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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
An insufferable protagonist, a wretched world, and an unforgettable novel. But too much navel gazing toward the middle.
It was kind of fun. I enjoy the simple prose style and the cynically bleak humor. I vibe with the sentiment of burning our egos and past in order to size the present. To be aware of the darkness within.
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
Surprisingly tense for a book about sleeping for a year
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand I really liked the detached writing, the unlikeable protagonist (I read this literally coming out of American Psycho and found striking resemblance between them!?) and the tender yet powerful exploration of mental health. The unnamed protagonist's idea of sleeping for an entire year to emerge as a new person, no longer burdened by her old life, was clearly more on the absurdist side, and I am totally behind that. Enabling that was one of the weirdest characters I've ever read, Dr Tuttle, who was deservedly called the worst psychiatrist in the annals of literature on the blurb. The rest of the cast was also well written, with Reva standing out as a deeply sympathetic character coloured by the protagonist's condescending attitute towards her. There were many laugh out loud moments too, which I appreciated.
On the other hand, I'm not sure whether it's me or the book, but I found the stream of consciousness style hard to grap my attention. Although the language was highly accessible and the events and thoughts were really interesting, the way the plot moved, especially during the first half, made me put it down quite a few times. More importantly, though, I didn't really understand what Moshfegh was getting at. I am not sure if this would be spoilers, but it's clear from the title that the narrator did spend a year just sleeping and the year did end, hence "my year of". But what is to be taken out of this story? Is it "if you have problems, just take a ton of tranquilisers. If they aren't enough, take stronger pills"? Or is it that it's possible to sleep for a year and then achieve that nirvana-like enlightenment that she achieved at the end of the book? What does the final page even mean in the context of the story? How did sleeping and seeing that scene help her appreciate life more? I am left with more questions than I did before reading the book, and I didn't necessarily enjoy it.
On the other hand, I'm not sure whether it's me or the book, but I found the stream of consciousness style hard to grap my attention. Although the language was highly accessible and the events and thoughts were really interesting, the way the plot moved, especially during the first half, made me put it down quite a few times. More importantly, though, I didn't really understand what Moshfegh was getting at. I am not sure if this would be spoilers, but it's clear from the title that the narrator did spend a year just sleeping and the year did end, hence "my year of". But what is to be taken out of this story? Is it "if you have problems, just take a ton of tranquilisers. If they aren't enough, take stronger pills"? Or is it that it's possible to sleep for a year and then achieve that nirvana-like enlightenment that she achieved at the end of the book? What does the final page even mean in the context of the story? How did sleeping and seeing that scene help her appreciate life more? I am left with more questions than I did before reading the book, and I didn't necessarily enjoy it.
A surprisingly fun and hopeful book. The humor is obviously very dark but if you like Bret Easton Ellis, this could be the contemporary update for you.
There is a surprising amount going on in this novel. There is a cast of distinct characters and some very basic interaction. Because so little is going on, the small detail become important and the author plays with them. It is fitting that VCR and rewatching something again and again play such a big part in the protagonist‘s cosmos.
Stylewise, this book can be only described as sarcastic. You feel the longing of its protagonist and the futile attempt to fill it. There are plenty of nice sentences that resonate with you after but really, this book is about general mood more than observation.
The protagonist wishes to transform through hibernation. To become such a chiffre that the void will be filled anew. I do not want to spoil the ending but although that concept is obviously flawed you wander if you cannot succeed in some terms that way.
„This was the beauty of sleep—reality detached itself and appeared in my mind as casually as a movie“
There is a surprising amount going on in this novel. There is a cast of distinct characters and some very basic interaction. Because so little is going on, the small detail become important and the author plays with them. It is fitting that VCR and rewatching something again and again play such a big part in the protagonist‘s cosmos.
Stylewise, this book can be only described as sarcastic. You feel the longing of its protagonist and the futile attempt to fill it. There are plenty of nice sentences that resonate with you after but really, this book is about general mood more than observation.
The protagonist wishes to transform through hibernation. To become such a chiffre that the void will be filled anew. I do not want to spoil the ending but although that concept is obviously flawed you wander if you cannot succeed in some terms that way.
„This was the beauty of sleep—reality detached itself and appeared in my mind as casually as a movie“
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes