Eileen

It feels a little wrong to say that I like anything that I've read by Ottessa Moshfegh. I've read several stories from her collection Homesick for Another World and now I've listened to this. Her shtick, as far as I can tell, is writing about gross people who do gross things and are unapologetic about it. This sounds like a complaint. It's not. Moshfegh's writing is incredibly visceral and engrossing, but it can be a lot to handle. I definitely have to be in a particular mood for Moshfegh, but when I'm in that mood it's pretty incredible.

I think this is probably a good place to start with her work. It's compelling, and it doesn't quite rise to the level of disturbing and offputting that her short stories do. If you like this, there's a good chance you'll like her other work. If not, then you've learned something valuable about yourself, and books that you might not want to read in the future.

One of the best things about this novel is the impending sense of dread that builds throughout the narrative. You know something is about to go horribly wrong, but you have no idea what. It's very well done and I thought the pacing and oppressive mood were masterfully crafted.

It also takes place in the dead of winter and would be a great read for inclement weather this winter. I don't know that I liked it as much during the summer as I might have during, say, a November snowstorm.