28 pages • 56 minutes read
Eileen
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Book Brief
260
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1960s
2015
Adult
18+ years
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.
Dark
Unnerving
Mysterious
Melancholic
Gritty
Reviews & Readership
116,971 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
116,971 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Rebecca
Rebecca
A recent Harvard graduate and the new head of education at Moorehead, Rebecca is seen by Eileen as beautiful, confident, and independent; she plays a significant role in motivating Eileen to pursue her own ambitions.
Eileen's Father
Eileen's Father
An ex-police officer struggling with alcohol addiction, he is verbally abusive towards Eileen and represents a source of rigid structure and unhappiness in her life.
Eileen's Mother
Eileen's Mother
Recently deceased, she suffered from a painful illness and had an alcohol addiction; she was nonreligious and critical of Eileen's appearance.
Joanie
Joanie
Eileen's sister, who lives independently with her boyfriend and represents a life of relative freedom compared to Eileen's constrained existence.
260
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1960s
2015
Adult
18+ years
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