Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Mi año de descanso y relajación by Ottessa Moshfegh

305 reviews

asiamd's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Hmm I don’t know what to even say about this book except it’s most definitely not what you think it’s going to be and that turned out to be a very bad thing. For one I felt a lot of the events that happened in the book were only there for shock factor and not actually even moving the plot along. Some of the scenes described in the book were just that, scenes being described that didn’t really add anything to the book. I genuinely liked the idea of the book and the direction it was going on in maybe the first two chapters. After that the author suddenly decided to throw in weird racist shit that was so unnecessary and unexpected I literally gasped out loud. Another thing that really bothered me was the vulgarity in the book, I literally don’t mind it b it I felt like it was used in this book just to be used(again) as a shock factor or even to make the main character seem edgy and uncaring. Overall, I truly wanted to enjoy this book but I just didn’t like it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia

andreaestefania's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-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

3.25

It’s an often triggering and offensive, cruel take on something sadly even more relevant in today’s world. It often felt relatable in ways that had me feeling better then worse about myself in a span of minutes. It was definitely a cynical, darkly humorous way of getting the main point across. I enjoyed the way the deeply corrupted relationships between the main characters were portrayed as they reflect just how toxic they truly are from multiple angles. There’s not really a side you’re meant to root for, especially not the side of our protagonist despite her “best” efforts. Female friendship is portrayed in its darkest form and yet tenderness still seeped through at times. The ways in which the characters were unapologetically awful felt very lifelike and of the time which I was both awed and disgusted by.

I do wish there had been more expansion on the main character’s breakthrough after her last infermiterol pill… instead it comes across as a miracle that happens to her overnight. Like an out of character change of heart - especially with Reva. Even though we can clearly infer it’s not as simple as a miraculous change of heart - more on this would’ve tied it all together for me. It’s also insane that it took those events happening in the end for her to feel like life was worth living and meant to be lived fully but i guess that’s the irony and cruelty in all of it. It’s meant to highlight just how insane and important the mundane is. How even those that you resent are an important part of your experience and are often just reflecting you back to you. Despite the mostly vain, cynical, and horrifically careless narration by the protagonist, I felt oddly comforted by the set intention to make the reader feel almost embarrassed by their own similar thoughts and ways of living that led them to believe it was okay to “sleep” through their own life in a way. Almost like it’s mocking the reader for the very desire to lead a life just like hers. It reminds you that there’s a lot more to life and not at the same time. It forces you to realize there might be more credit owed to your own heart and moral compass - considering the main character sets the bar incredibly low and even she is allowed a second chance at feeling alive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

mlhanson's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Classism

oliviah1111's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.0

pretty overrated. it was okay, and made me feel like shit (like its supposed to). i dont really know what i was expecting because i dont think any SANE person can enjoy this book because of how dark it is. still 3 stars cause i like the writing and the story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

auteaandtales's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

ryannehunter's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abortion

kellybobelly96's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.5

Not going to lie, this is a hard book to stomach. On one hand, you can empathize with someone who is hurting so deeply that numbing is the only solution to healing. On the other hand, you can't help at being angry at someone who chooses to waste their life away, or even has the privilege to easily do so. This is a complex book and I can't necessarily say I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not mad that I read it. Do not read this book if you are struggling with your mental health, body image, or  grieving someone in your life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing 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

3.0

Ironically I listened to this while struggling to fall asleep and it really helped me doze off 3💊 NB This bitch really could’ve just booked a 1yr holiday in Bali and got the exact same result  😭 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

itszosia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

jordan21's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There is truly no other book that is pleasantly vulgar yet endearing like this one. The descriptive language used to paint the everyday scenes  are poetic yet realistic, and the humor is witty and clever. While the unnamed main character is egotistical and irritating, she perfectly represents the extremes of mental illness and redeems herself in the final pages. 

If you enjoy Sheila Heiti’s crude writing (which I don’t) you would most likely love this book for its similarity in tone, but I believe Moshfegh to be the better contemporary writer of the genre. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide

Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Abortion