3.57 AVERAGE


Ottessa Moshfegh has a way of writing about utterly unlikeable people that is still compelling to me. I really enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation, even though the unnamed protagonist in that one is also a bit of a shit. Eileen writes here from a position of old age and I guess that softens it a bit, as she seems to be somewhat critical of herself at 24, which is when the plot of the story takes place.

the first 70% of this book is slow and character driven - if you aren't inherently intrigued by eileen this will be a tough one to get through. fortunately for me i love deranged women so this was quite fun. no chance of guessing that ending though

Couldn't stop reading this one, although I thought the end needed...more. (Is that a spoiler?)

I usually like a dark story, but this was darker than most. I waited and waited for something to happen and then BAM it happens all at once and not how I expected.

I have a few of Ottessa Moshfegh’s books on my shelf and I’m glad I started with Eileen. I loved how real, ugly and bold this was. Nothing is more interesting than characters that are flawed to their core, to go deep down the darkness of the human mind. The build up was so well set. Eileen, how she embraced all her darkest thoughts and actions and recollecting them without any shame makes her voice a great narrator. The mood and atmosphere of it all screamed the 60’s. This was on point. To the next Ottessa Moshfegh book!
tense slow-paced

This book was a whole ass fever dream loved it tho!!
dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

How do you even rate a book that you were so bored for the first maybe 50% and then it picks up from about 75% onwards. 

Like the twist at the end was unexpected and played out nicely and it was all laid out well at the end in terms of where Eileen went but yeah the start was so dull and I found it really hard to pick it up. Also and idk why I thought this book was about Eileen being obsessed with Rebecca and like she defo was but it was a lot more than that so idk why it felt like that was the big seeling point.

Anyway ottessa you are fucking mental, I loved myorar for as depressed as it made me I was still drawn in by the writing this one for me falls a little shorter even in the descriptions of the mundanity but I guess she tightened that up further into her career.
challenging dark 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