kelsea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Vomit, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Terminal illness and Eating disorder
katieohara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Classism, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Incest, Animal death, Stalking, Murder, Eating disorder, Confinement, Rape, and Alcoholism
oddreads_nicolestins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As for the writing style, it was okay. There were no major flaws that put me off. It just wasn't as good as I thought it would be- and of course the constant references to weight or food were very annoying. I had heard that her books were fatphobic and after reading just this book I can see that.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Vomit, Body shaming, and Misogyny
Minor: Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Classism
belleor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Addiction, Eating disorder, Police brutality, Murder, Misogyny, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Incest, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, Confinement, Gore, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death and Blood
Extra content warning for the existential dread that’s portrayed for the most part of the novel (I’m thinking of others with existential OCD like me)—HOWEVER important to note that everything changes for Eileen at a certain point in the book and she undergoes a paradigm shift where one (seemingly insignificant thing) makes her realise that her life can have meaning. I found it SUPER cathartic in this way so I’m glad I kept going even though up until then her existential angst was hard to read. ~~~ Why there’s so many TWs - read to get a more accurate perspective on whether it’s the kind of book for you (spoiler free): This book is written from the perspective of Eileen writing about her young adulthood—as an elderly person. A lot of her dark thoughts & xenophobia come from the time when she grew up and the lack of love/care she received as a child. In this way I found it somewhat easier to suspend my reaction to some of the awful things she said. Additionally, Eileen, at the age she is writing the story, wants to portray what kind of person she was back then—warts and all—without trying to distract from what she feels are negative & toxic traits by inspiring sympathy. In this way it’s aggressively honest and Eileen doesn’t want to shield her past self from the judgement she feels she deserves.smalika's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Stalking, and Pedophilia
asapphicandacat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Terminal illness, Mental illness, Vomit, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, and Murder
hannahlouise_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Excrement, Incest, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion
dealingwithdragons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/injury detail, Lesbophobia, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Torture, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Excrement, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Abortion
jamihoneycutt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book took me an eternity to get through. I didn’t want to pick it up but felt like I was in too deep to DNF it. Ottessa Moshfegh writes unlikeable characters better than anyone I’ve read and it made for an uncomfortable reading experience at times. Especially given her love of detailed descriptions of excrement. However, the last hundred pages really turned it around for me. I think I just struggle with her pacing, but I’m glad I powered through because there were a few great quotes and reflections in the final pages that I would’ve hated to miss.
Graphic: Cancer, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Incest, and Excrement
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Murder
oyveyori's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Incest, Rape, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts