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Jaidee's Reviews > Eileen
Eileen
by
by
5 "repugnant, vile, fierce, exhibitionistic" stars !!!
10th Favorite Read of 2016
I have never been so reluctant to give a book 5 stars.
This is a book that directs all its murky gaze on the darkness that lurks within women. Ms. Moshfegh slowly and repetitively dissects Eileen into all her gory parts from the darkness of her sexual fantasies that include post-pubescent boys, unattainable women, to visualizing her coworkers engaging in sex that both disgusts and titilates her. Eileen's psyche is laid bare and we see ugliness, neediness, pettiness, the most humble of narcissism that makes others rebuke her, diminish and humiliate her. Her body is also scrutinized from her breasts, to vaginal lips to bony hips to the frequency of her bowel movements and her lack of feminine hygiene. Eileen is deprived, ugly, hurt and this comes out in a myriad of ways. We are disgusted by Eileen and because of this we recoil but like the disgusting voyeurs that we are move in closer and look through our fingers at her while we pinch our noses and hold our breath.
Eileen is too weak to be an anti-hero and not evil enough to be a villain. She is the repository of all the misogyny we experience as a society and the opposite side of the coin is Rebecca who will not enter this conversation but suffice to say is the elixir that enables Eileen to break free from her depravity and enter less hellish and freer states.
Ms. Moshfegh has written a book that is so haunting, frightening and demoralizing that you will look at all the women you meet with cautiousness and suspicion. No loving grandmas, indulgent aunts, nurturing mothers, devoted wives or obedient daughters. Evil lies at the hearts of the best of them or weakness and ugliness in the worst.
I have to say that I do have some regrets reading this book as it was like eating spoilt meat (it will upset my digestion and cause me some anguish) for a few days until the wonderful women in my life can reassure me that Eileen, Rebecca and Mrs. Polk are the rarest of breeds and perhaps only exist in the darkest reaches of our imagination.
Fucking brilliant Ms. Moshfegh but please do not ever, ever, ever write a new edition of Heidi, Annie or Pippi Longstocking.
Jokes aside....I want the impact of this book to diminish quickly !!
10th Favorite Read of 2016
I have never been so reluctant to give a book 5 stars.
This is a book that directs all its murky gaze on the darkness that lurks within women. Ms. Moshfegh slowly and repetitively dissects Eileen into all her gory parts from the darkness of her sexual fantasies that include post-pubescent boys, unattainable women, to visualizing her coworkers engaging in sex that both disgusts and titilates her. Eileen's psyche is laid bare and we see ugliness, neediness, pettiness, the most humble of narcissism that makes others rebuke her, diminish and humiliate her. Her body is also scrutinized from her breasts, to vaginal lips to bony hips to the frequency of her bowel movements and her lack of feminine hygiene. Eileen is deprived, ugly, hurt and this comes out in a myriad of ways. We are disgusted by Eileen and because of this we recoil but like the disgusting voyeurs that we are move in closer and look through our fingers at her while we pinch our noses and hold our breath.
Eileen is too weak to be an anti-hero and not evil enough to be a villain. She is the repository of all the misogyny we experience as a society and the opposite side of the coin is Rebecca who will not enter this conversation but suffice to say is the elixir that enables Eileen to break free from her depravity and enter less hellish and freer states.
Ms. Moshfegh has written a book that is so haunting, frightening and demoralizing that you will look at all the women you meet with cautiousness and suspicion. No loving grandmas, indulgent aunts, nurturing mothers, devoted wives or obedient daughters. Evil lies at the hearts of the best of them or weakness and ugliness in the worst.
I have to say that I do have some regrets reading this book as it was like eating spoilt meat (it will upset my digestion and cause me some anguish) for a few days until the wonderful women in my life can reassure me that Eileen, Rebecca and Mrs. Polk are the rarest of breeds and perhaps only exist in the darkest reaches of our imagination.
Fucking brilliant Ms. Moshfegh but please do not ever, ever, ever write a new edition of Heidi, Annie or Pippi Longstocking.
Jokes aside....I want the impact of this book to diminish quickly !!
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Quotes Jaidee Liked
“Anyway, I don't trust those people who poke around sad people's minds and tell them how interesting it all is up there. It's not interesting.”
― Eileen
― Eileen
“Thus, I lived in perpetual fantasy. And like all intelligent young women, I hid my shameful perversions under a facade of prudishness. Of course I did. It's easy to tell the dirtiest minds-look for the cleanest fingernails.”
