Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

This the thread for the Buddy Read of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. This read will begin on September 15, 2026.

Looks like a number of us are in for this read, just on slightly different schedules with getting the book. I hope to pick mine up today. There is no cut-off date, so we can dip into October if need be.

Oh, Goodness, I am so sorry to say I am DNFing this book at 45 pages. I read the first chapter, stopped, started over the next day, read two chapters this time, and stopped again. I cannot bring myself to stick with this one. Sometimes it just doesn't fit and for me, right now, this won't. I hope it has an opposite effect on the rest of you. I think my situation right now calls for kinder books or books that pull me into another world that I want to be in.

Oh my, sorry this didn’t work for you, Sara. I avoided this book for a time due to the title. I cannot start it yet but hope I can get through it. If not, I won’t hesitate to put it down.

I can see why members may avoid this. I am finishing today and will offer thoughts when done.

Despite the triggering content, the book was an interesting read. It also has been adapted into a film of the same name by Sofia Coppola (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X29k7...

For our present eyes, I think the film brings out the comic in the novel better. The novel reads seriocomic but I think the comic in the novel does not work for us now. The young male lustful fantasies are far more creepy than cute, and the book has more the feel of horror than comic, and the voyeurism is part of that horror. A good companion piece to read with this is "The Body," by Stephen King, also included in Different Seasons which featured "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank redemption, our short read this month. It was made into the film "Stand By Me," by Rob Reiner, (1986).

I just received my copy from the library--finally. From the cover on the library's copy, I see how some humor is intended.

Mine is not yet available, darn!