The Virgin Suicides
24 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Ashleigh4985 from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, November 3, 2005
Read this book on holiday this year and really enjoyed it. Depressing but as its written from the point of view of young boys it avoids being a depressing read and is interesting.
Journal Entry 2 by Ashleigh4985 at Postal Release in Post office, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 5, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (12/5/2005 UTC) at Postal Release in Post office, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
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Thank you Ashleigh4985 the book arrived this morning.
I'm going to start it as soon as I finish the bookring I'm on.
Hope you enjoy The Shining!
I'm going to start it as soon as I finish the bookring I'm on.
Hope you enjoy The Shining!
I just finished reading this book, thank you Ashleigh4985.
It wasn't my type of book, not really what I expected.
I'm going to pass it on to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more than I did.
It wasn't my type of book, not really what I expected.
I'm going to pass it on to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more than I did.
Journal Entry 5 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Sunday, December 25, 2005
Received this book as part of my lovely NSSFC parcel - thank you so much, janiemac75!
Journal Entry 6 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 3, 2006
i have posted this out to a fellow bookcrosser, as i received two copies throughout the holiday season and this one has more journal entries, so i thought it best to keep it moving!!
Journal Entry 7 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, March 10, 2006
Journal Entry 8 by Melanie2474 at Book Relay in Book Relay, A Book Relay -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (7/13/2006 UTC) at Book Relay in Book Relay, A Book Relay -- Controlled Releases
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RELEASE NOTES: Mt TBR is just too large, and with studies looming, I'm relying on my viewing of the movie a little while back to satisfy the story. Off to zugenia - enjoy :)
This book arrived safely in Arkansas -- thanks for granting my wish!
I've seen the word "macabre" used a lot in reviews of Eugenides's first novel, and I think it's appropriate, but for all its darkness this is certainly a novel with a heart. The bleak cynicism of its portrait of middle-class cluelessness (a community's inability to understand or care for its teenage daughters; the flailing, insincere attempts to "deal with" tragedy through therapy and both official and inofficial memorials to untimely death; and the flimsiness of individuals' concern for their neighbors, in the 20th-century American suburbs that claim to be "neighborhoods," through which a desperate sense of fear and self-preservation is constantly breaking) is balanced by the uncharacteristic tenderness of the teenage boys who observe the five doomed Lisbon sisters with an unrequited longing that is the closest thing this lifestyle offers to true love.
I read Eugenides's second novel, Middlesex, a while ago, and enjoyed it very much, but I think I liked The Virgin Suicides better. I was trying to explain to Z what I liked better about it, fumbling with how Middlesex is sprawling and narrative-oriented and this is weirder and somehow about something other than the story, but it won't quite give up what, and he did a much better job of articulating what I was trying to say: "It sounds," he said, "like The Virgin Suicides is modernist, while Middlesex is Victorian." Duh—that's exactly it. And then this morning, I came across this interview with Eugenides (by his onetime student, Jonathan Safran Foer), in which he says,
I'm not of his generation, but I did cut my teeth as a serious reader on modernism (I spent my senior year of high school cultivating an obsession with Virginia Woolf, and she remains a standard of intelligent writing for me, whether I will it or not), which explains my attraction to the style Eugenides is trying to outgrow. I look forward, then, to Eugenides's third novel, whenever it appears, because I anticipate we will see a fusing of the styles he has learned to master into something fresh—not the tired and imprecise "postmodern," but whatever it is that comes afterward; the new generation of narrative fiction.
I read Eugenides's second novel, Middlesex, a while ago, and enjoyed it very much, but I think I liked The Virgin Suicides better. I was trying to explain to Z what I liked better about it, fumbling with how Middlesex is sprawling and narrative-oriented and this is weirder and somehow about something other than the story, but it won't quite give up what, and he did a much better job of articulating what I was trying to say: "It sounds," he said, "like The Virgin Suicides is modernist, while Middlesex is Victorian." Duh—that's exactly it. And then this morning, I came across this interview with Eugenides (by his onetime student, Jonathan Safran Foer), in which he says,
I always say it like this: my generation of writers grew up backwards. We were weaned on modernism and only later read the great 19th-century masters of realism. When we began writing in high school and college, it was experimental fiction. I think now that a certain kind of academic experimental fiction has reached a dead end. Middlesex is a postmodern book in many ways, but it is also very old-fashioned. Reusing classical motifs is a fundamental of postmodern practice, of course, but telling a story isn't always. I like narrative. I read for it and write for it.
