Homesick for Another World
Dizzying
Unpredictable
Depressing

Homesick for Another World Stories

An electrifying first collection from one of the most exciting short story writers of our time Ottessa Moshfegh's debut novel Eileen was one of the literary events of 2015. Garlanded with critical acclaim, it was named a book of the year by The Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle, nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award, short-listed for the Man Booker Prize, and won the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction. But as many critics noted, Moshfegh is particularly held in awe for her short stories. Homesick for Another World is the rare case where an author's short story collection is if anything more anticipated than her novel. And for good reason. There's something eerily unsettling about Ottessa Moshfegh's stories, something almost dangerous, while also being delightful, and even laugh-out-loud funny. Her characters are all unsteady on their feet in one way or another; they all yearn for connection and betterment, though each in very different ways, but they are often tripped up by their own baser impulses and existential insecurities. Homesick for Another World is a master class in the varieties of self-deception across the gamut of individuals representing the human condition. But part of the unique quality of her voice, the echt Moshfeghian experience, is the way the grotesque and the outrageous are infused with tenderness and compassion. Moshfegh is our Flannery O'Connor, and Homesick for Another World is her Everything That Rises Must Converge or A Good Man is Hard to Find. The flesh is weak; the timber is crooked; people are cruel to each other, and stupid, and hurtful. But beauty comes from strange sources. And the dark energy surging through these stories is powerfully invigorating. We're in the hands of an author with a big mind, a big heart, blazing chops, and a political acuity that is needle-sharp. The needle hits the vein before we even feel the prick.
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Reviews

Photo of emelia grace ilgner
emelia grace ilgner@emeliagrai
4 stars
Jul 4, 2024
Photo of armoni mayes
armoni mayes@armonim1
4 stars
Jun 17, 2024
Photo of shamira
shamira@m1nts
2 stars
Mar 8, 2024
Photo of azliana aziz
azliana aziz@heartinidleness
2 stars
Jan 13, 2024
Photo of Syahla Aurel
Syahla Aurel@owhrel
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024
Photo of y✦
y✦@y4ndsl
3 stars
Jan 8, 2024
Photo of charisa
charisa@charisa
3 stars
May 15, 2023
Photo of enya
enya@wildatheart
4 stars
Mar 23, 2023
Photo of Meghan Navoy
Meghan Navoy@megnavoy
5 stars
Feb 4, 2023
Photo of Raphaëlle
Raphaëlle@raphynette
3 stars
Nov 6, 2022
Photo of Deyana
Deyana@dawndeydusk
4 stars
Sep 11, 2022
Edgy
Layered
Offbeat
Dizzying
Unpredictable
Photo of Bella
Bella @deathvalley69
2 stars
Aug 28, 2022
Photo of markelle e. e.
markelle e. e.@markelle
3 stars
Aug 23, 2022
Playful
Easy read
Expressive
Long winded
Photo of azer
azer@azer
4 stars
Aug 14, 2022
Photo of Kady Groen
Kady Groen@kady_groen
3 stars
Aug 13, 2022
Photo of Sara Taylor
Sara Taylor@sarataylor
2 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of georgia greenway
georgia greenway@fairy-enthusiast
3 stars
Aug 11, 2022
Photo of Loren Simonson
Loren Simonson@lorensimonson
3 stars
Aug 10, 2022
Photo of Melanie Richards
Melanie Richards@melanierichards
2 stars
May 14, 2022
Photo of Harlee K
Harlee K@harleemai
2 stars
Mar 26, 2022
Dry
Surprising
Repetitive
Photo of Amanda Rocha
Amanda Rocha@wanderermandy
5 stars
Mar 26, 2022
Photo of Arden Kowalski
Arden Kowalski@jonimitchell
3 stars
Jan 13, 2022
Photo of Alexia
Alexia@apolasky
3 stars
Dec 17, 2021
Photo of Soumia Abdallah
Soumia Abdallah@souheart
4 stars
Oct 30, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Phoebe
Phoebe@phoeberobinson
Page 20
Photo of Phoebe
Phoebe@phoeberobinson
Page 07
Photo of Chloe Heisserer
Chloe Heisserer@chloeheiss
Page 279
Photo of Chloe Heisserer
Chloe Heisserer@chloeheiss
Page 271
Photo of Chloe Heisserer
Chloe Heisserer@chloeheiss
Page 94
Photo of Chloe Heisserer
Chloe Heisserer@chloeheiss
Page 20