Instead of Gold

I finished this book last night, and I watched the film this morning, and I can say this: both are very, very, very good. 

The Virgin Suicides is the story of the five Lisbon sisters, who all commit suicide over the course of one year. The story is told by the boys in the neighborhood, who try to put the story together, and tell it from a distance. 

This book, people; this book is indescribable. The best thing about this is by far the writing style: Eugenides employs so much detail that it is almost impossible to feel separate from the story. It feels like you are one of the boys, right along with Tom Faheem and Chase, and Paul Baldino, trying to understand the tragic and romantically mysterious story of the Lisbon girls. 

That’s the other thing: you can recognize that the boys seriously romanticize the Lisbon girls. Like, on a level that is unlike any other story I’ve read. They follow them religiously. 

The story isn’t sad in the way you might think it is. Yes, suicide is an awful and emotionally-charged thing to deal with, and I do not deny that. But the majority of the story is not about the girls deaths, but about their lives, and who the boys believe them to be. Most of the story carries a stoic and silently melancholy tone that allows for the reader to feel the Lisbon girls, but not know them. To see them, but to not understand them. 

This is the same struggle that the boys of the neighborhood face. 

Eugenides writing is impeccable and unlike any other. Aspiring writers: pick this up and use it as a manual. I know I’m going to. 

And, also: The Virgin Suicides. 

I can’t… it just… it just… broke my heart. 

It’s been kind of a while since I did one of these, and that has to change because I’m pretty far behind on this whole 50 books in 2012 thing. And, reading fifty books in 2012 will accomplish two things: 1) I will have read 50 books in 2012, and 2) I can honestly say that I achieved my New Years Resolution, and how many people can really say that?

Wonder is about a young boy named August who was born with a genetic disorder that causes him to have medical issues such as a cleft pallet, but mainly causes him to look very, very different from everyone else. The book chronicles Auggie’s (his nickname) first year in a real school (i.e. not being home schooled anymore).

When my mom first told me about this book, I thought it sounded like it would be way too awful to bear. I mean, a genetically deformed little boy having to go into a real middle school? Middle school kids were the meanest out of all of the schooling periods of my life. Well, actually, not as mean as my time in Catholic school, I believe.

But when I started reading the story, it wasn’t the ridiculously heartbreaking and unbearable story that I thought it would be. Yes, August’s story will definitely hurt you at times. I found myself crying quite a bit while reading this book. But, August is also really funny, and a genuinely sweet and thoughtful little boy. 

The only thing I thought this book sort of failed to do was something that I can’t talk about due to the fact that it would spoil it for you nice people who may want to read it. But this thing does not make me regret reading Wonder. It was a truly unique and enjoyable book. 

The next book in this challenge I started last night, which is The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. I have had this book on my shelf for nearly four months now, and I’m excited to get to it. Let me know if you’ve read it! I mean, it’s not like it’s particularly new or anything. It came out the year I was born. 

Happy reading & I hope your Friday is going well, friends :)