The Virgin Suicides

By: Jeffrey Eugenides

Narrated by: Nick Landrum

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

This nationally best-selling novel from Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeffrey Eugenides was adapted into an acclaimed film by Academy Award-winner Sofia Coppola. A haunting yet wickedly funny tale, The Virgin Suicides has captivated countless readers with its intoxicating portrait of lost innocence. A brilliant fusion of dark humor and tragedy, it is an atmospheric, allegorical masterpiece about five oppressed, suicidal sisters and the boys who dream of rescuing them.

©1993 Jeffrey Eugenides (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"Eugenides' voice is so fresh and compelling, his powers of observation so startling and acute, that most will be mesmerized....This is an auspicious debut from an imaginative and talented writer." ( Publishers Weekly)

"A finely crafted work of literary if slightly macabre imagination....A black, glittering novel that won't be to everyone's taste but must be tried by readers looking for something different." ( Library Journal)

"Mr. Eugenides is blessed with the storyteller's most magical gift, the ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary." ( The New York Times Book Review)

A study in style

Much as I admired and sometimes revelled in the sheer style and beauty of the writing, this novel left me cold cold cold and empty. Beautiful, but ultimately futile. Which I think was precisely the point.

Good book

I always enjoyed the movie, so I decided to read the book definitely more context in the book than in the movie so you get to understand more

Interesting Perspective

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I love the use of the first person plural narration. It is inclusive and allows the listener to become engrossed in the story.

Listen to it at 1.15x speed

A cutting account of the decline of suburban America in the 1970s, told in a dark and disturbing fashion, through the lense of local adolescents. At times funny, sad, shocking and perverse, this is an unusual book well worth listening to. Just make sure to speed up the drawling narration.

Great Book, Not-Great Narration

When one of my all-time favorite books was selected for my book club, I figured I'd revisit it on audio and experience it a whole new way! I was disappointed. Nick Landrum's narration was too slow and plodding to really make the prose sing. Read this one in print.

Well written. Great narrator

Enjoyed the author's writing style. The narrator made it even better. It isn't the kind of book you can't put down though

Powerfully written and read.

The mood reminded me of the lovely book and movie, The Summer of 42. Wistful. Sad. Sweet.

Read this if you want to enjoy this audiobook

What did you love best about The Virgin Suicides?

I purchased this audiobook and was so disappointed when I found I could not tolerate listening to it. The problem was the slow, monotone voice of the narrator. I couldn't take it anymore, as listening became painful and I could not follow the story as my mind wandered. I read many similar complaints in the reviews.
I came back to the book a couple months later and tried it again. This time, I set audible.com's listening app to play it at 1.25 speed instead of the default 1. I was amazed. The audible experience became perfect, as it was meant to be. I do not believe the problem was with the narrator in the first place. I believe the track was slowed down for some reason in post production the the chagrin of may listeners.
If you tried listening to this book and simply could not get past the first chapter without wanting to tear your hair out, do yourself a favor and increase the speed of playback one notch. You will be surprised how wonderful this book, and it's narrator truly are.

Any additional comments?

Must be played at 1.25 speed to hear original recording.

Interesting but plotless

This book was interesting, but really didn't go anywhere. I too loved Middlesex and while this book has an interesting premise, it doesn't go much beyond that. You know the ending by the title, and I kept waiting for a surprise. The surprise is, there is no surprise. Didn't hate it, and don't consider it a waste of time, but I was disappointed.

Not a fan of the narration

I struggled to finish this book. I had 2 hours left and thought about ditching it. I found the narrator to be monotone and boring to listen to. The story had high and low points. Sometimes descriptions dragged on and I wanted to get back to the main plot.