Bookrecommendations!

The VirginSuicides

- Jeffrey Eugenides (1993)

• 249 pages

• 'The five Lisbon sisters - beautiful, eccentric and, now, gone - had always been a point ofobsession forthe entireneighbourhood. Although theboys that oncelovedthemfrom afar have grown up, they remain determinedto understand a tragedy thathas defied explanation.The question persists - whydidallfive ofthe Lisbon girls taketheir own lives?'

• Eerily atmospheric andlyrically written, thebook is narrated by a Greek chorus ofunnamedmen whoseintense voyeurismserves to dissectthemalegaze, and explorehow maleobsession amplifies femalepain.

• "We felt the imprisonment of being a girl, the way it made your mind active and dreamy, and how you ended up knowing which colors went together."

Honourablemention: 1OnSeeingthe 100% Perfect GirlOneBeautifulSpringMorning1 -

Haruki Murakami

• 3 pages

• This storyis soshortthatgiving a synopsis would essentially giveawaythe entire (already minimal) plot

• A beautifully writtenlove story exploringconflict between fate and freewill. Not onlyis this theeasiest and quickest read onthislist, but also what I wouldrecommendthemost.

• Free toreadon genius.com

- Nancy,Year 12