Scan barcode
kutreen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I picked this up because I have been hearing a lot about this author but thought that reading My Year of Rest and Relaxation would sink me deeper into depression.
Damn! I'm really impressed by Moshfegh. She reeled me into the drunken stupor/brain damaged/denial-stage-of-grief cloudiness of McGlue's mind without getting too abstract or confusing. McGlue is in and out of consciousness as memories from his time spent with the man he allegedly killed (but had a quite vulnerable brother-like bond--which you can guess what that means when it's between two sailors in the 1850s) intermix with memories from his poor and emotionally neglected childhood, intermix with him currently trying to process his situation as he awaits trial while withdrawing from alcoholism and having a huge untreated gash in his head. We can empathize with McGlue's pain much more than he could allow himself to at that time.
The most unpalatable parts for me were the ways McGlue referred to gay men, women, and black people, but I suppose it's true to how a man like that at that time would have referred to them.
Looking back not sure I could get through this if I was more emotionally vulnerable right now, but luckily it was a quick read.
Damn! I'm really impressed by Moshfegh. She reeled me into the drunken stupor/brain damaged/denial-stage-of-grief cloudiness of McGlue's mind without getting too abstract or confusing. McGlue is in and out of consciousness as memories from his time spent with the man he allegedly killed (but had a quite vulnerable brother-like bond--which you can guess what that means when it's between two sailors in the 1850s) intermix with memories from his poor and emotionally neglected childhood, intermix with him currently trying to process his situation as he awaits trial while withdrawing from alcoholism and having a huge untreated gash in his head. We can empathize with McGlue's pain much more than he could allow himself to at that time.
The most unpalatable parts for me were the ways McGlue referred to gay men, women, and black people, but I suppose it's true to how a man like that at that time would have referred to them.
Looking back not sure I could get through this if I was more emotionally vulnerable right now, but luckily it was a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Homophobia, Biphobia, Confinement, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Murder, Child death, and Sexual harassment
abibliophagist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Slow start, but kept the tense vibe I come to expect from Moshfegh. The second half hit me like a ton of bricks, and left me in tears.
I love pretty much everything I've read my Moshfegh, and I was so suprised how this one skyrocketed to the top of the list for me. More in line with Lapvona and her short stories than Eileen and MYRR
Yes there are a lot of slurs, the character is an alcoholic, uneducated, garbage pale of a man in the 1850s. It was hard to read these at times, but at no point did it feel like a mistep by the author, but instead help aid in us disliking the character quickly. Racial slurs and homophobic slurs, which makes the fact that the character is struggling with his own sexuality even more poignant.
However if that's something as a reader you have a hard time with, even if it's period accurate and aids to the character study of self loathing, I would skip this one, cause it is.. a lot.
I love pretty much everything I've read my Moshfegh, and I was so suprised how this one skyrocketed to the top of the list for me. More in line with Lapvona and her short stories than Eileen and MYRR
Yes there are a lot of slurs, the character is an alcoholic, uneducated, garbage pale of a man in the 1850s. It was hard to read these at times, but at no point did it feel like a mistep by the author, but instead help aid in us disliking the character quickly. Racial slurs and homophobic slurs, which makes the fact that the character is struggling with his own sexuality even more poignant.
However if that's something as a reader you have a hard time with, even if it's period accurate and aids to the character study of self loathing, I would skip this one, cause it is.. a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Homophobia
siriface's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Death, and Murder
amandayounglund's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Gore, and Homophobia
beanwa's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Just gorgeous. This novella is so different from anything else Ottessa Moshfegh's written. I'm completely floored by how she was able to portray this character's voice.
I read the last couple of chapters of this stoned, which was actually fantastic.
I read the last couple of chapters of this stoned, which was actually fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Gore, Homophobia, and Racism
virgoblin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
0.5
hey, what the fuck
don’t read this unless you want to hear the f slur repeated no less than 200 times anda man opening up his skull to touch his own brains (barf) . I probably should have DNF’ed this one, but I’m trying to get to 150 books for the year and this is a short enough book to justify forcing myself to finish it
a difficult read as always from ottessa mashed potatoes
don’t read this unless you want to hear the f slur repeated no less than 200 times and
a difficult read as always from ottessa mashed potatoes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Body horror, Gore, and Homophobia
reginahafner_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this one is for the hannibal gays
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Blood, Murder, and Homophobia
gracetrimper's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Excrement, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Violence, Body horror, Sexual content, Murder, Gore, Child death, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Confinement, and Addiction
marytckm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Gore
Moderate: Racial slurs
oatmeg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
2.25
I’m glad moshfegh has stuck to the unhinged female trope because the flawed male character does not make up for the lack of plot.. the addition of slurs was very unexpected from her & very distracting from plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Homophobia, and Gore