Scan barcode
kikalox'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
2.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Self harm, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Medical content, and Mental illness
Minor: Abortion
kazli'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: Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Vomit
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
"My Year of Rest and Relaxation" follows a young woman who seems to have it all. She has a great apartment on the upper East Side of Manhattan, she recently graduated from Columbia, she comes from a wealthy family, she is beautiful and thin, and she has an easy job at an art gallery. However, she does not feel lucky, and after losing both her parents, she does not care to live her life any longer. She decides she needs a break; all she needs is to sleep for a year and then she can get her life back on track. So, she sets out on a drug-induced sleep to cure all of her problems.
I did not have super high expectations going into this book because I felt like the premise might be boring to read at times. However, even though I think the main character is unlikable most of the time because she is struggling so deeply with her depression, I really empathized with her and wanted to give her a hug. This book is highly pretentious, and it is definitely not for everyone, but it hit a chord with me, and I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it.
The main character's attitude towards life and the narrative about how monotonous her days are really highlights someone's mindset who is struggling with depression. I think she provides an excellent example of someone who seems to have it all and people around her do not understand how she can be depressed. Depression is not "earned" by those with the hardest struggles.
She is a pretty horrible friend to Reva throughout the story, but Reva is not necessarily better towards her. Their friendship seems to be because they have been friends for so long and neither one wants to let go, but honestly neither does much for the other. I did really enjoy seeing Reva poised against the main character to highlight how two people with similar lives can turn out so very different.
This book ends with a mention of 9/11. I cannot think of many other fictitious titles that I have read that mention 9/11, let alone one set in New York. It was heartbreaking and interesting to read about a character witnessing the violence firsthand.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am curious to pick up more from Ottessa Moshfegh.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Death
amsswim's review against another edition
- 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
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)!
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
emilyycatlett'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
2.0
Graphic: Cancer, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Eating disorder
cosy_crow's review against another edition
- 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
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
porporina'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Medical trauma, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Terminal illness
mandyfeldi'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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Addiction, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Abortion, Death, Grief, Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
kia_y_k'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: 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
dms3899's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Vomit, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Death, and Eating disorder
Minor: Suicide attempt, Animal death, Abortion, and Body shaming