I'm not of his generation, but I did cut my teeth as a serious reader on modernism (I spent my senior year of high school cultivating an obsession with Virginia Woolf, and she remains a standard of intelligent writing for me, whether I will it or not), which explains my attraction to the style Eugenides is trying to outgrow. I look forward, then, to Eugenides's third novel, whenever it appears, because I anticipate we will see a fusing of the styles he has learned to master into something fresh—not the tired and imprecise "postmodern," but whatever it is that comes afterward; the new generation of narrative fiction.
On its way to lauraloo29 through another reverse wishlist relay.
Arrived safe and sound today. I love books that have travelled! Thank you.
I couldn't finish this book. I have seen the movie, but the book of course has so much more in it. I'm confused.
I'm going to send this out as a ray.Rules: Not many. Please journal the book's arrival and departure. And please keep it moving by keeping it no longer than 4 weeks. The last person is free to release the book as they wish.
1. nwpassage - Canada (Intl)
2. lilifin - Germany (Europe)
3. Ahava - Finland (Intl)
4. denny08 - US (US)
5. andersor - US (US/Intl)
6. Bluestocking88 - US (US)
7. gecko4ever - US (Intl)
8. Marsala - Netherlands (Europe)
9. christina82 - Denmark (Europe/Intl)
10. boirina - Portugal (Intl)
11. Stacers1973 - US (US/Intl)
12. HunterRyu - US
13. missgyder - US
14. judygreeneyes - US (Intl)
15. AgdaAgulina - Czech Republic
16. darkhorse4460 - UK (Europe)
17. mazzlestar - UK - skipped, no response
18 Jozebedee - UK (UK)
19. k2005 - UK (Intl)
20. foxygirlACT - Australia
21.
Beginning its journey on August 9th. Happy travelling!
Journal Entry 15 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, August 13, 2007
Arrived today - thanks for including me laura! I''ll be starting this straight away... more soon!
Journal Entry 16 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, September 24, 2007
I'm so sorry I've kept this so long! I tried really hard, because this has been on my wishlist for so long, and I have heard such amazing things about it, but in the end, I just couldn't do it. It bored me and I just couldn't find any point to the story. :(
I would like to say thank you again to lauraloo for including me on this ring though, giving me the chance to finally try this book.
To make up for holding on to this so long, I have mailed it today airmail, so it should arrive in Germany very soon. Traveling.
I would like to say thank you again to lauraloo for including me on this ring though, giving me the chance to finally try this book.
To make up for holding on to this so long, I have mailed it today airmail, so it should arrive in Germany very soon. Traveling.
arrived safely...thanks! will be read soon
Thanks for sharing this great book!
Released 16 yrs ago (2/1/2008 UTC) at
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Sent to Denny08 (Ahava wasn't interested any more)
Sent to Denny08 (Ahava wasn't interested any more)
Finally got this! Yay! I will put it on my next TBR stack!
This book was extremely strange and different from anything I've ever read. Not at all anything like Middlesex. Thank you for sharing it and it is going out in today's mail to andersor.
Received in the mail yesterday. Can't wait to read it.
Thanks for sharing!
Updated 5/8 - What an interesting story. A sort of mystery story where nothing is resolved... Clever choice for the author to write it from the boys' perspective.
I PM'd BlueStocking88, and they asked to be skipped.
I will send to the next person soon.
Updated 5/21 - This was sent to gecko4ever on Monday May 19. Enjoy!!
Thanks for sharing!
Updated 5/8 - What an interesting story. A sort of mystery story where nothing is resolved... Clever choice for the author to write it from the boys' perspective.
I PM'd BlueStocking88, and they asked to be skipped.
I will send to the next person soon.
Updated 5/21 - This was sent to gecko4ever on Monday May 19. Enjoy!!
I received in the mail on Thurday and will get into it right away. Thanks for the ring.
Journal Entry 24 by gecko4ever at U.S. Postal Mail in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/3/2008 UTC) at U.S. Postal Mail in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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Going to the next person in the bookring.
I found this book to be a quick read. I enjoyed it. I watched the movie before reading it but still enjoyed the book more. It is told from a totally unique point of view. Enjoy and thank you.
Going to the next person in the bookring.
