Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Mijn jaar van rust en kalmte by Ottessa Moshfegh

84 reviews

kt2e56's review against another edition

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

2.0

Ugh. First of all, it’s not hard to “get” what’s happening with this book. Just like American Psycho, which this book reminded me of quite a bit, My Year of Rest & Relaxation is unbelievably shallow. So me not liking it doesn’t mean it went over my head. I just didn’t like the book.

I know the author has been on a crusade about how it’s sexist to not like a book with unlikable female characters but it’s not that I don’t like books about unlikable women, I like well-written books about unlikable women. The nameless main character is boring. She just is. She’s racist and nasty and cruel but above all, just so fucking boring. And the author is boring. We get it: somehow despite not showering for weeks, having crusted up eyes, toothpaste all over her face, and god knows what else…everyone is bending over backwards to let the main character know that she’s still just so beautiful and perfect and nobody could ever be thinner or prettier. My god. Find something less cliche.

What was I’m assuming supposed to be some big shocking reveal at the end about Reva dying in 9/11, I literally predicted when I was 22% of the way into the book. So not really that shocking. Just another cliched attempt at controversy.

I did give this one whole extra star for the spot on critiques about the art world. I thought that was genuinely funny and satirical. Ditto for the author’s description of Long Island (I live one town over from Farmingdale in Massapequa. Lol.) which I found pretty funny. Otherwise? Meh. I don’t take Infermiterol but I’m sure I’ll forget this book in three days.

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catrionamayj's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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pineapplesunshine's review against another edition

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dark funny sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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paulea's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.75


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livedf's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny medium-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

5.0


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sianjkh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

one of the most uniquely written books i've read and one that would've sent me spiralling had i been in a slightly worse mental state. slow paced, almost too slow, yet one of the most poignant and honest tellings of mental health struggles i have come across. its refusal to shy away from less romantic topics make it so harrowingly real there were points i had to just put down the book and stare off into space for a moment. that being said, doesn't make it a great book

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jillianalice's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective sad medium-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

5.0

I was surprised at how much I genuinely loved this book. I already want to re-read it. I can see the criticisms that we’re made about this book, but personally, the book was very relatable for me. The book gave a real look at types of depression and how different people cope with their grief. I also love books that describe every day, mundane things in an interesting manner, and the prose of this book does it very well. The psychiatrist was hilarious, I don’t think I’ve run across such a perfectly scattered and absurd character before. The ending was also interesting and unexpectedly tied historical events into the final chapter. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone because it can definitely be triggering and the characters may be annoying to many people, but I love this book and will be re-reading it.  

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aliciachauhan_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25


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anxiousbookclub's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious 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

3.5


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ruthywithas's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

A comically dark and harrowing account of one woman's descent with her mental health. The author intelligently crafted descriptions of the narrator's experience that were uncomfortable as they were insightful. I thought it was an incredible insight into the true horrors of loneliness and poor mental wellbeing. The author managed to craft descriptions that perfectly captured how I'd felt at my lowest and this was ultimately a tense but comforting read.

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