― Eileen
― Eileen
Reading Progress
September 23, 2016
–
Started Reading
September 23, 2016
– Shelved
September 23, 2016
– Shelved as:
jaidee-s-next-four-reads
October 2, 2016
–
12.0%
October 8, 2016
–
18.0%
October 22, 2016
–
40.0%
October 22, 2016
–
44.0%
October 22, 2016
–
51.0%
October 23, 2016
–
56.0%
October 23, 2016
–
59.0%
October 23, 2016
–
65.0%
October 24, 2016
– Shelved as:
five-stars-books
October 24, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 81 (81 new)
Jaidee, have you read "Loner" yet?
Whoa.....sounds like I need to mentally prepare myself for this one. I shall have a difficult time forgetting this review Jaidee. It haunts.
LeAnne wrote: "Lmao for Heidi, Annie, and Pippi! This is the best review Ive read all month. I loved disgusting, vile Eileen. She had me when she tossed that dead mouse into the glove box.
Really - great review!"
Wow thank you LeAnne. :)
I have not read Loner yet. Do you recommend it?
Arah-Lynda wrote: "Whoa.....sounds like I need to mentally prepare myself for this one. I shall have a difficult time forgetting this review Jaidee. It haunts."Arah-Lynda...ya this book is just soooo...I dunno...
The first five star book that I can't joyfully recommend.
Love love love your review, Jaidee! I'm a huge fan of this book also.
Great review Jaidee! I liked this one. Eileen and her death mask are quite unusual.
Perfectly summed up this book!!
Great review, Jaidee! Honest, humorous and informative. Good to be forewarned; your review will have to suffice for me. I hope you feel restored real soon to the world of good womenfolk! :-) Love the beaming, chubby cat with bow tie in your profile pic.
Great review! Eileen certainly is pretty repugnant, but such a great character!
Want to read. Great review Jaidee.
A signature Jaidee-review with its spunky revelations and teasers ;)
Robin wrote: "Love love love your review, Jaidee! I'm a huge fan of this book also."Thanks for your kind words Robin :)
PorshaJo wrote: "Great review Jaidee! I liked this one. Eileen and her death mask are quite unusual."Thank you PorshaJo :)
Vanessa wrote: "Perfectly summed up this book!!"Haha thanks Vanessa :)
Laysee wrote: "Great review, Jaidee! Honest, humorous and informative. Good to be forewarned; your review will have to suffice for me. I hope you feel restored real soon to the world of good womenfolk! :-) Love t..."Thanks Laysee. I can't say that this is a must read though it is a finely wrought dark and malignant character study.
My partner put the pic of the kitty up and said that that was me...lol.
Viv wrote: "Great review! Eileen certainly is pretty repugnant, but such a great character!"Thanks Viv. Yes a very fine portrait of an unfortunate woman!!
Licha wrote: "Want to read. Great review Jaidee."Thanks Licha. So nice to you !!
Seemita wrote: "A signature Jaidee-review with its spunky revelations and teasers ;)"Haha thanks Seemita. I certainly hope my signature is not close to Eileen's. ;)
Absolutely brilliant review Jaidee! I was going to say that I'm glad you enjoyed Eileen, but clearly that doesn't really describe the experience of reading this book. The road to recovery is just one or two reads away, unless of course you choose to read choose Loner next...
LeAnne wrote: "Jaidee, have you read "Loner" yet?"Lol Leanne -- I just made the same suggestion to Jaidee.
Esil wrote: "Absolutely brilliant review Jaidee! I was going to say that I'm glad you enjoyed Eileen, but clearly that doesn't really describe the experience of reading this book. The road to recovery is just o..."Ty dear Esil. I need a bit of recovery time before i can deal with more wickedness ;)
Wonderful review although you convinced me to stay away from Eileen. I hope it won't win the Booker so I will not have to force myself to read it.
Adina wrote: "Wonderful review although you convinced me to stay away from Eileen. I hope it won't win the Booker so I will not have to force myself to read it."Eileen is a very disturbing experience indeed !!!
Thanks kindly Adina :)
Jaidee wrote: "Licha wrote: "Want to read. Great review Jaidee."Thanks Licha. So nice to you !!"
Thanks, Jaidee. It's always a pleasure to read your reviews. I haven't been as active on GR as I used to be, so when I do connect it's always nice. I have to say that I appreciate that you gave this book 5 stars even though you weren't sure about liking it. You found the merit in the characterization of Eileen. Well written characters are worth it. Your reviews always leave me intrigued.
