Reviews tagging 'Racism'

내 휴식과 이완의 해 by Ottessa Moshfegh

123 reviews

2122's review against another edition

challenging 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

I did not like this book but the end saved it a little bit. It’s very slow and felt like I had to get further in the book to feel like it was going anywhere. It felt like I was reading a diary which isn’t a bad thing but I don’t think that’s what the author was going for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Body shaming, Vomit, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Classism, Grief, and Rape

Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Racism, and Sexual assault

jasperw's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense 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

3.0

Reading a lot of reviews people seem to not like this book because of the narrator and how unlikeable she is. Having read a description of this book before going into it where it was described that this book explored topics of loneliness and such from a character who is privileged in all ways, I expected to not like her. That part *mostly* didn't bother me (there were times when the book just got a bit slow and I needed a break). This book is supposed to make you cringe and grimace and hate. I believe that was the goal of Moshfegh's writing, and she does it well. I think this book just didn't strike a big landing with me. Maybe sometime in the future I will read this again and reflect on the different place I am in life than reading it now. 

Overall I don't regret reading it, I just also don't know if I love that I've read it... but it was interesting. And it made me think - for good and for bad - and I appreciate that in a book. 

I will definitly check out more from Moshfegh as an author.

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Antisemitism and Racism

jane_moriarty's review against another edition

dark funny reflective relaxing 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

5.0

So, I think I get why some people hate this book and say it doesn't have a point, but to me, there is just something cathartic about the main character going through her bullshit full throttle so I don't have to do it myself. 

Deep deep down I believe that I just pretend to be a nice and positive person, and sometimes I need a book or movie to get in touch with the "real me". Cue books about unlikeable characters. Also, if you have never had the wish to sleep for a year, I don't know how to relate to you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Vomit, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Abortion and Racism

lipstickitotheman's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

This is a really really well written book--I just didn't have a great time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Addiction, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Drug use, Antisemitism, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Vomit, Classism, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

cosy_crow's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria, Cultural appropriation, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Alcohol, Ableism, Eating disorder, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Alcoholism, Cancer, Bullying, Suicide, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Body shaming, Body horror, Abandonment, Rape, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Addiction

slothrop_garp's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism

asiamd's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Hmm I don’t know what to even say about this book except it’s most definitely not what you think it’s going to be and that turned out to be a very bad thing. For one I felt a lot of the events that happened in the book were only there for shock factor and not actually even moving the plot along. Some of the scenes described in the book were just that, scenes being described that didn’t really add anything to the book. I genuinely liked the idea of the book and the direction it was going on in maybe the first two chapters. After that the author suddenly decided to throw in weird racist shit that was so unnecessary and unexpected I literally gasped out loud. Another thing that really bothered me was the vulgarity in the book, I literally don’t mind it b it I felt like it was used in this book just to be used(again) as a shock factor or even to make the main character seem edgy and uncaring. Overall, I truly wanted to enjoy this book but I just didn’t like it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Racism

Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia

andreaestefania's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-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

3.25

It’s an often triggering and offensive, cruel take on something sadly even more relevant in today’s world. It often felt relatable in ways that had me feeling better then worse about myself in a span of minutes. It was definitely a cynical, darkly humorous way of getting the main point across. I enjoyed the way the deeply corrupted relationships between the main characters were portrayed as they reflect just how toxic they truly are from multiple angles. There’s not really a side you’re meant to root for, especially not the side of our protagonist despite her “best” efforts. Female friendship is portrayed in its darkest form and yet tenderness still seeped through at times. The ways in which the characters were unapologetically awful felt very lifelike and of the time which I was both awed and disgusted by.

I do wish there had been more expansion on the main character’s breakthrough after her last infermiterol pill… instead it comes across as a miracle that happens to her overnight. Like an out of character change of heart - especially with Reva. Even though we can clearly infer it’s not as simple as a miraculous change of heart - more on this would’ve tied it all together for me. It’s also insane that it took those events happening in the end for her to feel like life was worth living and meant to be lived fully but i guess that’s the irony and cruelty in all of it. It’s meant to highlight just how insane and important the mundane is. How even those that you resent are an important part of your experience and are often just reflecting you back to you. Despite the mostly vain, cynical, and horrifically careless narration by the protagonist, I felt oddly comforted by the set intention to make the reader feel almost embarrassed by their own similar thoughts and ways of living that led them to believe it was okay to “sleep” through their own life in a way. Almost like it’s mocking the reader for the very desire to lead a life just like hers. It reminds you that there’s a lot more to life and not at the same time. It forces you to realize there might be more credit owed to your own heart and moral compass - considering the main character sets the bar incredibly low and even she is allowed a second chance at feeling alive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Chronic illness, Racism, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Sexual content, Addiction, Death of parent, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

molly_appleby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I have so many thoughts. I am so utterly confused.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Addiction, Death of parent, and Drug use

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Racism, Classism, and Confinement

itszosia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Ableism, Racism, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Chronic illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Homophobia, Death of parent, Classism, Body shaming, Alcohol, Bullying, Xenophobia, Death, and Toxic friendship