Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Mi año de descanso y relajación

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Mi año de descanso y relajación by Ottessa Moshfegh

824 reviews

morregano's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

2.75

I don't know that the author needed to add as much drug use and detail about it as they did. I think it fell flat at the end of the day because it became redundant.

of course we all saw the end coming but i didn't care as much because i didn't feel for the main character or value their friendship much at all.

also. This book seems like a self lobotomy, as if we didn't learn that sedating people with mental illness doesn't actually switch psychosis off. I don't like the message of this book, and i don't find it sardonic

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umm_igor'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? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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curlykira'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
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I’ve just finished this book and I’m sitting here trying to establish how I feel about it. It could be a 4* book but I’m just not sure… if I could give it a 3.95 that would probably be my ideal rating.

So much of the book is about the main character taking medication and sleeping or complaining that she wishes that she is asleep that is does become a bit monotonous.

It was also hard to keep going in places because the main characters are all deeply flawed and not very likeable, but that’s by the author’s design and it serves a purpose. However in other places this book is cutting and raw and shows a side to mental health that those unfamiliar with it might be unaware of- it’s not all manic depression and anguish, often it is just feeling numb and tired. This book pushes that point constantly. Overall, it was an interesting read that will probably stay with me for its premise and it was well written, I just don’t think it is necessarily a book to enjoy- more one to challenge and subvert preconceived notions you might have about what a woman with mental illness might look like. Lots of people seem to count this as a vacation read but despite the title, I do not think this is a book for one’s own rest and relaxation.

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geraldinerowe's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This is the second of Ottessa Moshfegh's books that I've read and, like Lapvona, I loved it but couldn't tell you why. The blurb says that it's about alienation, but I interpreted it as the main character dealing with a severe case of depression which leads her to feel alienated and makes her behave so appallingly, especially towards her only friend who continues to try to help her no matter how she's treated. I don't think the ending is supposed to come as a surprise, but it was certainly more effective than I was expecting and it brought a tear to my eye. Moshfegh's writing immerses me in her storytelling (not that there's much plot here to speak of) and I think that's her secret. In fact, I've put holds on two more of her books at the library.

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mariaisabelad's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

okkaman's review against another edition

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funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

when will i have my year of rest and relaxation?? god. i hate the narrator so much. i hated the fact that i related to her too much and i hated it that she was so mean to her supposedly best friend (to which i don’t relate at all). she’s so in her own head that you get bored at one point. but you just wait for her year to get over, in the hope that she’ll have some kind of development or start to loving life, but no, it just gets worse. after her year of rest is over, she starts to see beauty in everything but still, she’s unbearable as she starts to think she’s better than everyone else. whatever, i loved it. i hated it. and i just want my year of rest and relaxation. ALSO, WHO GAVE DR. TUTTLE HER LICENSE????

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jbbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

2.5

Tragic, absurd and very sad, often felt revolted by the depravity of the lives depicted, yet also aware that there were deep seated reasons for the behaviour. If it is funny, it’s very warped.

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pamshenanigans's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense 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

2.5

A very palpable and distressing story about an unnamed protagonist who quite literally wants to sleep 24/7 for a whole year. While it may seem trite when summarized that way, actually reading it gives more context on why she was feeling this way. The book fives into her childhood experience and how she didn’t feel loved and nurtured by her parents and how this affected her future relationships with others and herself as she grows up.

The writing was so descriptive yet written in a monotonic and stream-of-consciousness way that you’d also feel like you’re falling into a depressive hole as you read from the POV of the main character

I didn’t particularly like being inside her head but I’m sure that’s how the author intended it, to evoke feelings from adults and young adults going through the same existential dread.

One thing I liked about this book is that the main character recognizes the privilege she has to be able to rot in bed for a whole year without the consequence of having to hustle and pay the bills.

Although an exploratory book about one’s existence (and the lack of drive to live), it didn’t really do much for me aside from the occasional reflection about my own life.

Trigger warnings: depression, drug abuse, animal cruelty, abortion, sexual assault

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potatereader's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

Content Warnings

allisonobrien's review against another edition

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dark sad tense 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

4.75

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