Licha wrote: "Jaidee wrote: "Licha wrote: "Want to read. Great review Jaidee."Thanks Licha. So nice to you !!"
Thanks, Jaidee. It's always a pleasure to read your reviews. I haven't been as active on GR as I ..."
Thanks for your kindness Licha.
I am not nearly as active either due to life circumstances. Several people have unfriended due to my decreased participation but I am very glad that you still keep in touch when you are able.
I didn't know stars came in that variety; I'm a little frightened. Just a terrific review. This is going on my 'want to read' list.
Joseph wrote: "I didn't know stars came in that variety; I'm a little frightened. Just a terrific review. This is going on my 'want to read' list."Haha thanks Joseph. It is very frightening but well worth the read !!
Great review , Jaidee ! Just started that novel and already get the picture . You perfectly captured its ugliness and misery and Eileen , well , I’m simultaneously fascinated and disgusted with her .
Utterly convincing review Jaidee. Added! I hope I won't come out as a misogynist afterwards :-D
I hadn't heard of this book at all; your review has convinced me that I have got to read it!
Agnieszka wrote: "Great review , Jaidee ! Just started that novel and already get the picture . You perfectly captured its ugliness and misery and Eileen , well , I’m simultaneously fascinated and disgusted with her ."wow thanks so much Agnieszka....the ride just gets darker and darker....hold on tight !!
Matthias wrote: "Utterly convincing review Jaidee. Added! I hope I won't come out as a misogynist afterwards :-D"Thanks Matthias...oh no you won't....we all have such great and lovely women in our lives to offset the few rotting apples !!
Anuradha wrote: "I hadn't heard of this book at all; your review has convinced me that I have got to read it!"I hope you find it as strangely fascinating as I did Anuradha :)
Jaidee wrote: "Thanks for your kindness Licha.I am not nearly as active either due to life circumstances. Several people have unfriended due to my decreased participation but I am very glad that you still keep in touch when you are able."
I wish you well in all. Hope everything is ok.
I have had some people unfriend me as well. You gain some, you lose some.
Aww thanks Licha. your comment made my day :)
Happy I could bring a smile to your face :o)
Scratching my head and wondering if I do want to read this?
Carol wrote: "Scratching my head and wondering if I do want to read this?"Fantastic writing and insightful characterization -YES!!
Pleasant experience -NO!!
Does that help Carol?
Exceptional testimony for reading this book. Thanks, Jaidee.
Nicole~ wrote: "Exceptional testimony for reading this book. Thanks, Jaidee."Thank you so much Nicole. Nice to see you again.
Jaidee wrote: "Carol wrote: "Scratching my head and wondering if I do want to read this?"Fantastic writing and insightful characterization -YES!!
Pleasant experience -NO!!
Does that help Carol?"
Yes, I'm going to add it.
hurrah...you are going to meet Eileen !
Such a masterful review, Jaidee. I'm trying to win this one but I'm almost scared to read it if I do.
Carol wrote: "Such a masterful review, Jaidee. I'm trying to win this one but I'm almost scared to read it if I do."Thanks so much Carol.. I'm very glad you thought so. It is a very frightening book and I am still disturbed by it and I finished it over a week ago.
Elizabeth wrote: "Jaidee, Bravo on the most clear and succinct book review in my lifetime. It pains me to imagine what else lurks between the lines of this frightening observation on human evil. L'chaim!"
Thanks so much Elizabeth ! So nice to meet you :)
Okay, ya little maniac. Ready for Loner??? So good and right up your alley!
LeAnne wrote: "Okay, ya little maniac. Ready for Loner??? So good and right up your alley!"At your fun insistence...I am going to add it to my super short list but I am a bit scared lol :D
Jaidee! Your reviews aren't showing on my GR feed. I guess just expect me to visit your page and post lots of comments one day a month!! Excellent review. I think I may pass on this for now.
Kelli wrote: "Jaidee! Your reviews aren't showing on my GR feed. I guess just expect me to visit your page and post lots of comments one day a month!! Excellent review. I think I may pass on this for now."Thanks so much Kelli ...Eileen will be waiting for you whenever you are ready :)
This is the best review Ive read all month. I loved disgusting, vile Eileen. She had me when she tossed that dead mouse into the glove box.
Really - great review!