The Virgin Suicides 1

"On the morning the last Lisbon Daughter took her turn at suicide- it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese- the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope...thirteen months earlier when the trouble began." pg 1

Although I have read almost half the novel by now, I am still stuck on the first page. This first sentence gives me the most horrific picture in my mind. I can vivdly picture the paramedics walking into the house slowly, taking their time, knowing there is no chance in saving one of the daughters. The way the first sentence drags along with the use of dashes and commas parallels the rate at which the paramedics are moving. Although the whole novel is giving me a very good picture of what is happening, I can't seem to keep this picture from flashing through my head. I love this book!

Sarah