The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey EugenidesMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
Blurb From Goodreads
This beautiful and sad first novel, recently adapted for a major motion picture, tells of a band of teenage sleuths who piece together the story of a twenty-year old family tragedy begun by the youngest daughter’s spectacular demise by self-defenstration, which inaugurates “the year of the suicides.”
My Review
Ugh I was so disappointed by this book! I thought we were going to get an in depth look at the girls lives, what happened to make them all do what they did and behave as they did but was left with just as many questions if not more by the time I got through it. The book tells from the point of view of kids they grew up with and always refers to "we would see them or we watched from outside" yet never said who the we were.
There was no depth to any of the characters, I felt no reasons or explanations for the way the parents were or even the girls. Why no-one stepped in, said anything, done anything. Why did the girls choose to involve the people they did and why in that way. Maybe there was some deep and hidden meaning to the book but I failed to see it.
I was bored for most of the book (intrigued before the first suicide but bored and annoyed thereafter), the chapter lengths varied as well, one was only say 12 or 14 pages long and another was over 80. Overall it dragged and didn't hold my interest and I found it a real chore to read and finish it so 1/5 for me. I'm not sure if I would read this author again, if I did it will be when this book is a distant memory.
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Oh dear. This one has never appealed to me even though I see it around everywhere. Maybe I have a sixth sense ;)
ReplyDeleteI read this a long time ago but I remember finding it distinctly average...I didn't dislike it as much as you did but I found it pretty tedious! After one suicide it gets a bit boring...especially because it's unclear why. I feel like I should re-read it now as I can remember so little about it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog and for admiring Boots! He sits on me while I write most of my blog stuff so I thought he should get a mention :-)
I'm not going to the Jodi Picoult thing- to be honest I have never read any of her books! You read so much- I was just checking out your Goodreads and 170 in one year!? That is some crazy reading speed- I wish I could do that!
Sorry for rambling!
Anna x
Oh no, that's too bad it disappointed like that. I watched the film years ago and found it interesting. I guess the film is better than the book in this case.
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