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Dec 29, 2015
The Virgin Suicides is a critically acclaimed novel by author Jeffrey Eugenides. This novel surrounds the mysterious suicides of the Lisbon sisters: five teenage girls in Gross Point, Michigan. The novel is told from the point of view of the neighbourhood boys who are fascinated with these girls and are seeking an explanation for their tragic deaths and the strange circumstances surrounding them. The girls are a complete mystery to the boys, and they find themselves infatuated with the sole “idea” of the Lisbon sisters. The author goes through the Lisbon girls’ lives as explained by the boys, and shows how strange they really were: unrealistically strict parents, secret love affairs, self harm, and a special focus on the youngest sister Cecilia, who had attempted suicide before, and Lux, the heartbreaker of the group. This novel acts as an exaggeration of the life of a teenage girl: filled with drama, sadness, love, heartbreak, and finding yourself. The novel has a very nostalgic feel; reflecting on the wonderful and tragic period that is adolescence. It also touches on the theory of “idea vs. reality and shows how the boys were fascinated with the facade surrounding the girls rather than the actual girls themselves. This novel was turned into a film by director Sofia Coppola which serves as a perfect companion and accurate representation of the story. It’s quite a mature read, but I feel that it’s a very powerful and touching story suitable for both teens and adults.