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Reviews tagging 'Classism'
Il mio anno di riposo e oblio by Ottessa Moshfegh, Gioia Guerzoni
111 reviews
cjmrand's review against another edition
2.0
I just want to put a little disclaimer here for the supporters of Let Women be Toxic in Books:
1. I agree that women should not be portrayed in the two dimensional, lack-luster ways they tend to be portrayed in literature under the patriarchal gaze, whether that's a submissive, meek, housewife or a sex object for men's enjoyment, ESPECIALLY when mentally ill (cough cough, The Queen's Gambit on Netflix - women don't tend to be sexy and put together in a way that is palatable for men when depressed). My review is not a criticism of the idea of letting women - especially those with mental illness - be a hot fucking mess. Ok, next.
2. I understand WHY every single one of these techniques, or motifs, etc were used in this text, I don't dislike this because I feel the author failed to connect these techniques to the character well enough - I dislike this because I don't like the techniques. They are not for me, they might be for you. Done.
Here is where I insert my notes, which sums everything up quite well:
"I'm thinking of giving this 2 stars right now. Not because it's bad, but because I'm not enjoying it - and I get that I'm supposed to not be enjoying it. I get that, I really do, but the main character is awful and I hate it. I know she is supposed to be awful and hated and that's why so many people give it 5 stars because it's wonderfully written but I just. Don't. Like it.
I don't like to explicit sexual descriptions, I don't like the 00s diet culture and slurs and misogyny.
I don't like the lack of empathy held by the main character, I don't like her selfishness, I don't like how she treats Reva.
I know that all of this is intentionally done, but I personally read to enjoy and to learn - this book just leaves me feeling a bit crap. So no, I'm not having fun."
There were points where I would doubt my judgement and think 'well maybe this is actually a good book, a book I can rate highly - look at this beautiful peace of writing, look at the emotions elicited in me when Moshfegh does x, look at this genius plotline - but that feeling always came crashing down quickly when it all became overwhelmingly unpleasant again.
I liked the end reasonably well, but the ending itself I would only rate at a 3 stars, the rest of the book drags it down to 2 though.
I was also worried that giving my copy to charity could lead to someone young picking it up, I can see this being really damaging for a secondary school aged kid, but I know that someone like me probably would've picked it up in secondary school. So, yeah. Look after your mental health. You don't need to read this book. If you did like it, I'm glad, but I hope you don't recommend it to anyone who can't cope well with the topics in these books. So yeah.
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Classism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Death, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
bethtuba's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Fatphobia, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Abortion
zenizage's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
I found the depiction of the main protagonist's depression and the people (ab)using her razor sharp at times. Maybe it was borderline triggering for me. But that being said: it captures depression and the feeling of having no self-worth (and not even having the will to fight for it) quite well!
I am not American and the extreme use of medication was ... maybe even most frustrating to me. Maybe I didn't get the "joke" because I did not know anything about the drugs she was using?
Maybe the point of the book for me is to take a closer look at myself, because I at times found it hard to have compassion for the main protagonist, who was clearly suffering, but instead was frustrated with her and her numbness and her having given herself up and how she treats other people. For someone who has had to deal with depression herself that is almost shocking.
...
Edit: After Giving it some thought–is the protagonist something of a modern day Daisy Buchanan?
Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Medical content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Excrement, Cancer, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Addiction, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Drug use, Antisemitism, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Vomit, Classism, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
amsswim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you're into reading about completely unhinged women doing unhinged and borderline horrifying things, do read. If you're worried definitely leaf through the trigger warnings to get an idea at least.
I think I'll read from this author again, would recommend to some (definitely not everyone)!
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Child abuse, Animal death, Cursing, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Body shaming
Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Excrement, Classism, Fatphobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Violence
superstar_y2k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Excrement, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
sarahaile's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Classism, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Antisemitism
kia_y_k's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Classism, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness
mlhanson's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Classism, and Misogyny
oliviah1111's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Ableism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Fatphobia