Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Mi año de descanso y relajación by Ottessa Moshfegh

1253 reviews

bblanco_'s review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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mementomoriiv's review against another edition

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dark funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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jordanm77's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this book feels like a stream of consciousness and i absolutely loved it. it was a nice break from the typical structure of books that i’ve read before. i wish i could read it again for the first time because it really transports you into a different time and mental space. the main character is literally a terrible person but that makes you want to read it all the more because she’s so inexplicably magnetic.

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acstar's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5


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liz_rath's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Could have been an e-mail.
If this had just been the last chapter I'd have given it a much higher rating, but the way it is I feel like it's just very deeply mid. Don't read this if you don't like unlikeable protagonists though or it will feel like torture.

Honestly the book seemed deeply confused about it's themes becauee unless the intended take away was "If you're unhappy with your life and suffer from depression Jus continue being a shitty person refusing to cope with your issues abouse a bunch of drugs and your attitude and life will magically fix themselves eventually" then it was lost. If that was supposed to be the take away then "Uh weird message bro, but sure". I liked the whole disaffected Millenial stick but it did not carry a whole book. At times it felt more like I was reading a character bible instead of a story. And with how it ends, her plan just working no real twists or curveballs, I was just left wondering what the point was.
Like I'm not one to demand a classic american story structure. You just had a cool quick idea and protagonist doesn't change substatially or learn anything by the end - fine by me. But we did not need so many words to tell this story (and I am using the term very liberally here) and the thing doesn't have that many words to begin with.

But whatever the prose was competent and it was a very quick read.

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emily_schlegel's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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itsmaren's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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avokaitotoast's review against another edition

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reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

☆ ☆ ☆ (3.5/5)

Short Review (TL;DR):
  • Felt very guilty pleasure — not a lot of substance, but enjoyable
  • Hated everyone, but also loved to hate them
  • Sprinkle of female friendships and mother-daughter relationship analysis
Long Review:
Based on the cover I had expected something a little bit more intellectual or something with a bit more grit: this book was not that. It was, however, a very enjoyable read. 

It has that “guilty pleasure” quality that reminded me of reading The Clique or Gossip Girl in middle school, but for adults: rich people having problems and really not doing anything but developing a pill popping problem about it.

I love an intentionally dislikable main character and this gave me exactly that. Like this girl is so privileged and out of touch with reality. But also, she’s living everyone’s “dream “ right? I don’t know how many times I’ve said something along the lines of “I wish I could sleep for a month” or “I wish I could pause life for a year and just do nothing”.

Also I just enjoy any book that explore female friendships and/or mother-daughter relationships and this gave me a little if that which was nice!

On the ending: The second Reva
got the job at the world trade center
I knew what would happen and I’m so mad about it.
Reva deserved so much more.

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tmitsock's review against another edition

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dark funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I devoured this book in two days. It was brilliantly written. Definitely could be triggering to some. I love Moshfegh’s writing and will definitely read some other work by her. 
It was almost a hypnotic read. I loved it. 

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lenacamci's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

First and foremost, this character is very unlikable - clearly on purpose. 
She also deals with depression and grief and pain that a life of privilege could not shield her from.

This book is so driven by its character and the way she perceives the world and copes with it and yet, she does not learn. She changes but she doesn't grow. 
It's very well written but it's not a pleasant read. It makes you reflect on how you can relate to her and yet leaves you frustrated by her decisions and just general unpleasantness. Which is fine, it's good to have bad, well written morally bad, insufferable but nuanced female characters. 

The ending was the bitter note for me, as Reva is yet another somewhat unlikable character but who at least somehow tries and loves as superficial as she could be. Struggling with mental health, I didn't expect this book who is already a dark take having such a bitter, "life is unfair", painfully real ending. 

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