A review by manicmeg
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • 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

5.0

This book is less about the girls and more about the male gaze looking into the girls. This is about male perversion and the manic-pixie-dream-girl trope. It's really interesting and really well done, the author, male, does well handling the male gaze and the distance between the narrator and the Lisbon's. The readers don't get to know any of the characters, we're viewing the events through such disconnection that the plot doesn't even really matter. It's such a weird book but it's excellently done.
I guess also the question isn't why did the girls commit suicide and more of why did they plan it so specifically and together.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings