Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

내 휴식과 이완의 해 by Ottessa Moshfegh

149 reviews

lauchpferd's review against another edition

dark 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

1.5

!Spoilers!

I don't know why this book exists, this should've been a short story and even then the plot is extremely flimsy. It took me 6 months to finally finish because of how much it drags it's feet. Most of the characters are completely unlikable and don't change or develop at all over the course of the story.

The main character does a 180 in her personality once the author realises the book is almost over but there are no in-story justifications for it. Reva dying is cliché, of course the best friend has to die for the betterment of the main character. Using 9/11 and her subsequently buying a new DVR to record it as a metaphor just seems crass, as does the very last line: "There she is, a human being, diving into the unknown, and she is wide awake."

While the occasional sentence or image might be interesting, (the arctic fox freezing to death) it's immediately undermined by whatever comparison to genitals the author can come up with.

The book was recommended to me for being "deep" and "real" but I'd say it's the exact opposite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Grief

whimsofwands's review against another edition

challenging 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

I really enjoyed this portrayal of some of the impacts on constant objectification - it feels true and often unspoken. I felt like I knew the main character and she was deeply original. That said, the ending was a complete whiff for me - I don't understand what my take away should be. If it had ended with nothingness or no sense of movement, that would've been interesting to me, but instead it ended with a haphazard event and no explanation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Misogyny, and Eating disorder

motleybooksandtea's review against another edition

challenging tense

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Medical content, Addiction, and Mental illness

Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Abortion

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

ye_li's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion

amsswim's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

3.75

This was the first book of her that I have read, and I think this author probably one you just like or don't. I enjoyed this read but could see where people have issues with it.

If you're into reading about completely unhinged women doing unhinged and borderline horrifying things, do read. If you're worried definitely leaf through the trigger warnings to get an idea at least. 

I think I'll read from this author again, would recommend to some (definitely not everyone)!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Child abuse, Animal death, Cursing, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Body shaming

Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Excrement, Classism, Fatphobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Violence

_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

2.75

The writing style was good. The actual plot of the book was interesting from the stand point of observing what not to do regarding mental health. 

However this book is not in any way a good book to read for life advice or for finding a good way to cope with depression. Think of this book and everything the MC does as everything not to do. The MC is deeply troubled and in need of actual help from an actual professional which she does not get. I was very concerned with the ending of the book because it is not at all accurate to the realities of mental health and life itself. She doesn’t actually deal with anything she struggles with, she just avoids it… which is not possible in reality. 

PSA to everyone reading this: medication is not a problem solver and will not fix you. You cannot run away from your problems, that includes sleeping. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

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

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

kia_y_k's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Classism, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship

Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness

oliviah1111's review against another edition

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

3.0

pretty overrated. it was okay, and made me feel like shit (like its supposed to). i dont really know what i was expecting because i dont think any SANE person can enjoy this book because of how dark it is. still 3 stars cause i like the writing and the story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Ableism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Fatphobia