Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

내 휴식과 이완의 해 by Ottessa Moshfegh

189 reviews

annarchy_'s review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Self harm, and Violence

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

1.0

I fail to see why this book was such a sensation. It was possible one is the worst uses of my time. It had no point whatsoever, which is probably the way I would describe every single character too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Addiction, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Abortion, Cancer, Suicide, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.0

I fail to see why this book was such a sensation. It was possible one is the worst uses of my time. It had no point whatsoever, which is probably the way I would describe every single character too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Cancer

tadiwa_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

5.0

In “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” the MCs complex relationships, both with her best friend and toxic ex-boyfriend, create a captivating tapestry of human experience. As she seeks solace in sleep, the toxic dynamics with her ex-boyfriend expose the depths of her vulnerability and lack of self-esteem. Simultaneously, her friendship weaves through the narrative, providing moments of support and contrast to the darker aspects of her life. The author fearlessly explores the intricacies of human connections, making this a riveting journey through pleasure, pain, and self-discovery. 5 stars for its unflinching portrayal of relationships and the quest for healing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

fromatreebranch's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

3.0

hm.

it was easy to finish.

and difficult to read.

easy: i really like
the pacing, voice,
characterization.

difficult:
1. I... am studying my eye
for desire politics...

this book was useful
in this regard --

the narrator's discussion
of self, Whoopi
("magical negro trope"/fixation
with Whoopi and her body),

and/in relation with every other
person/subject in the book.

2. This person 
is really hurting.

p.s.
did not realize
until now that 

i wasn't forgetting
her name -- we do
not ever get it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Self harm, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Abortion, Medical content, Misogyny, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Cancer

abitdicier's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Suicide, Confinement, Excrement, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cancer

aywebster's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

2.5

My official rating of this book would be 2 1/2 stars out of 5 because I did not actively hate or dislike reading it, but I also did not find myself actually enjoying it until around the last 100 pages. While I haven’t read or watched a lot of reviews for the book (to avoid what was a terribly predictable spoiler that I’d guessed upon starting it); I can totally understand why readers would deem the “payoff” unworthy of persevering through the boredom and un-like-ability of the main character. 

Would I recommend this? I guess so, if you don’t mind an unlikeable, unreliable, almost Patrick Bateman-type of main character (without the murder and with the satire level turned way down). Around the two-thirds mark, I had a realization which I had to stop and say to myself- this is very similar to the movie Donnie Darko! If you like that movie, read this book and get back to me about my loose comparison.

:::::::::::::::SPOILERS AHEAD:::::::::::::::

This brings me to my next point- I knew this would be a 9/11 book from the moment I read that it takes place in 2000-2001. I pointed it out to my husband every time the World Trade Center was mentioned and every time, I was met with “that’s just a red herring- the author can’t be that lazy.” To be clear, I don’t believe this was a completely lazy direction to take- but I can’t help but think about Remember Me’s twist 9/11 ending. I will say that I wasn’t completely correct in my predictions, though- I assumed Trevor would die too, MC would lose all hope and die the same way her mother did.

I guess I’m glad that I didn’t give up on this book because I always like to see even the least sympathetic characters find redemption, though it was in the most rich, white, fictional way possible. I’m still unsure of whether I believe that was satirical or not.

I’m just glad I got to see what all the hype/hate was about. I’ve seen this on a list of “red flag books” and I’ve yet to figure out why it’s a red flag- there’s nothing terribly shocking or gut wrenching- to me it’s mostly boring rich white people stuff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Self harm, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content

evelyns's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Confinement, Alcohol, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Body shaming, and Addiction

jazzy_g's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

3.0

This book was both unique and bizarre. I had bought it at the airport looking for a light holiday read but instead found it kept me anxious and tense, worried for the wellbeing of the protagonist and in disbelief that someone could survive at length the absurd cocktail of prescription medication! The focus was on the protagonist who it feels we never really get to know which made for slow development, and the flow often felt repetitive and drawn-out, although this was possibly an artistic choice. Despite this, I did enjoy the way the author writes and many elements were wonderfully detailed and beautifully grotesque so despite wanting to abandon it a few times, I persevered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, and Emotional abuse

amberlfaris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abortion