The Virgins
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
'A brilliant and under-read fever dream of a novel' New York Times
'Erens brilliantly captures the dark side of adolescence . . . On a par with the likes of Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides' Independent
'Flawlessly executed and irrefutably true' John Irving
'A must for fans of Nabokovian tragedy' Irish Tatler
The events of 1979-80 reverberate around the campus of Auburn Academy and linger many years later in the mind of narrator Bruce Bennett-Jones. Aviva Rossner and Seung Jung are an unlikely couple at the elite East Coast boarding school and are not shy in flaunting their newly discovered sexuality. Their blossoming relationship is watched with envy and fascination by Bruce and other classmates, who believe their liaison to be one of pure, unadulterated passion and pleasure.
But nothing is what it seems, and as Aviva and Seung struggle to understand themselves and each other, things begin to fall apart. Their ultimate descent into shame and betrayal has disastrous consequences beyond their own lives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Erens's (The Understory) second novel students Seung Jung and Aviva Rossner are widely known at Auburn Academy boarding school for flaunting their promiscuity. Despite the rumors about their sexual escapades, Seung and Aviva are virgins, unable to consummate their relationship. Set in 1979, Bruce Bennett-Jones, a fellow student, narrates this tale of a seemingly mismatched couple, Seung, a Korean-American boy experimenting with drugs, and Aviva, a Jewish girl trying to find her area of aptitude. From Bruce's perspective, the reader is shown the initial meeting between Seung and Aviva, their growing passion towards each other, the resulting drama and final tragedy. Meanwhile, Bruce's own desire for Aviva is apparent, but his failed initial attempt prevents him from pursuing her. Instead, Bruce uses Aviva as the focus of his sexual fantasies. Erens effectively depicts both Seung's frustration in being unable to satisfy Aviva physically and Aviva's desperation to let herself fully lose control. Adroitly capturing the anguish of adolescent desire, Eren's latest is a lesson in love, loss, and tragedy.
