Scan barcode
diana_blackmoon's review
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
I am happy someone wrote Vesta's and Magda's story. Maybe it will be your favourite book. It was not mine brand of speculative fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Cancer
pkc's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This was such a bizarre book and I thiiiiink I get what it was going for. However, if you’re picking it up and thinking “ooh look a small murder mystery” it’s much more and I don’t know if I’d consider it a spoiler to say there’s no neat resolution. There are a ton of hints that suggest what has likely happened but no resolution per se. Vesta as a main character was fascinating but - her actions strike me as being the actions of someone who is aging and trying to make sense of a traumatic life with a loathsome man as her mind fragments from age and trauma
This is the third Otessa Moshfegh book I’ve read and as with her previous books, it was wholly unlike anything else I’ve read.
This is the third Otessa Moshfegh book I’ve read and as with her previous books, it was wholly unlike anything else I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body shaming, and Animal death
Moderate: Mental illness and Infidelity
no1coelocanthfan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Body shaming, Animal death, and Grief
alexandrabelze's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
okay. when i first finished this book, i didn’t really care for it. i didn’t not like it, but i initially found it a little boring. i’ve had time to let it marinate, and i am finally aware of just how crazy this novel is. the whole thing is just this poor old lady (vesta) driving herself absolutely mad. 85% of this novel takes place inside of vesta’s head. most of the things that “happen” in this book don’t even happen! she’s just making shit up!!! and the ending. wtf?! great use of an unreliable narrator.
ngl the ending had me giggling. it also COMPLETELY caught me off guard. and wtf was up with charlie at the end?? i wish we got some sort of explanation on that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Murder and Cancer
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, and Animal death
unhingedreader's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Death and Fatphobia
britts_booknook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
maxattack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
This is for the girlies that like art films that other people “don’t get”, and whose endings annoy people who only watched it all the way through because they were expecting it to change genres. Not a bad thing, just explains the mixed reviews.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Fatphobia
lindsaylhunter's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
How Moshfegh managed to write something as captivating as this through only the insane ramblings of a lonely old woman is nothing short of brilliant. An author I'll always have my eye on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death and Cancer
ashlynregan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.0
Reminiscent of Camus’ existentialism, Moshfegh strikes again with an intimate look into a spiraling woman. Kinda boring though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
mindespair's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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
2.5
overall this just dragged on way too much for me and it was a very ‘nothing happens’ kind of book. nightmare for my adhd. also so much fatphobia like girl what did i ever do to u. it was interesting enough to finish reading but i don’t think i’d recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Body shaming, Infidelity, Fatphobia, and Cancer
Minor: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Cursing, Excrement, Abortion, and Classism