Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

616 reviews

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad 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

4.0

This is the second of Ottessa Moshfegh's books that I've read and, like Lapvona, I loved it but couldn't tell you why. The blurb says that it's about alienation, but I interpreted it as the main character dealing with a severe case of depression which leads her to feel alienated and makes her behave so appallingly, especially towards her only friend who continues to try to help her no matter how she's treated. I don't think the ending is supposed to come as a surprise, but it was certainly more effective than I was expecting and it brought a tear to my eye. Moshfegh's writing immerses me in her storytelling (not that there's much plot here to speak of) and I think that's her secret. In fact, I've put holds on two more of her books at the library.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Mental illness, and Addiction

Minor: Abortion

blunderw0man's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Fatphobia, Drug use, Cancer, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Blood, Classism, Violence, and Animal cruelty

jbbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

2.5

Tragic, absurd and very sad, often felt revolted by the depravity of the lives depicted, yet also aware that there were deep seated reasons for the behaviour. If it is funny, it’s very warped. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Toxic friendship

It’s been an experience!

pamshenanigans's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

2.5

A very palpable and distressing story about an unnamed protagonist who quite literally wants to sleep 24/7 for a whole year. While it may seem trite when summarized that way, actually reading it gives more context on why she was feeling this way. The book fives into her childhood experience and how she didn’t feel loved and nurtured by her parents and how this affected her future relationships with others and herself as she grows up. 

The writing was so descriptive yet written in a monotonic and stream-of-consciousness way that you’d also feel like you’re falling into a depressive hole as you read from the POV of the main character 

I didn’t particularly like being inside her head but I’m sure that’s how the author intended it, to evoke feelings from adults and young adults going through the same existential dread. 

One thing I liked about this book is that the main character recognizes the privilege she has to be able to rot in bed for a whole year without the consequence of having to hustle and pay the bills. 

Although an exploratory book about one’s existence (and the lack of drive to live), it didn’t really do much for me aside from the occasional reflection about my own life. 

Trigger warnings: depression, drug abuse, animal cruelty, abortion, sexual assault 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Mental illness

Moderate: Animal cruelty

Minor: Abortion and Sexual assault

bblanco_'s review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Drug abuse

itsmaren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Abortion, Cancer, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

tmitsock's review against another edition

dark funny sad medium-paced

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

4.75

I devoured this book in two days. It was brilliantly written. Definitely could be triggering to some. I love Moshfegh’s writing and will definitely read some other work by her. 
It was almost a hypnotic read. I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Death, and Confinement

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Abortion

Minor: Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit

lenacamci's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

3.5

First and foremost, this character is very unlikable - clearly on purpose. 
She also deals with depression and grief and pain that a life of privilege could not shield her from.

This book is so driven by its character and the way she perceives the world and copes with it and yet, she does not learn. She changes but she doesn't grow. 
It's very well written but it's not a pleasant read. It makes you reflect on how you can relate to her and yet leaves you frustrated by her decisions and just general unpleasantness. Which is fine, it's good to have bad, well written morally bad, insufferable but nuanced female characters. 

The ending was the bitter note for me, as Reva is yet another somewhat unlikable character but who at least somehow tries and loves as superficial as she could be. Struggling with mental health, I didn't expect this book who is already a dark take having such a bitter, "life is unfair", painfully real ending. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Addiction, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicide, Chronic illness, Confinement, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Drug use, and Mental illness

Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Abortion

whatsamanthadoes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective 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

I have lots of conflicting thoughts about this book. It somehow had me comparing my feelings after watching the movie Saltburn - I just saw an amazing spectacle, but I feel desolate and bereft and I want to continue to stay here and feel that.

But oh my, this girl perfected the act of girl rot. It as almost to the point where she didn't need to learn any lessons, she just transformed. This made cheering for someone when they refused to be an underdog in their own rock bottom difficult. 

This book shows a very real depiction of depression and how it affects those around you. There was also her opposite, Reva - whom she hated to love or loved to hate (hard to say). Reva seemed to deal with grief differently, but maybe just as problematically.

I wish I understood the historic event in the end. Why did the story lead Reva there?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racism, Classism, Vomit, Addiction, Grief, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Ableism, Excrement, Antisemitism, and Abortion