I found this book to be a quick read. I enjoyed it. I watched the movie before reading it but still enjoyed the book more. It is told from a totally unique point of view. Enjoy and thank you.
Journal Entry 25 by marsala from - Ergens in de provincie, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Arrived here safely today, thanks gecko4ever for sending it and thanks lauraloo9 for making a ray out of it. As usual the ringbooks are coming in herds and there are some books in line before this one, but I probably will finish it within 4 weeks.
I thought this was a very beautiful story. It is a very sad story, but also a very honest one. I like that the writer told the story form the boys perspective, it makes it a bit mysterious. It is like a big puzzles and you don't get all the pieces.
I thought this was a very beautiful story. It is a very sad story, but also a very honest one. I like that the writer told the story form the boys perspective, it makes it a bit mysterious. It is like a big puzzles and you don't get all the pieces.
Released 15 yrs ago (7/3/2008 UTC) at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Send it to the next person in the ring.
Send it to the next person in the ring.
Got it yesterday in the mail.
I will read it as soon as possible - but need to finish Don Quixote first!( It shouldn't take long)
I will read it as soon as possible - but need to finish Don Quixote first!( It shouldn't take long)
Just finished reading this book - It's really great. I thought that it was very well written and after reading the first page I just couldn't put it down.
I will PM the next person on the list for an adress.
I will PM the next person on the list for an adress.
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Will mail this later today. Hope I will arrive safely to Boirina who is next on the list.
Hope you enjoy it.
Will mail this later today. Hope I will arrive safely to Boirina who is next on the list.
Hope you enjoy it.
Journal Entry 30 by boirina from Mallorca - Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, July 28, 2008
The book got here today.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Journal Entry 31 by boirina from Mallorca - Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, October 13, 2008
The book has left for Stacers1973 today.
I haven't had the chance to read it. Life got in the way and I had to travel too much and work too much in the last few months. :(
I joined to send it over to the US, and at least I've managed to do it. :)
Hugs to all of you.
I haven't had the chance to read it. Life got in the way and I had to travel too much and work too much in the last few months. :(
I joined to send it over to the US, and at least I've managed to do it. :)
Hugs to all of you.
Got this in the mail today, thanks for passing it on Boirina ... sorry you didn't get to read it :(
I have one before this, so I will get to it soon!
I have one before this, so I will get to it soon!
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An interesting peek into the lives of both neighbors and adolescents. You don't really get any answers as to why ... but it is kind of a slice of life ... you just get to peek in at this one event/time and then wonder about the rest of it. While I wouldn't say the book was exactly enjoyable it was very good and I am glad I read it.
Mailed off to HunterRyu.
An interesting peek into the lives of both neighbors and adolescents. You don't really get any answers as to why ... but it is kind of a slice of life ... you just get to peek in at this one event/time and then wonder about the rest of it. While I wouldn't say the book was exactly enjoyable it was very good and I am glad I read it.
Mailed off to HunterRyu.
Book came in the mail today. Will read it within the next couple weeks. I really look forward to sharing this book with you all. Happy Bookcrossing! <3
Just finished with this book. Sorry it took so long, I work retail and got bum rushed with hours and little free time. It was a good book, but not my favorite. Some parts rambled on a bit about completely random tangents, and a couple chapters were just so incredibly long (chapter 3 is almost 100 pages) it was tough to do my normal read a chapter before bed. Overall I'm glad I got a chance to read it, but this wouldn't be anything I'd like a copy of for my keep shelf. It was interesting to read from a teenage boy's perspective, even though they were a bit on the obliviously obsessive creepy stalker side.
I have PMed missgyder and will mail the book shortly.
I have PMed missgyder and will mail the book shortly.
Journal Entry 36 by HunterRyu at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (12/9/2008 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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I'll be mailing this off to missgyder on my next trip to the Post Office. Happy Bookcrossing!
I'll be mailing this off to missgyder on my next trip to the Post Office. Happy Bookcrossing!
This is going to the top of my TBR pile. Thanks!
An interesting read. I was fascinated by the use of the "royal we" as the narrator--I've never heard of a book using that voice before, and it was very interesting. Not sure how I felt about the whole thing, it was very odd, but a curious read.
Heading off to judygreeneyes. Thanks so much--I was stuck in the hospital while reading this, so it kept me great company!
USPS Tracking #: 9102 1501 3471 1522 4343 24
Heading off to judygreeneyes. Thanks so much--I was stuck in the hospital while reading this, so it kept me great company!
USPS Tracking #: 9102 1501 3471 1522 4343 24
This book has safely arrived in San Diego. I have 1 1/2 books ahead of it, but will get going as quickly as I can! I'm really looking forward to it, having loved Middlesex.
This was an amazing story. All the time I was reading it, I kept saying to people "I'm reading the strangest book." I'm not sure exactly what to think of it, but it was certainly well told. How horrible, though, and sad, and unreal in many ways. I kept thinking that someone should have done something. I think that in our days, someone would. Child Protective Services would have gone into that house and seen the situation. The neighbors would have called after seeing how the girls were basically prisoners. I did find the point of view it was written in, a collective consciousness of young neighborhood boys, to be very odd and yet effective. I'll add to this entry later if I have more thoughts. I've PM'd the next person on the list. Zugenia's review above was quite good.
The book is in Prague! And what a book! I have almost read it already...
Journal Entry 42 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
This book arrived with the perfect timing when I was just getting sick and had to stay in bed few days. And it kept me very good company! I really enjoeyd it, this mix of dark tragedy spiced up with plenty of humour, just what I like so much. I also liked the boys-point-of view, which came across stronger than in the movie (as I remember it). And so many lovely details! Sad sad but so beautiful story. Thank you for sharing this book!
Next reader soon...
Next reader soon...
Released 15 yrs ago (4/22/2009 UTC) at
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The book was sent on to the next reader!
The book was sent on to the next reader!
Journal Entry 44 by darkhorse4460 from Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 24, 2009
Received today from AqdaAquilina. Thank you, I like your card that mirrors the cover of the book.
Middlesex was one of my favourite reads last year but clearly this is very different. Looking forward to reading it, next on my list after my current read.
Thank you for sharing.
Middlesex was one of my favourite reads last year but clearly this is very different. Looking forward to reading it, next on my list after my current read.
Thank you for sharing.
Journal Entry 45 by darkhorse4460 from Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, June 1, 2009
Like others, I really had some trouble enjoying this book and took much longer than I should reading it. Its brilliantly written and very original but the subject matter just didn't engage me. I think I just couldn't identify with the narratorial point of view, that of adolescent male obsession with a group of adolescent girls - now an obessive memory for the men in their later lives. Yes the story of the Lisbon sisters is strange and surreal and macabre but told this way I found it just plain creepy, and not in a good way. I was much more interested in the girls than the male fantasies about them, so the lack of a wider insight into what was really going on left me feeling a bit cheated and then indifferent.
Middlesex was amazing but this one really didn't press any buttons for me.
I will be in contact with the next person in the ray very shortly.
Middlesex was amazing but this one really didn't press any buttons for me.
I will be in contact with the next person in the ray very shortly.
Journal Entry 46 by darkhorse4460 from Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Just to say that I have not had any response from mazzlestar who is next in line for this book, so will try jozebedee instead.
Journal Entry 47 by darkhorse4460 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 13, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (6/13/2009 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Book on its way to Jozebedee. Hope you enjoy it.
Book on its way to Jozebedee. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks darkhorse4460 - it has arrived safely. I have a few bookrings in the TBR pile, so will get to this as soon as I possibly can :-)
I was really looking forward to reading this. I thought it was a good read, and it left me wondering about the mental state of the family. Very interesting concept for a book.
Thanks for sharing - I enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing - I enjoyed it.
Journal Entry 50 by Jozebedee at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (8/25/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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Sending off now to K2005 who is next on the list. Enjoy! :-)
Sending off now to K2005 who is next on the list. Enjoy! :-)
I received this at the weekend and started reading it straight away but forgot to journal it, sorry!
Journal Entry 52 by foxygirlACT from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, November 15, 2009
Just received in the post in Australia today. Thanks for the xmas card!
I am about to finish another book and will then get started on this one. thanks
I am about to finish another book and will then get started on this one. thanks
Journal Entry 53 by foxygirlACT at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (12/15/2009 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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Sending on as a RABCK with the blessings of the bookring organiser.
Be careful with this one, as it is a little worse for wear from it's travels (first few pages are loose).
Enjoy!
Sending on as a RABCK with the blessings of the bookring organiser.
Be careful with this one, as it is a little worse for wear from it's travels (first few pages are loose).
Enjoy!
Thanks for the rabck!! Much appreciated, I love this book.
