Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Mijn jaar van rust en kalmte by Ottessa Moshfegh

74 reviews

iluvmycats12's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.0

this book highlighted trauma and the aftermath it has on a person. It is reflective, emotional but also humorous. I found it helped me appreciate life more 

---

Content Warnings

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

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. 

---

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

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.

---

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

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Addiction, Alcohol, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Abortion, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Self harm

Minor: Blood, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

itszosia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

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

thebookpaiges's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Murder, Medical trauma, Ableism, and Medical content

(Uses ableist language)

reneeandreea'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

2.75

Honestly, I don’t get the hype. The best parts were the

“Infermiterol” experiment and the visit to Reva’s family home.

This was fully sitting at 3 stars until the very end. I think Moshfegh ruined it all in the last page. Nothing negative to be said for the quality of writing. This was just boring.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Addiction, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cancer, Vomit, Blood, Death of parent, Infidelity, Death, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Excrement, Chronic illness, and Suicide

Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Abortion

chloesummerhill's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Drug use, Cursing, Grief, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, and Self harm

cady_sass's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

I understand that loving this book is a huge red flag. What can I say, unhinged, mentally unwell women resonate. Depressed woman hates everyone, doesn’t want to leave her apartment, and tries to medicate herself into sleeping as much as she can for a year? Wait, was this book written about me? Just kidding. Kinda. 
This is definitely, without a doubt, a love it or hate it moment. I can’t imagine feeling indifferent towards this.

The only thing that I do hate is the cover. It’s horrible, and for no reason because the main character is blonde. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Cancer, Dysphoria, Excrement, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, Body shaming, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Self harm

lilacfoxes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

There’s literally no way to describe this book to anyone wanting to read it. It’s not light, the main character is certainly not lovable but you’ll lap up every page.

Fight Club for the girlies. Sylvia Plath you would have loved this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Body shaming, Animal death, Cancer, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Excrement, Abortion, and Chronic illness