The Virgin Suicides

By: Jeffrey Eugenides

Narrated by: Nick Landrum

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)

narrator fine

I am writing mostly to voice disagreement with previous reviewers regarding the narrator. I enjoyed the book and thought the narration was fine. The pace was possibly a bit slow, but overall I thought it was a good reading and certainly did not detract from my enjoyment in a significant way.

Another win

What did you like about this audiobook?

Eugenides is a genius with words. The subtlety of this story is what makes “The Virgin Suicides” so moving.

This is the tale of 5 sisters whose presence causes silence, shock, longing and mystery. We are told the story through the hazy adolescent lens of sexually confused boys obsessed with the Lisbon sisters. There is Cecilia, the youngest, at 13 and the first to commit suicide. Then there is Lux, the sexual and enigmatic sister who brings boys to their knees at 14. Then Bonnie the bookish sister at 15. Mary at 16, and the last to die. And finally there is Terese the oldest with her protective goggles and baggy sweatshirts at 17. The girls act as a single organism and they protect each other against everyone it seems, especially their parents and ultimately assist each other in death.

I have not stopped thinking of this story since I finished the audio. It is beautiful and tragic AND I love how Jeffrey Eugenides spins a tale. Middlesex was my first read and I LOVED that book. Virgin Suicides is different. I think it highlights human events that are paramount and obvious but are still treated with indifference or with a languid understanding in order to move on to the next day’s event. This book highlights everything that is missed, which is so much more than is understood.

Do you have any additional comments?

I think the 1970's suburban backdrop is the perfect setting for a book that explores adolescent angst, death and obsession.

Uuuugh

Such a tedious story. Not very interesting for such a potentially captivating premise. I like Jeffrey Eugenides but not this one

Compelling story, OK performance

Would you try another book from Jeffrey Eugenides and/or Nick Landrum?

I've read others by Jeffrey Euginides & really like his work.

Would you recommend The Virgin Suicides to your friends? Why or why not?

With reservations. I didn't love it.

What didn’t you like about Nick Landrum’s performance?

It was read so slowly that I adjusted the speed to make it go faster which just made it sound weird. Monotonous performance.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I didn't hate it, just didn't love it, yet I was compelled to keep going and finish it

Didn't finish it, but performance kept me listening...

I really disliked this book. The writing style is strange, and there is such a thing as too much description. Unnecessary description that took away from the plot, which was hard to follow and almost nonexistent to begin with. The narrator I enjoyed though. He kept me listening far longer than I would've if I were to pick this book up at the library and read it.