Scan barcode
thebigemmt505's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
“…so I traveled more peacefully through outer space, listening to the rhythm of my respiration, each breath an echo of the breath before, softer and softer, until I was far enough away that there was no sound, there was no movement. There was no need for reassurance or directionality because I was nowhere, doing nothing. I was nothing. I was gone.”
My Year of Rest and Relaxation explores what happens when privilege and vanity meet trauma and despair. It follows our main character as she embarks on a mission to fall asleep for a full year, and slowly descends into drug abuse and desperation.
I found this book strangely comforting. I feel I’ve rated it too highly, because the whole time I questioned “why am I enjoying this?” The characters are deeply vain and unlikable, especially the main character. The most likeable character is Reva, and it takes quite awhile for her to be so. Granted, the hateability of the main character is mitigated slightly as we learn more about her, but in the end it’s quite difficult to say if she’s actually grown.
Perhaps my enjoyment comes mostly from the beautiful, highly descriptive writing. Admittedly, I found the constant, excessive reliance pop culture references annoying, but at the very least the rest of the description was usually good enough to make up for what one might not catch in terms of references. The books pacing was alright, minus some parts that dragged a bit (such as the funeral part of the book.) I like the way this author tells a unique story with unique characters, sprinkling in dark humor to the many heavy themes.
I think this book caught me at the right time. My current reality is that I’m burnt out and jaded, a teeny bit too judgmental, eternally annoyed with most things, and more and more frustrated with the world around me and with myself every day. I’m perturbed by the development of this bitterness within me. As I read the book, much as I thought the main character was cruel and superficial, I related to her pain and her desires. I want to rot in my depression and sleep a year away. Obviously, I don’t have the endless money and ressources nor the true will to do that, but the appeal is there. And, if anything, I feel the ending shows us both how much and how little the character changed. She sees beauty in the world now,but selfishly finds artistic courage in the tragic death of her friend. Also, not gonna lie, I saw the 9/11 shit coming!!! There is no grief nor any accountability. She’s stripped of the superficial part of her superficiality, but inside there’s still vanity. Each part of her world revolves around her, even if now, she appreciates it a bit more. I want to grow, to rest and to process, to see beauty in the everyday and not get caught up in symbolic gestures or appearances or useless activities, but there are pitfalls along that journey. I relate to the endeavor but I’d like to swerve away from its end, this end. Perhaps this book hit me so hard because I was able to see bits of my current self in someone I did not like. The cycle of trauma likes to sneak up on us all in new forms, I suppose, et cetera.
Anyways, one thing I do find ironic is that this novel has become part of an aesthetic associated with modern “weird” readers, and the existence of such an aesthetic, in my opinion, really strips art of its uniqueness, all to fit into one’s personal style. In other words, it’s superficial and meaningless, vain, even. I find that pretty funny. I’m being pretentious. Welp, there’s my cynical bitterness. I think it does have a point sometimes, though. Aesthetics can be fun but… oh, the irony.
I’ll stop my rambly introspection. Give My Year of Rest and Relaxation a read; be aware though, to many audiences it’ll be quite boring and unappealing (and understandably so.) I (think) that I loved it though.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation explores what happens when privilege and vanity meet trauma and despair. It follows our main character as she embarks on a mission to fall asleep for a full year, and slowly descends into drug abuse and desperation.
I found this book strangely comforting. I feel I’ve rated it too highly, because the whole time I questioned “why am I enjoying this?” The characters are deeply vain and unlikable, especially the main character. The most likeable character is Reva, and it takes quite awhile for her to be so. Granted, the hateability of the main character is mitigated slightly as we learn more about her, but in the end it’s quite difficult to say if she’s actually grown.
Perhaps my enjoyment comes mostly from the beautiful, highly descriptive writing. Admittedly, I found the constant, excessive reliance pop culture references annoying, but at the very least the rest of the description was usually good enough to make up for what one might not catch in terms of references. The books pacing was alright, minus some parts that dragged a bit (such as the funeral part of the book.) I like the way this author tells a unique story with unique characters, sprinkling in dark humor to the many heavy themes.
I think this book caught me at the right time. My current reality is that I’m burnt out and jaded, a teeny bit too judgmental, eternally annoyed with most things, and more and more frustrated with the world around me and with myself every day. I’m perturbed by the development of this bitterness within me. As I read the book, much as I thought the main character was cruel and superficial, I related to her pain and her desires. I want to rot in my depression and sleep a year away. Obviously, I don’t have the endless money and ressources nor the true will to do that, but the appeal is there. And, if anything, I feel the ending shows us both how much and how little the character changed. She sees beauty in the world now,
Anyways, one thing I do find ironic is that this novel has become part of an aesthetic associated with modern “weird” readers, and the existence of such an aesthetic, in my opinion, really strips art of its uniqueness, all to fit into one’s personal style. In other words, it’s superficial and meaningless, vain, even. I find that pretty funny. I’m being pretentious. Welp, there’s my cynical bitterness. I think it does have a point sometimes, though. Aesthetics can be fun but… oh, the irony.
I’ll stop my rambly introspection. Give My Year of Rest and Relaxation a read; be aware though, to many audiences it’ll be quite boring and unappealing (and understandably so.) I (think) that I loved it though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion
alonnamari3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I personally loved this book. It’s a new favorite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Animal death, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Ableism
eyesofcrows's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s depressing, it’s confusing, it’s all about a woman’s sudden yet not unexpected yearn for the abyss. I found the main character’s view of herself and the world around her to be interesting. Everyone is vain and so is the main character. Everyone is not who they say they are and everyone wants to claw out of nothing and gain something. I found it poetic in this sense.
Sometimes it was crass and I don’t understand the ending all too much. It was an experience to read and I related to the main character on several notes.
Sometimes it was crass and I don’t understand the ending all too much. It was an experience to read and I related to the main character on several notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Eating disorder, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
sophhes's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Vomit, Body shaming, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion
wendys_lit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
5.0
WOW kinda scared to have started Moshfegh on such an awesome, praise-worthy piece, but Jesus freaking Christ was this excellent.
THE sad girl novels of Sad Girl Novels ™️. A beautiful, thin, rich and Columbia graduate, who goes unnamed, is living the life every girl her age probably wants. Living in her own apartment in New York, buying luxury trends, eating what she likes, and not having to go to a job, really. Except that she doesn’t even want her own life. No, she isn’t suicidal—she’s just sick of her life and thinks that hibernation is the key. She’s happiest when she’s asleep, so that must be the antidote, right? A year of rest and relaxation will give her the chance to cocoon and be the butterfly she’s always wanted to be. But it’s going to take an insane amount of meds and a questionably dark routine to get this show on the road.
I’m not someone who likes to read White women dramas or character studies, just because there’s so much of them out there in the world, and I prefer to read women of color, because I am one. However, Moshfegh really writes this downright awful, unlikable narrator that keeps you entranced with their shitty behavior, their insane decisions, and crazy inner monologue. This narrator is aware of her privilege, aware she is a shitty person, and yet continues to pour gasoline on the dumpster fire that is her life. Every page has you asking why. Why is this character so upset with everything, herself, others, even despite her past, you’d think people are capable of change, and this book is the reality: some people aren’t. Some people, even after every lesson learned, are unable to change much of who they are.
This book was great. With the exception of the weird Whoopi Goldberg obsession and the weird ending chapter, this was kind of what I look for in a female character study. A woman who is late twenties or older, going through it, and just thinking the entire time. Thinking, processing, realizing, with a tiniest bit of hope in the mix.
THE sad girl novels of Sad Girl Novels ™️. A beautiful, thin, rich and Columbia graduate, who goes unnamed, is living the life every girl her age probably wants. Living in her own apartment in New York, buying luxury trends, eating what she likes, and not having to go to a job, really. Except that she doesn’t even want her own life. No, she isn’t suicidal—she’s just sick of her life and thinks that hibernation is the key. She’s happiest when she’s asleep, so that must be the antidote, right? A year of rest and relaxation will give her the chance to cocoon and be the butterfly she’s always wanted to be. But it’s going to take an insane amount of meds and a questionably dark routine to get this show on the road.
I’m not someone who likes to read White women dramas or character studies, just because there’s so much of them out there in the world, and I prefer to read women of color, because I am one. However, Moshfegh really writes this downright awful, unlikable narrator that keeps you entranced with their shitty behavior, their insane decisions, and crazy inner monologue. This narrator is aware of her privilege, aware she is a shitty person, and yet continues to pour gasoline on the dumpster fire that is her life. Every page has you asking why. Why is this character so upset with everything, herself, others, even despite her past, you’d think people are capable of change, and this book is the reality: some people aren’t. Some people, even after every lesson learned, are unable to change much of who they are.
This book was great. With the exception of the weird Whoopi Goldberg obsession and the weird ending chapter, this was kind of what I look for in a female character study. A woman who is late twenties or older, going through it, and just thinking the entire time. Thinking, processing, realizing, with a tiniest bit of hope in the mix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
lilmadmadz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
2.5
Beautifully written quibbling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Eating disorder, Cancer, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Vomit, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
Don't read if you're in a "low" head space, or questioning your existence. Not the kind of catharsis you'd need.saarahrust's review against another edition
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Death of parent
mjoybo's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia
pamnc's review against another edition
dark
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
2.0
Unlikable characters while not being interesting or compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Ableism
knowriley's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Deceivingly funny at the outset, then a long 200 page spiral into a hypnotic and painfully accurate depiction of the physiological experience of depression at its most expressive. Read with caution, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, Grief, Mental illness, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming