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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Very few are able to describe and inhibit a character as powerfully as Moshfegh right now, diving into the uncomfortable and hidden thoughts out loud, understanding that all characters no matter how fictional are awkwardly human, good and awful in many ways. Loved the plot twist, although perhaps it came a little too late in the story to be able to elaborate some more on it.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very disturbing - consider me deeply unsettled - but would’ve been more compelling if there had been at least ONE person to root for.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very interesting book, mainly because the main character, Eileen, was so interesting. You don’t often get female characters this complex in books. She is repels and yet is also sympathetic. She ives in a ramshackle house with her alcoholic father in the 1960’s. She works at a juvenile detention centre and lusts after one of the prison guards. Everything changes for her when a new counsellor arrives, Rebecca, who is beautiful and mysterious. Eileen is drawn to Rebecca and her actions lead to Eileen leaving town forever. I’m leaving town she becomes the person she has always wanted to be.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Vomit
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Another Moshfegh romp for all ages here, and boy has she done it again with a cast of characters who really are a barrel of laughs.
Honestly I've run out of steam after that elegant & well-thought out jape, but yeah. It's definitely in the same vein as the rest of her stuff, where no one is really fun or likable but they're so multi-faceted and full of interiority -- in truth, more than I'd prefer at points, Eileen is GROSS -- that it gives her prose a real thrust to it, even when there's very little plot to speak of (true in both of her books I've read).
The climax is also bonkers but I really respect it purely as, like, an authorial decision. Also there's something deeply funny to me about the narrator of a novel saying she doesn't like novels, so there's another bonus point.
Honestly I've run out of steam after that elegant & well-thought out jape, but yeah. It's definitely in the same vein as the rest of her stuff, where no one is really fun or likable but they're so multi-faceted and full of interiority -- in truth, more than I'd prefer at points, Eileen is GROSS -- that it gives her prose a real thrust to it, even when there's very little plot to speak of (true in both of her books I've read).
The climax is also bonkers but I really respect it purely as, like, an authorial decision. Also there's something deeply funny to me about the narrator of a novel saying she doesn't like novels, so there's another bonus point.
Considerably changed from her former self, Eileen Dunlap remembers her last days in her home town when she lived with her drunk father and worked in the office of a detention center for criminal boys. Miserable, full of shame, unkempt, and inexperienced she was infatuated with her escape plans and ripe for outside influence.
3.5/5! I was expecting a psychological thriller (silly me), and got a brilliantly depressing character study with minimal dialogue and little stakes raised. Either way though, I’m definitely intrigued as to how they’ll adapt it to the film. Felt a tad anti-climactic, and built up so much but smash cut and kinda plateaued.