Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Il mio anno di riposo e oblio by Ottessa Moshfegh, Gioia Guerzoni

1123 reviews

misssleepy's review against another edition

dark 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

This book has been on my tbr for a while. It’s the first Otessa Moshfegh read.

This book is all vibes, no plot. So of course I loved it lol.

The book is really dark and I simultaneously loved and hated the narrator. This book is definitely satirical, I think that the story could only be written as a satire because only very specific conditions could make the plot (what little of it there is) possible. 

I am still trying to figure out the ending. When Reva was transferred to the twin towers, I kind of saw the ending coming. It was different than I predicted, but I did think that Reva would die in 9/11. I can’t tell how that makes me feel though.

I am absolutely a girly that has dreamed of my own version of a year of rest and relaxation. After reading this story, I can say I’m still not put off on the idea. It’s just such a fascinating idea to explore and get inside of.

I did think that the explorations of the main characters grief were interesting. I think there is something to be said about having a perfect life and still longing for the numbness our narrators seeks. Her grief makes the narrators desire a bit less insufferable and is one of the more relatable aspects of the narrators personality.

Reva is the light of the book. Her longing for companionship contrasted with the narrators longing for solitude were interesting parallels to explore. 

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a character driven weird girl story that explores themes of mental illness, depression, grief, and isolation. It is a mood reas and probably isn’t for everybody.

I really want to read Eileen and Lapvona next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

_eleanorgreen8_'s review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I found this book really interesting in the end. I love Moshfegh's writing: she captures very specific thoughts, feelings and atmospheres so well. The main character was definitely "unlikeable", but in a way I found that refreshing and less limiting. In terms of the plot - though there arguably isn't one - I found the beginning slightly too depressing and the end kind of abrupt and confusing, but around the middle of the book I was completely hooked. This book is relatable in so many ways, but also made me feel grateful for my own life at times too. There were also several moments that made me laugh out loud - such is the deep cynicism of the narrator. Would recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Classism, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Misogyny

thisgirlreads_yay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content

essay23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

karalynaa's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Abortion, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Misogyny, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death, and Death of parent

doublemegative's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Suicide

morregano's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

2.75

I don't know that the author needed to add as much drug use and detail about it as they did. I think it fell flat at the end of the day because it became redundant.

of course we all saw the end coming but i didn't care as much because i didn't feel for the main character or value their friendship much at all.

also. This book seems like a self lobotomy, as if we didn't learn that sedating people with mental illness doesn't actually switch psychosis off. I don't like the message of this book, and i don't find it sardonic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Self harm, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Grief

Minor: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Chronic illness, Suicide, Violence, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Cursing

livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition

Listen. This book has zero likeable characters and that’s very much intentional. 
It’s repetitive and drug heavy, seeing as the main character lies to a (TERRIBLE) therapist to get sleeping pills so she can quite literally sleep for an entire year.. 
Every choice is intentional in the writing, so is me putting this book down. This holds nothing compelling to keep me reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Drug abuse

Moderate: Cancer

cami_is_reading's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-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

3.0

Jesus, the ending ruined it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Death of parent

jwagstrom's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

Despite none of the characters being likable, I still enjoyed the process of reading this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Vomit and Racism

Minor: Abortion