People tackle this too much as a mystery novel. Forget about the Lisbon girls, and even the boys for a minute, and look at the fish flies, the dying trees, the stench of the swamp. The book is about the decomposition of a community, and the death of the Lisbon girls only magnifies it. Suicide is by far not the pervading theme of this story.
I definitely agree with you. The details made it more believable. Even if they were distorted and fabricated, it is closer to memory recall. You don't leave things out, just because you don't remember them.
I'm also going to have to agree with doodlehh. The boys were pretty selfish. It's kind of selfish to come to the conclusion that the girls were being selfish. Like, what, are they selfish just because they didn't run into the boys arms? Is it possible that they had other things going on?
Certainly it is about selfishness - not even just the girls, but the boys too. Everything they know about the Lisbons is related to themselves. Obsession is (I think) a selfish way to feel in the first place, because you want something, and you want it for YOU.
Great video. I loved this book when I read it last year, but it's quite difficult to finish... I kind of felt a little crazy while I was reading it, just like when I read The Bell Jar.
So glad to see that other people are reading and enjoying this book as much as I do. Every time I say it's my favorite book, my friends look at me like I'm demented.
I haven't read The Virgin Suicides, but I picked up Middlesex a few weeks ago. I hear it's great and look forward to reading it—maybe in a few months.
Great review, Margaret--I read Middlesex on your recommendation and enjoyed it as well. And we will miss you and Dave in July. Hope you're having an excellent summer and P.S. I like the hair too :-)
@yuriyaoilove13 I wasn't a huge fan of the movie, but I blame that on the book and the fact that I'd read it so recently and liked it so much. I'll have to watch the movie another time.
If you applied trauma theory to memory, you may have a basis for reasoning as to why the boys remembered specific details around the time of an event that was traumatic to them (compared to non-traumatic daily events). Details of a traumatic event (sometimes called triggers) are what force our minds to remember and reenact those events. Surprisingly, triggers become clearer as time passes, especially when psychological remnants of the trauma remain. The detailing in this book is not improbable.
Love the hair! Also, I agree with everything you said about memory. I've had this argument with a friend before about The Virgin Suicides and was awful at explaining this, haha.
@MigdalaVered Yeah, but life is gross, man. And there's no avoiding that and there's definitely no changing it. So I figure the best we can do is accept it and try not to become it, and I think books like this make you think about that.
@taylahboone I know, while I was reading the book I kept wanting to blame someone and I always wanted to blame the mom, but I really don't think it was her fault. She loved the girls and she was just trying to be a good mother. Sure, she was a little strict, but I don't think she drove them to suicide...
I donno man, some of those details were pretty absurd. But I guess maybe they were just THAT obsessed. Either way we agree that the memory was flawed where it matters though. So yeah. I enjoyed this.
People tackle this too much as a mystery novel. Forget about the Lisbon girls, and even the boys for a minute, and look at the fish flies, the dying trees, the stench of the swamp. The book is about the decomposition of a community, and the death of the Lisbon girls only magnifies it. Suicide is by far not the pervading theme of this story.
propriodaroma 6 months ago
I definitely agree with you. The details made it more believable. Even if they were distorted and fabricated, it is closer to memory recall. You don't leave things out, just because you don't remember them.
I'm also going to have to agree with doodlehh. The boys were pretty selfish. It's kind of selfish to come to the conclusion that the girls were being selfish. Like, what, are they selfish just because they didn't run into the boys arms? Is it possible that they had other things going on?
hellolover99 7 months ago
Certainly it is about selfishness - not even just the girls, but the boys too. Everything they know about the Lisbons is related to themselves. Obsession is (I think) a selfish way to feel in the first place, because you want something, and you want it for YOU.
doodlehh 8 months ago
Great video. I loved this book when I read it last year, but it's quite difficult to finish... I kind of felt a little crazy while I was reading it, just like when I read The Bell Jar.
nimmie54 8 months ago
You should do more of these. I've never read the Virgin Suicidies, nor watched the movie, but I loved this video.
LookaLike1995 8 months ago
So glad to see that other people are reading and enjoying this book as much as I do. Every time I say it's my favorite book, my friends look at me like I'm demented.
cricketsballroom 8 months ago
I haven't read The Virgin Suicides, but I picked up Middlesex a few weeks ago. I hear it's great and look forward to reading it—maybe in a few months.
TheCoryKid 8 months ago
@rjelementary Yes, I have! I read it a few months ago. It's fantastic, in the same tragic way.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
Great review, Margaret--I read Middlesex on your recommendation and enjoyed it as well. And we will miss you and Dave in July. Hope you're having an excellent summer and P.S. I like the hair too :-)
talkingtothink 8 months ago
@talkingtothink Thanks, Paula! I'm upset about missing out this summer, but I guess it's life.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
luv ur hair grl.
emmfan09 8 months ago
@emmfan09 thnx boi.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
I've only seen the Sofia Coppola film, but am definitely reading the book now :)
yuriyaoilove13 8 months ago
@yuriyaoilove13 I wasn't a huge fan of the movie, but I blame that on the book and the fact that I'd read it so recently and liked it so much. I'll have to watch the movie another time.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
I liked this video after you said "But I totally disagree" because I like it when people disagree with Peter.
Also I agree with pretty much everything you said.
Also your hair is BANGIN'.
coralinehope 8 months ago
@coralinehope Hahaha, thanks.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
If you applied trauma theory to memory, you may have a basis for reasoning as to why the boys remembered specific details around the time of an event that was traumatic to them (compared to non-traumatic daily events). Details of a traumatic event (sometimes called triggers) are what force our minds to remember and reenact those events. Surprisingly, triggers become clearer as time passes, especially when psychological remnants of the trauma remain. The detailing in this book is not improbable.
FrannyLuvsAll 8 months ago
@FrannyLuvsAll Yeah, take that, Peter! Thank you. :)
JustMargaret 8 months ago
Love the hair! Also, I agree with everything you said about memory. I've had this argument with a friend before about The Virgin Suicides and was awful at explaining this, haha.
shemightbemonica 8 months ago
Hair!
Also, I remember the most random details! :D
wmg2289 8 months ago
love your hair.
Interesting points.
I still feel the same way about the book as I commented on Peter's video. The book made me feel gross.
MigdalaVered 8 months ago
@MigdalaVered Yeah, but life is gross, man. And there's no avoiding that and there's definitely no changing it. So I figure the best we can do is accept it and try not to become it, and I think books like this make you think about that.
JustMargaret 8 months ago
nice hair!
brandocam 8 months ago
I wanna be in a book club :(
JuliaGraceR 8 months ago
I haven't read the book but I saw the movie so I decided to just go ahead and watch this video. =]
Hobartthedolphinboy 8 months ago
Yea I didn't finish the book, but I thought they committed suicide cause the mom was a psycho.
(None of the below comments have to do with the content of the video, and I bet a bunch more will be about the hair #classicyoutube)
taylahboone 8 months ago
@taylahboone I know, while I was reading the book I kept wanting to blame someone and I always wanted to blame the mom, but I really don't think it was her fault. She loved the girls and she was just trying to be a good mother. Sure, she was a little strict, but I don't think she drove them to suicide...
JustMargaret 8 months ago
I donno man, some of those details were pretty absurd. But I guess maybe they were just THAT obsessed. Either way we agree that the memory was flawed where it matters though. So yeah. I enjoyed this.
thepeteris 8 months ago
love your hair
StevenMacFly 8 months ago
You look really pretty with your new haircut <3
GMdark11 8 months ago
@GMdark11 Aw, thank you. :)
JustMargaret 8 months ago
:D!!111111111111
layray210 8 months ago
"first first" - laura
raidonthestadiar 8 months ago