A review by addimop
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

This book was so slow for about the first 75%. You can tell it is building up to something big, but it takes forever to get there, and when it does, its perhaps bigger for Eileen than it is for the plot. However, similar to My Year of Rest and Relaxation i think the writing truly saves it, but i definitely found myself rushing to get to the twist. Eileen is an unlikeable and unreliable narrator that allows the book to explore darkness and desire within women and what can happen when this is continually pushed down or ignored. In the end, we get to watch Eileen morph into a confident, powerful, and seemingly happy woman leaving the events of her young adulthood solidly behind.
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