I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides but I didn’t realize until I researched about the book that it’s actually written way back in 1993. I bought it at National Bookstore after I caught a glimpse of this text just above the book’s title:
Now a major motion picture from Paramount Classics starring James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett.
Yep, I’m a Josh Hartnett fan. I was crushing on Josh (Uh-huh, we’re on a first name basis) during his The Faculty days, I fell in love with him in Pearl Harbor, and then I wanted to marry him in Wicker Park. Lol. Apparently, The Virgin Suicides film was released in 1999. I guess I sidestepped that one. I can’t wait to see his upcoming movie called I Come With The Rain that they’re filming in Mindanao. And did you know that Jimmy Kimmel (da who?) said some insulting words about the Filipinos in his interview with Josh?
Anyway, the title of the book The Virgin Suicides says it all. It’s all about the untimely deaths of five sisters ages 13 to 17. The fact that all five of them committed suicide was disclosed early on in the book so the story actually revolved around the people outside their family who wondered why the girls were so determined to end their lives. It’s a depressing book and it kind of makes you want to reach out to the girls and just be a friend to them. Only you can’t. Heh. I guess there are lessons to be learned from it too, especially for parents on raising kids. People have to be more sensitive in recognizing the need of others (and the suicidal tendencies of some). As for the writer — Jeffrey Eugenides is simply brilliant.
The Virgin Suicides reminded me of the equally melodramatic non-fiction that I read last year called Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel. They also made a film out of this one with Christina Ricci as the main character. The book is about a girl who felt depressed but didn’t know why she did. She was leading a life that she can’t complain about, she had a relationship with a good man in which she felt insecure despite all the efforts he made, and she was on her way to becoming a successful career woman. But all that is useless because she JUST CAN’T STOP feeling depressed. She also attempted to kill herself many times just so she could put an end to her mind-numbing emotional instability. The problem was obviously psychiatric more than it is psychological and it took decades before they came up with a medication. And then her life dramatically changed after she started taking Prozac. After that, the author segues into sharing the sad fact about thousands of kids in the US (hence the title Prozac Nation) who are faking their condition just so they could get their hands on this “happy pill.” There’s a thin line between people who actually need the drug and those who just want to escape reality.
These two interesting books, despite the angst, went deep into the world of the depressed who are living a life that they just can’t stand. There’s clearly something missing in the lives of this kind of people that it makes me sad. It also made me think of this one friend I have back home who always feels depressed. I gotta reach out to her more.
Do you know someone who feels this way too?
Prozac, Prozac, Prozac. Someone related to me committed suicide because of that idjit substance they call drug.
Aileen: Huwaat! Tsk tsk. I’m sorry to hear that. :(
Kelan daw Christmas party/dinner natin sabi ni Kayren? hehe
yay that’s so depressing lalo pa’t dami nating suicide issues lately :| nabasa mo na din ba Veronika decides to die by P.Coelho? okay din yun :)
Liz: haha onga e. daming suicide news ngyn. I’ve read Veronika decides to die before, isa pang depressing na book un. lol.
Virgin Suicides sounds like a great book to me. Thanks for giving the heads-up.
My favorite angsty book is still, hands-down, Catcher in the Rye. I know a lot of people who hated this book but I just love it. Why? Because I’m so much like Holden Caulfield, it’s like this book is directly communicating to me.
Fight Club is GREAT too, if a little chaotic.
By the way, you’ve been tagged.
Virgin Suicides introduced me to Air, French duo who creates fantastic music :) Ang ganda ng soundtrack ng movie na yan :)
Don’t bother watching Prozac Nation, it’s so much better in the book :) But if you want to see Christina Ricci’s forehead, sige. haha ang mean!
Angsty books lang pala e! I’ve lots! Harhar. I can lend you! Kelan tayo magbbook exchange? ;)
Kris: Catcher in the Rye is one of a kind. The story’s a bit weird, but I enjoyed it too. =] Fight Club – the movie version was OK. Just kinda scary. Hehe.
Thanks for the tag! I’ll try to respond to it. I hope you weren’t too mad at other bloggers when you wrote that post. Just kidding. =]
Marian: Napanood ko na ung movie. You’re right, pangit nga. hehe! and the forehead! pwede tumbling-an! lol.
Ano angsty books mo? peram! haha
Fight Club is never meant to be a pleasant watch. It’s more of a anti-social social commentary, about how insignificant people have become as the corporate world flourishes.
Personally, I like the book better.
Another movie with a similar theme is American Psycho. But don’t watch it if you’re easily scared, it’s too disturbing for most people. The same can be said of Battle Royale (which is actually one of my favorite flicks ever).
You know what pisses me off? All these whiny emo bastards making self-flagellations so trivial and vogue. And I also REALLY REALLY detest Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Love” song. :You had me suicidal, suicidal, suicidal…” Is suicide so trivial that one should commit it just because one is rejected by beautiful girls, huh?! Get away Sean Kingston and get your awful songs out of the radio. I have a friend who shot herself and died last year, and it’s so distressing that the current pop culture likes to celebrate suicide as though it’s a fashion statement. Do they even know how it really feels for a person to have a friend that killed herself?
Regarding that blog, I actually am mad at 2 blogs that are really popular. And, you may have noticed it, but I keep making one of them an example of what I don’t do on my blog. They’re both really popular, and so it’s quite controversial if I should disclose them on public. I’d rather not do that; I’ve far too many things to worry about than exposing myself to online bickering.
You’re soooo geeky joni. And I’m soooo depressed. Care to reach out to me more also? Hahaha. :P
Riz: Gurl, you’ve got nothing to be depressed about. :D
Kris: Now that you mention it, they did make “suicide” a trivial matter in that song. Tsk tsk. I’m sorry to hear about your friend who killed herself. It must have been a terrible experience. =[
I have an idea about the blogs you were referring to but I might be wrong. hehe! Yeah, the “blogosphere” (i know you hate that word) can be a cruel place. I hate that I have to watch my steps now to avoid being picked on by some blogger. hehe
Thanks for sharing these books, Joni. I am looking for new books to read and gusto ko yung nabasa na ng iba hehe para I know kung maganda o hindi…
Anyway, take care… rainy days na naman…
Sasha: You’re welcome! Pero warning lang, nakakalungkot ang mga books na yan. They’re not necessarily “nice” if you know what I mean. :)
I prefer those to the overly (and ludicrously) optimistic The Secrets by Rhonda Byrnes.
Haha I sound like a misanthropist these days.
Kris: I’m sure it’s just a phase. Lol! jk