Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Mon année de repos et de détente by Ottessa Moshfegh

139 reviews

archerisonline's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

after hearing lots of mixed opinions about this book, i was ready to dislike it. but i loved it. so sharp and oddly satisfying, ‘my year of rest and relaxation’ is by far the most compelling book i’ve read in a while. our central character is awful but so so interesting. i loved the way the book slipped in and out of her present and her reminiscing about the past. i loved the descriptions and the metaphors. i thought the ending was satisfying and vague and beautiful and twisted all at the same time. moshfegh stirs up so much unease throughout this book so deftly. i would thoroughly recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Drug use

Moderate: Body shaming and Animal death

Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Abortion

lauchpferd's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Grief

motleybooksandtea's review against another edition

challenging tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Medical content, Addiction, and Mental illness

Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Abortion

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

kvanstrom's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal death and Cursing

amsswim's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

2.75

The writing style was good. The actual plot of the book was interesting from the stand point of observing what not to do regarding mental health. 

However this book is not in any way a good book to read for life advice or for finding a good way to cope with depression. Think of this book and everything the MC does as everything not to do. The MC is deeply troubled and in need of actual help from an actual professional which she does not get. I was very concerned with the ending of the book because it is not at all accurate to the realities of mental health and life itself. She doesn’t actually deal with anything she struggles with, she just avoids it… which is not possible in reality. 

PSA to everyone reading this: medication is not a problem solver and will not fix you. You cannot run away from your problems, that includes sleeping. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

drybay's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Mental illness, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death of parent, and Self harm

janisgoblin's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

Hated the ending with a fiery, burning passion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty

Don’t bother

nesxreads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

lilalhreads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Drug use, Vomit, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Cancer

Minor: Abortion