The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

My Review:

First off, let me start by saying . . .



I have never given a review a 1 star, but there were many times that I almost placed this on the DNF shelf. The only thing that got me through this driveling nonsense was that I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narrator wasn't bad. Too bad Nick Landrum couldn't save this convoluted story from drowning.



I saw the movie many years ago and I don't remember it being this horrible. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have attempted this read/listen if I had disliked it so.

My first issue with this story was that I was confused by the narrator, this we shit had me continually guessing which of the super-freakishly obsessed neighbor boys was talking. Even if it was just one boy out of the group talking, it seemed to jump around between them all. These boys were just so creepy, always spying on the girls, collecting items for their collection, trying to piece together their lives even years after their deaths. Had I noticed anyone like that around as a child or an adult, those boys would be dealt with.



My second issue was the writing itself. If Jeffrey Eugenides was attempting to meet the quota on word count for a professor, he succeed. Otherwise, there was absolutely no reason to go into so much abstract descriptions and metaphors. This was just frustrating and tended to make the book feel like it was never going to end.



On a more serious note, and I'm not sure how to say what I want to say without sticking my foot in my mouth, but I'm going to try. Suicide is a very serious problem. It should never be taken lightly, and as this book shows, it shouldn't be written off, justified, or exploited. Aside from these girls suicide, I did find their behavior rather strange and at many points annoying, but that doesn't mean they needed to die. That also doesn't mean that anyone with that type of behavior has suicide tendencies. We just need to be vigilant to other peoples needs and ask for help if need be, whether you know someone contemplating suicide or are thinking of it yourself. There are many avenues to seek help (see below).

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1 (800) 273-8255
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Languages: English, Spanish

Overall, I want to say that just because Mr. Eugenides is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, doesn't make his storytelling or writing style everyone's cup of tea. So please don't read this book for that reason alone. If you are interested in reading this, please don't let my review stop you, I just want to make sure you are making that decision for yourself.

P.S. I know it's not fair to compare this to a movie I saw a long time ago, but I just couldn't help it.

Favorite Quotes:

“In the end, it wasn't death that surprised her but the stubbornness of life.”

“We couldn't imagine the emptiness of a creature who put a razor to her wrists and opened her veins, the emptiness and the calm.”

“Capitalism has resulted in material well-being but spiritual bankruptcy.”

“All wisdom ends in paradox.”

Read from July 16 to 24, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, Novels, Literature
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Private Berlin (Private, #5) by James Patterson

Private Berlin by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Private Berlin has the extraordinary pace and international sophistication that has powered The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Patterson's #1 bestseller The Postcard Killers. IN EUROPE'S MOST DANGEROUS CITY Chris Schneider is a superstar agent at Private Berlin, Germany headquarters for the world's most powerful investigation firm. He keeps his methods secret as he tackles Private's most high-profile cases-and when Chris suddenly disappears, he becomes Private Berlin's most dangerous investigation yet. AN INVESTIGATOR IS SEARCHING Mattie Engel is another top agent at Private Berlin, gorgeous and ruthlessly determined-and she's also Chris's ex. Mattie throws herself headfirst into finding Chris, following leads to the three people Chris was investigating when he vanished: a billionaire suspected of cheating on his wife, a soccer star accused of throwing games, and a nightclub owner with ties to the Russian mob. Any one of them would surely want Chris gone-and one of them is evil enough to want him dead. AND SHE'S AFTER MORE THAN THE TRUTH Mattie's chase takes her into Berlin's most guarded, hidden, and treacherous places, revealing secrets from Chris's past that she'd never dreamed of in the time they were lovers. On the brink of a terrifying discovery, Mattie holds on to her belief in Chris-in the face of a horror that could force all of Europe to the edge of destruction and chaos. James Patterson has taken the European thriller to a masterful new level with Private Berlin, an adrenaline-charged, spectacularly violent and sexy novel with unforgettable characters of dark and complex depths. Private Berlin proves why Patterson is truly the world's #1 bestselling author.

My Review:

Like all JP books, the explosion of action starts immediately, and you are left second guessing yourself throughout the book. Every time I thought I had the villain figured out, I'd be proved wrong, which I prefer rather to figuring out right away.

I know there are a few people who do not enjoy JP, but I love his books. They are always a fun, quick, and exciting read. This book was no exception.

Read from May 30 to June 06, 2013

Top 5 Genres*: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Suspense
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Private: Down Under (Private, #6) by James Patterson

Private: Down Under by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

"The world s most exclusive detective agency opens a new office in Australia!"

With the best detectives in the business, cutting edge technology, and offices around the globe, there is no investigation company quite like Private. Now, at a glittering launch party overlooking the iconic Opera House, Private Sydney throws open its doors

Craig Gisto and his newly formed team have barely raised their glasses, however, when a young Asian man, blood-soaked and bullet-ridden, staggers into the party, and what looks like a botched kidnapping turns out to be a whole lot more.

Within days the agency s caseload is full. But it is a horrific murder in the wealthy Eastern Suburbs and the desperate search for a motive that stretches the team to the limit. Stacy Friel, friend of the deputy commissioner of NSW Police, isn t the killer s first victim and as the bodies mount up she s clearly not the last."

My Review:

Another Private installment, another city and branch, another lead character, still same great momentum. I've realized with all the changes, we can keep the same backbone but tell completely new stories with new people, solving different crimes, which seems to stave off boredom. I enjoyed the fact that there are multiple cases to solve, and that not every interaction is a romantic one.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had a perfect Australian accent, which complimented the locale very nicely. With that being said, one of the main characters was described so perfectly as Rebel Wilson. Hopefully that won't ruin anyone's experience reading this book.

I liked the cast of characters, they were slightly flawed, but not to the point of disbelief. They worked well together. I'd recommend this book if you like any of the other Private books, or if you are a fan of James Patterson.

Read from July 06 to 18, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery/Detective, Adult
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews