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lisa00's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"I'm taking some time off. This is my year of rest and relaxation."
this book was fascinating. it was weird, crazy and strangely depressing. ottessa moshfegh did a great job describing depression and the urge to self-isolate and self-destruct for the sake of feeling nothing and, finally, for the sake of change.
the characters, as many other reviews already mentioned, are deeply, horrifically unlikeable, especially the narrator. but i believe that's the exact thing that creates the tension and impact in the first place. we aren't supposed to like the protagonist, aren't supposed to sympathize with her and feel sorry for what she's going through. if she was a genuinely good person, would the book still make us feel so empty and strange and grounded? no. we would be sad for her and pick up the messages my year of rest and relaxation portrays in a way that's pitiful and emotional. but the hard truth is that the narrator is a bad person and the things she's feeling are just as bad and broken.
"the unlikeable protagonist" just works in this story—no, makes it better even. because we can focus on the deep delusion and distortion the main character personifies, rather than feel bad and romanticize her situation. moshfegh also created an interesting set of side-characters that're as delusional as the narrator herself. there was not one sane person in this book, creating a sort of strange kaleidoscopic bubble we unconsciously learn to accept while reading.
rest and relaxation felt like a fever dream, i guess that sums it up. not sure whether i internalized any moral or learned anything new from this book except names of various drugs, but it was hella entertaining nevertheless.
re-read: june 23
put it from 3.5 stars down to 3. it's entertaining, of course, but nothing more than that.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
hnnh_bug's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Abortion
kiana_hi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pedophilia
thereadingwells's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
The two stars I did give it are for the fact that Moshfegh is a good enough writer in that she can write a book that’s readable - but this story is a collection of privileged whines that I wouldn’t recommend even cracking open if you’ve ever suffered from addiction or bulimia.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
juli_rold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
selmv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent
ella_mai_46's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
taylorroseship's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
vanillamilkshakess's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Classism