Great Character study.
929897
There are so many positive reviews for this book, and well there should be, I am going to be brief. This is a great read. Part self discovery and part survivor story Cheryl experience reminded me of Into The Wild but with a happy ending. I wouldn't be surprised if this book becomes required reading in some classrooms around the country. The arduous experience of walking the PCT is enough for Cheryl to re-evaluate her past her future and her whole life. Very good character study. Well written and even suspenseful at times.
1752058
A wonderful character study of the inner life of an invisible woman. Dark..to be sure,complicated...most definitely,ugly...yes but so worthwhile the read. Ms. Moshfegh's writing is beautifully vivid and compelling. Certainly part of the lesson exhibited by 'Eileen' is never judge a book by it's cover (no pun intended). The next time I see a mousey,ill dressed,shrunken,wallflower of a woman my curiosity will be piqued as to the life she leads both outwardly and inwardly. 'Eileen' takes making snap judgements about people and turns them inside out.
3905403
This film is interesting for an old movie. It's a wonderful character portrait. Not only of Marty but of the girl who comes along. Everyone can relate to the story line of friends and family telling you what to do and how to live your life - and then not being happy when you finally take their advice and achieve success! Great film.
3329915
Enjoyed the characters.  Well written so one can envision each person and understand their personalities.  Also allowed the reader to "see" the physical settings.
3838135
I really enjoyed reading this novel.  I appreciate novels that spend time developing character and this one did. Telling the story by weaving the tale together by proving us with seeing things from the aspect of the characters involved adds to the readers enjoyment by providing more mystery to the tale. In addition, I enjoy stories that show flawed characters, which we all are, and this one had its share.  ...and, as always, the book was a lot better better than the movie.
4795870
Great job of painting a picture and putting the reader in that time.  The characters are very believable and it is interesting to follow them through this journey.
4120807
Author Brad Watson gives us a beautiful character study, based on the life of his great aunt, born with a congenital defect.  He slowly reveals her anomaly and by the time we fully understand it, its importance is secondary to Miss Jane, herself.  This is a slow-moving (but definitely not boring) story of a girl's birth into a rural family and her acceptance into the community.

Watson focuses on her strengths and how adversities shaped the woman she was to become.  Its portrayal is imbued with all the qualities we would expect.  We see human frailties, bigotry, lack of understanding, and varying degrees of compassion.

Watson paints a vivid picture of his characters and settings and the reader can see them come to life in this story.  Dialogue flows easily.  There's not really a plot here.  Instead of action creating turning points in this novel, it's the natural aging of Miss Jane and her life that do so.

I spent several days thinking about Miss Jane:  what her life must have been like; her family members; the children in school; how she was treated within her tiny community;  her doctor and the limits of modern medicine.  She was a remarkable character and one that Watson does an outstanding job of giving to us.
3224740
Another wonderful Elmore Leonard character study with great dialogue. The cat and mouse game keeps you reading. Now I want to see the movie.
587487
Great character study and story telling from someone who understands complex financial instruments and make them simple. His combination of story and characters are always fun to read
407886
It was a great character study of Queen Catherine.  I am, admittedly, becoming a huge fan of the Tudor/Lancaster/York history, so I really enjoyed learning more about the beginning of the line.
68432
Great characters. One of those books that I thought about between opportunities to read further. I would highly recommend it.
478062
Truly enjoyed the book with characters you could visualize, empathize and understand their motives. I'd recommend this book for those who don't have to put it down before finishing it. It's that good.
4956063
The French have a knack of doing an excellent job of character study.  I enjoyed the film. And would recommend it to foreign film fans.
1103601
Excellent character development. I ended up caring deeply about characters who actually did not have any spoken dialog in the book. That takes true skill.
3928458
Engrossing as a real time character study. WEll acted and cleverly written. Underrated by critics.
1098688
I like the distinct difference in each female character but their bond in sorrow.
I would recommend this book to those who like suspense but with deep character study.
Rachel's plight was so touching. She did insert herself into this mystery but she was determined to see it through.
2093868
I truly enjoyed each character even able to visualize them, which is key to me. It flowed beautifully. I would recommend this book as a classic read.