The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

And it was then Cecelia gave orally what was to be her only form of suicide note, and a useless one at that, because she was going to live: "Obviously, Doctor," she said, "you've never been a thirteen year old girl".

Cecelia Lisbon was to be the first of the suicides, followed a year later by her sisters Therese, Mary, Bonnie, and Lux. This was many years ago and though the nameless young boys who loved the Lisbon sisters from afar are now grown, they are still haunted by their memories. Piecing together their own personal recollections and what they've learned from others and from the girls' own personal items that they have managed to salvage, the boys continue to struggle to understand the Lisbon sisters and their actions -actions that would prove to be the beginning of the end of their idyllic suburban neighborhood.

I've had this book for a long time, but only thought to pick it up last night and finally had to put it down when my eyelids were too heavy to stay open. In a word, I would describe it as brilliant, an absolute must read.

I loved that even though the boys, this nameless faceless group of the Lisbons' neighbors and schoolmates, knew everything about the girls -what clothes and makeup they wore, what they ate and listened to, what they read and received in the mail, where they wanted to travel- they still didn't really know anything. In fact, according to their interviews with various people whose lives intersected with the girls at different points, from doctors, friends, sexual partners, even their overprotective mother, no one really knew the Lisbon girls and their motivations remain unclear.

It's so difficult to discuss a book that is so internal and descriptive. I'm a fan of the movie, but now that I've read the book I'm amazed that the movie was even attempted. Quirky and comical, yet morose and contemplative, The Virgin Suicides is a fascinating modern day classic.

http://thechickmanifesto.blogspot.com/2009/04/virgin-suicides-by-jeffrey-eugenides.html