Scan barcode
mermaidhair's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
2.75
ithzel's review against another edition
5.0
Could not put it down no matter how much I wanted to. Excellent writing.
baielleebooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Ottessa Moshfegh's resounding literary talents patterns the prose in Eileen. Her descriptions of total dreariness and dilapidation, and her framing of the introspections of a pained, pitying yet manipulative narrator, made for a strong reading experience.
-
There were elements of the plot that I felt would have benefitted from some finessing (exploring the deeper motivations of Rebecca’s actions, changing what is experienced as the slight runoff of tension when Mrs Polk confesses etc.) Truthfully, I wasn't quite struck with the same electric urgency I had reading Lapvona and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
-
All's to say that Eileen is still a novel that excited me and evidenced the power of literature to tour the minds of protagonists, who for all their unlikeability, are deeply interesting and carry cultural weight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Eating disorder, Excrement, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
jfsheehan95's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fraochsidhe's review against another edition
4.0
I thought I would be more disturbed by this book based on review so I don't know what that says about me. While I did predict the story somewhat, the main character and her observations about herself resonated with me.
libliz's review against another edition
4.0
Another Moshfegh book, another unlikeable narrator. I can see why they turned this into a film.
martago22's review against another edition
4.0
Looking at my reflection really did soothe me, though I hated my face with a passion. Such is the life of the self-obsessed. The time I languished in the agony of not being beautiful was more than I care to admit even now.
This is a book about a woman where you don't know if you should root for her or want her to fail miserable. You are disgusted by her thoughts, yet somehow some of those thoughts click with yours, and you find yourself wanting to read more so you can learn how her brain works, how she is going to escape, and most importantly, how she is going to survive herself.
More quotes:
The idea that my brains could be untangled, straightened out, and thus refashioned into a state of peace and sanity was a comforting fantasy. I often felt there was something wired weird in my brain, a problem so complicated only a lobotomy could solve it—I’d need a whole new mind or a whole new life. I could be very dramatic in my self-assessments.
I liked to languish in my own filth as long as I could tolerate it.
amberfedmonston's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.0