Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Jeffrey Eugenides

Quote by Jeffrey Eugenides

Work

The Virgin Suicides: A Novel

Set in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, during the 1970s, the story follows the five Lisbon sisters: Cecilia, Lux, Bonnie, Mary, and Therese. Raised under the strict and watchful eye of their overprotective parents, the sisters lead a sheltered existence that becomes increasingly isolated from the outside world after the youngest sister's first suicide attempt. The narrative is told from the collective perspective of a group of adolescent boys who live on the same street, who watch the sisters from afar and become fascinated by them. Through fragments of memory, secondhand accounts, and artifacts collected over the years, these now-grown men attempt to reconstruct the events that led to the sisters' eventual fates. The novel explores themes of suburban disillusionment, the mysteries of adolescence, the limitations of memory, and the distance between observers and the truths they seek to understand. Published in 1993, it was later adapted into a film directed by Sofia Coppola. more

Author

Jeffrey Eugenides
Jeffrey Eugenides

Jeffrey Eugenides is an American novelist known for his unique narrative style and profound portrayal of complex family relationships. His works often explore identity, genetics, and human emotions. more

You May Also Like

“Luke rose to his feet. "I'm taking five minutes for some air. I'll be back. " He felt them watching him as he made his way to the front doorsall of them, even Amatis. Senhor Monteverde whispered something to his wife in Portuguese; Luke caught "lobo", the word for "wolf", in the stream of words. They probably think I'm going outside to run in circles and bark at the moon.”

“I have gone into town to buy a few last things we need for the expedition: Peruvian wasp repellent, toothbrushes, canned peaches, and a fireproof canoe. It will take a while to find the peaches, so don't expect me back until dinnertime. Stephano, Gustav's replacement, will arrive today by taxi. Please make him feel welcome. As you know, it is only two days until the expedition, so please work very hard today. Your giddy uncle, Monty”

“I never look at fashion magazines. I find them incredibly boring. To me, reading a fashion magazine is the last thing I need to do. I've got books I need to read. More people should read books. It's the most concentrated experience you can have. You know, all those incredible geniuses concentrated their lifetimes' experiences in books. It's much better than chattering away to somebody who's never read anything and knows nothing at all.”