28 pages • 56 minutes read
Ottessa MoshfeghEileen
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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
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.