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starzzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The spiral that we see our main character go down is truly a wreck that one cannot look away from. Although the main character is unlikeable, that is what makes this story so interesting to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
swagmastersero's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
4.25
Very *very* slow paced book - like, you're there for the narrator's every thought, which is quite literally the entire book besides some dialogue. If her name was ever mentioned, I didn't catch it. Slightly sad ending, definitely felt a twinge of pain, and sometimes the narrator said some very crude stuff that wouldn't hold up today (considering the book was written in 2018, there is a brief violence in Palestine mention and some other mildly uncomfortable things). I blame the narrator's lack of a filter both on us being in her head and her not growing up with opposition to her character. Altogether an interesting read, makes you sit and reflect on how you've been living prior.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Pedophilia, Abortion, and Pregnancy
xoxojordanisabella's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Medical content, Abortion, and Pregnancy
charelwood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
This book has such an absurd premise but was just so well written. While the narrator is thoroughly unlikeable, you can’t help but relate to her desire to retreat into the perceived psychological safety of a “hibernation” of sorts for a year. Sometimes the everyday challenges of life can make you wonder how nice it would be to just stay cozy in bed and retreat from it all! But this definitely shows what a nightmarish upheaval to your life that truly would be - like the early part of the pandemic when the days and weeks all bled together and we were so isolated from the outside world.
Overall this is (predictably) a pretty depressing read but at the same time I found it surprisingly fast-paced. Didn’t love the ending, I think it would’ve concluded better with a more thoughtful message.
Overall this is (predictably) a pretty depressing read but at the same time I found it surprisingly fast-paced. Didn’t love the ending, I think it would’ve concluded better with a more thoughtful message.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
tayler_morg's review against another edition
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
3.5
The first 2/3 of this book felt really slow and repetitive. She wakes up, gets her 2 cups of coffee, takes 4-7 pills, watches Whoopi Goldberg, and passes out. Rinse and repeat. None of the characters are likeable, which isn't a bad thing and I happen to think the way the MC is written simultaneously makes you pity her and hate her. Her journey to sleep for a year ends and she's a refreshed and seemingly new being, then the last page/chapter just feels like a bombshell and ruins all credibility into her "renewed spirit."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder
thebigemmt505's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
“…so I traveled more peacefully through outer space, listening to the rhythm of my respiration, each breath an echo of the breath before, softer and softer, until I was far enough away that there was no sound, there was no movement. There was no need for reassurance or directionality because I was nowhere, doing nothing. I was nothing. I was gone.”
My Year of Rest and Relaxation explores what happens when privilege and vanity meet trauma and despair. It follows our main character as she embarks on a mission to fall asleep for a full year, and slowly descends into drug abuse and desperation.
I found this book strangely comforting. I feel I’ve rated it too highly, because the whole time I questioned “why am I enjoying this?” The characters are deeply vain and unlikable, especially the main character. The most likeable character is Reva, and it takes quite awhile for her to be so. Granted, the hateability of the main character is mitigated slightly as we learn more about her, but in the end it’s quite difficult to say if she’s actually grown. Perhaps my enjoyment comes mostly from the beautiful, highly descriptive writing. Admittedly, I found the constant, excessive reliance on pop culture references annoying, but at the very least the rest of the description was usually good enough to make up for what one might not catch in terms of references. The books pacing was alright, minus some parts that dragged a bit (such as the funeral part of the book.) I like the way this author tells a unique story with unique characters, sprinkling in dark humor to the many heavy themes.
I think this book caught me at the right time. My current reality is that I’m burnt out and jaded, a teeny bit too judgmental, eternally annoyed with most things, and more and more frustrated with the world around me and with myself every day. I’m perturbed by the development of this bitterness within me. As I read the book, much as I thought the main character was cruel and superficial, I related to her pain and her desires. I want to rot in my depression and sleep a year away. Obviously, I don’t have the endless money and ressources nor the true will to do that, but the appeal is there. And, if anything, I feel the ending shows us both how much and how little the character changed. She sees beauty in the world now,but selfishly finds artistic courage in the tragic death of her friend. Also, not gonna lie, I saw the 9/11 shit coming!!! There is no grief nor any accountability. She’s stripped of the superficial part of her superficiality, but inside there’s still vanity. Each part of her world revolves around her, even if now, she appreciates it a bit more. I want to grow, to rest and to process, to see beauty in the everyday and not get caught up in symbolic gestures or appearances or useless activities, but there are pitfalls along that journey. I relate to the endeavor but I’d like to swerve away from its end, this end. Perhaps this book hit me so hard because I was able to see bits of my current self in someone I did not like. The cycle of trauma likes to sneak up on us all in new forms, I suppose, et cetera.
Anyways, one thing I do find ironic is that this novel has become part of an aesthetic associated with modern “weird” readers, and the existence of such an aesthetic, in my opinion, really strips art of its uniqueness, all to fit into one’s personal style. In other words, it’s superficial and meaningless, vain, even. I find that pretty funny. I’m being pretentious. Welp, there’s my cynical bitterness. I think it does have a point sometimes, though. Aesthetics can be fun but… oh, the irony.
I’ll stop my rambly introspection. Give My Year of Rest and Relaxation a read; be aware though, to many audiences it’ll be quite boring and unappealing (and understandably so.) I (think) that I loved it though.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation explores what happens when privilege and vanity meet trauma and despair. It follows our main character as she embarks on a mission to fall asleep for a full year, and slowly descends into drug abuse and desperation.
I found this book strangely comforting. I feel I’ve rated it too highly, because the whole time I questioned “why am I enjoying this?” The characters are deeply vain and unlikable, especially the main character. The most likeable character is Reva, and it takes quite awhile for her to be so. Granted, the hateability of the main character is mitigated slightly as we learn more about her, but in the end it’s quite difficult to say if she’s actually grown. Perhaps my enjoyment comes mostly from the beautiful, highly descriptive writing. Admittedly, I found the constant, excessive reliance on pop culture references annoying, but at the very least the rest of the description was usually good enough to make up for what one might not catch in terms of references. The books pacing was alright, minus some parts that dragged a bit (such as the funeral part of the book.) I like the way this author tells a unique story with unique characters, sprinkling in dark humor to the many heavy themes.
I think this book caught me at the right time. My current reality is that I’m burnt out and jaded, a teeny bit too judgmental, eternally annoyed with most things, and more and more frustrated with the world around me and with myself every day. I’m perturbed by the development of this bitterness within me. As I read the book, much as I thought the main character was cruel and superficial, I related to her pain and her desires. I want to rot in my depression and sleep a year away. Obviously, I don’t have the endless money and ressources nor the true will to do that, but the appeal is there. And, if anything, I feel the ending shows us both how much and how little the character changed. She sees beauty in the world now,
Anyways, one thing I do find ironic is that this novel has become part of an aesthetic associated with modern “weird” readers, and the existence of such an aesthetic, in my opinion, really strips art of its uniqueness, all to fit into one’s personal style. In other words, it’s superficial and meaningless, vain, even. I find that pretty funny. I’m being pretentious. Welp, there’s my cynical bitterness. I think it does have a point sometimes, though. Aesthetics can be fun but… oh, the irony.
I’ll stop my rambly introspection. Give My Year of Rest and Relaxation a read; be aware though, to many audiences it’ll be quite boring and unappealing (and understandably so.) I (think) that I loved it though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Minor: Abortion
alonnamari3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I personally loved this book. It’s a new favorite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
eyesofcrows's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s depressing, it’s confusing, it’s all about a woman’s sudden yet not unexpected yearn for the abyss. I found the main character’s view of herself and the world around her to be interesting. Everyone is vain and so is the main character. Everyone is not who they say they are and everyone wants to claw out of nothing and gain something. I found it poetic in this sense.
Sometimes it was crass and I don’t understand the ending all too much. It was an experience to read and I related to the main character on several notes.
Sometimes it was crass and I don’t understand the ending all too much. It was an experience to read and I related to the main character on several notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Eating disorder, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
sophhes's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Abortion
wendys_lit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW kinda scared to have started Moshfegh on such an awesome, praise-worthy piece, but Jesus freaking Christ was this excellent.
THE sad girl novels of Sad Girl Novels ™️. A beautiful, thin, rich and Columbia graduate, who goes unnamed, is living the life every girl her age probably wants. Living in her own apartment in New York, buying luxury trends, eating what she likes, and not having to go to a job, really. Except that she doesn’t even want her own life. No, she isn’t suicidal—she’s just sick of her life and thinks that hibernation is the key. She’s happiest when she’s asleep, so that must be the antidote, right? A year of rest and relaxation will give her the chance to cocoon and be the butterfly she’s always wanted to be. But it’s going to take an insane amount of meds and a questionably dark routine to get this show on the road.
I’m not someone who likes to read White women dramas or character studies, just because there’s so much of them out there in the world, and I prefer to read women of color, because I am one. However, Moshfegh really writes this downright awful, unlikable narrator that keeps you entranced with their shitty behavior, their insane decisions, and crazy inner monologue. This narrator is aware of her privilege, aware she is a shitty person, and yet continues to pour gasoline on the dumpster fire that is her life. Every page has you asking why. Why is this character so upset with everything, herself, others, even despite her past, you’d think people are capable of change, and this book is the reality: some people aren’t. Some people, even after every lesson learned, are unable to change much of who they are.
This book was great. With the exception of the weird Whoopi Goldberg obsession and the weird ending chapter, this was kind of what I look for in a female character study. A woman who is late twenties or older, going through it, and just thinking the entire time. Thinking, processing, realizing, with a tiniest bit of hope in the mix.
THE sad girl novels of Sad Girl Novels ™️. A beautiful, thin, rich and Columbia graduate, who goes unnamed, is living the life every girl her age probably wants. Living in her own apartment in New York, buying luxury trends, eating what she likes, and not having to go to a job, really. Except that she doesn’t even want her own life. No, she isn’t suicidal—she’s just sick of her life and thinks that hibernation is the key. She’s happiest when she’s asleep, so that must be the antidote, right? A year of rest and relaxation will give her the chance to cocoon and be the butterfly she’s always wanted to be. But it’s going to take an insane amount of meds and a questionably dark routine to get this show on the road.
I’m not someone who likes to read White women dramas or character studies, just because there’s so much of them out there in the world, and I prefer to read women of color, because I am one. However, Moshfegh really writes this downright awful, unlikable narrator that keeps you entranced with their shitty behavior, their insane decisions, and crazy inner monologue. This narrator is aware of her privilege, aware she is a shitty person, and yet continues to pour gasoline on the dumpster fire that is her life. Every page has you asking why. Why is this character so upset with everything, herself, others, even despite her past, you’d think people are capable of change, and this book is the reality: some people aren’t. Some people, even after every lesson learned, are unable to change much of who they are.
This book was great. With the exception of the weird Whoopi Goldberg obsession and the weird ending chapter, this was kind of what I look for in a female character study. A woman who is late twenties or older, going through it, and just thinking the entire time. Thinking, processing, realizing, with a tiniest bit of hope in the mix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder