Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

6 reviews

torihbu's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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

3.0

this book describes the inner world of a troubled young woman. it's a difficult line to walk, but the author focuses so much on the inner workings of the main character's mind that the book doesn't really have much of a plot until almost the very end. i suppose that's meant to be a representation of the character's own experience--nothing mattering outside of herself until something comes along to force her into reality--but it makes for a slow, boring read. while i understand the main character, she's not very likable (again, likely by the author's design), so the reader is left to spend time only with her for the majority of the book. an interesting concept in theory but falls a bit flat in practice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism

hannaheinhorn's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

i have mixed feelings about this book. i imagine i’ll like the movie more. eileen is a horrible character, and i’m not sure ottessa moshfegh wrote her in a way that was ethical. for example, eileen has tendencies that some would say are fully pedophilic. she is also fatphobic, which stood out to me a lot, as mrs. polk’s fatness seems to be used as a symbol for cowardice in eileen’s head. her own thinness is thought to redeem her. some parts of eileen are extremely relatable, but others aren’t. i don’t think all virginal 24 year olds drool over young boys. 

there is also the fact that nothing happened in the book until the last 20% of it. i could have just read THAT part and been satisfied. literally the several page fucking soliloquy after THAT part was so useless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Vomit, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Incest, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping

Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism

mlovesbooks's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I keep giving Ottessa Moshfegh more chances than she deserves... but she still is fatphobic and a boring writer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Excrement

meakey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

Not for the faint of heart but a classic for a reason.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

dale1997's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

johnlock's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder