Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Mon année de repos et de détente by Ottessa Moshfegh

22 reviews

aaron_collen's review against another edition

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reflective 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

3.75

Los ricos también lloran pero no nos dan pena.
Este libro hace muy buen trabajo en trasladarte al mundo interno de la protagonista, en entender cómo la misoginia y su entorno familiar la han llevado a donde está y a tomar las decisiones que toma, y en trasladarte a la Nueva York del año 2000. Pero no empatizo con ella.
Da igual lo que aprenda, da igual lo que supere, da igual como o hacia donde evolucione a mi me cae igual de mal al principio que al final, porque si se puede permitir esa transformación en primer lugar es por su posición de clase. Lo que me aleja de superar mis traumas como lo ha hecho ella no es el contexto onírico y semirrealista en el que se mueve el libro, es mi propia pobreza.
Ha sido una lectura genuinamente entretenida pero ha sido entretenida como verse un capítulo de Gossip Girl con una capa de intelectualismo por encima, no puedo concederle la profundidad que pretende darme cuando me siento tan tan lejos de todo lo que le pasa a esta chica que al final todo me da igual.
(Admito que hay una parte al final donde una apreciación de la existencia humana si me emociona un pelín, pero lo estropea el capítulo final osea que fue ese párrafo xd)

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fromatreebranch's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

hm.

it was easy to finish.

and difficult to read.

easy: i really like
the pacing, voice,
characterization.

difficult:
1. I... am studying my eye
for desire politics...

this book was useful
in this regard --

the narrator's discussion
of self, Whoopi
("magical negro trope"/fixation
with Whoopi and her body),

and/in relation with every other
person/subject in the book.

2. This person 
is really hurting.

p.s.
did not realize
until now that 

i wasn't forgetting
her name -- we do
not ever get it!



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ashley_turch's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

Definitely a difficult read, kind of in a good way. Make sure you’re in a good mental state. Written from narrator’s POV, so there’s lots of internal reflection of what’s going on inside her head while in a extreme depressive state. I definitely see the benefit of this, but sometimes I just wanted to skip over it. 


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lauchpferd's review against another edition

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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

1.5

!Spoilers!

I don't know why this book exists, this should've been a short story and even then the plot is extremely flimsy. It took me 6 months to finally finish because of how much it drags it's feet. Most of the characters are completely unlikable and don't change or develop at all over the course of the story.

The main character does a 180 in her personality once the author realises the book is almost over but there are no in-story justifications for it. Reva dying is cliché, of course the best friend has to die for the betterment of the main character. Using 9/11 and her subsequently buying a new DVR to record it as a metaphor just seems crass, as does the very last line: "There she is, a human being, diving into the unknown, and she is wide awake."

While the occasional sentence or image might be interesting, (the arctic fox freezing to death) it's immediately undermined by whatever comparison to genitals the author can come up with.

The book was recommended to me for being "deep" and "real" but I'd say it's the exact opposite.

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amsswim's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad 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

This was the first book of her that I have read, and I think this author probably one you just like or don't. I enjoyed this read but could see where people have issues with it.

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)!

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cosy_crow's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-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

3.0


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asrino's review against another edition

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dark 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


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mitrosec's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

5.0

This book is so beautifully written. It is a true testament to Ottessa’s talent that she can write a book about a girl that does nothing and make it feel so profound. This main character is selfish, mean, and lazy but she is just like us. The portrayal of depression and substance abuse depicted in this book is so rich. This main character will touch those of us who have had similar struggles in life. I will be thinking of this book for months to come. I can’t wait to read more from the author.

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_renee_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

None of the characters in this book are supposed to be loved. This book is a hyperbolic satire on Americas self proclaimed high society. 

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kokiribell's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0


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