrillingly riveting story about two teenagers becoming adults, whose rapid page-turning will exercise the hands; underneath layers of mystery, the story of an old man deeply troubled by his past, where the deep puzzling will exercise the mind. This book is most definitely worth a read by people of all ages.
I won this book through Goodreads First Reads, which doesn't change my opinion in the slightest.
lizalikeminnelli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
itslacour's review against another edition
3.0
Received this book from the Goodreads giveaway.
I started off not enjoying the book. The introduction to characters were taking too long for my liking and the first half of the booked seemed to drag on. In addition, the changing of narration confused me.
However, i really enjoyed the way the story carried on and finished. even though we find out quite early on in the book that Sueng dies, we are left to wonder how and why. I love the story but wish i could love and feel the characters more.
I started off not enjoying the book. The introduction to characters were taking too long for my liking and the first half of the booked seemed to drag on. In addition, the changing of narration confused me.
However, i really enjoyed the way the story carried on and finished. even though we find out quite early on in the book that Sueng dies, we are left to wonder how and why. I love the story but wish i could love and feel the characters more.