28 pages 56 minutes read

Ottessa Moshfegh

Eileen

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Eileen, set in 1964, follows 24-year-old Eileen, who plans to escape her grim life in X-ville, New England, for New York City. She works as a secretary at a juvenile penitentiary and cares for her alcoholic father. Eileen becomes infatuated with her new co-worker Rebecca, leading to a series of unsettling events that culminate in a decision that drives Eileen toward her desperate escape. Topics of suicide and child abuse are presented.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ottessa Moshfegh's Eileen offers a dark, compelling narrative filled with complex characters and a chilling plot. Reviewers praise Moshfegh's sharp prose and psychological depth, but some find the pacing slow and the protagonist difficult to empathize with. Overall, it's a gripping yet disturbing read that leaves a lasting impact.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Eileen?

Readers who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with complex, flawed characters would find Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh compelling. Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle will appreciate the novel's unsettling atmosphere and exploration of the human psyche.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Psychological Fiction

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Themes

Life/Time: Coming of Age