A review by blueberryhotel
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

not sure what to make of this book. it’s definitely not for everyone and i can see why it’s so controversial. on one hand, i really appreciated how true to life it felt in portraying a depressive episode that robs you of any ability to feel or operate like anything resembling a human being; however, that felt a little TOO real for me at times, which is more of a personal thing than a complaint about the book. obviously the narrator is unlikeable, and i kind of liked that because it’s different and challenging and i hate the trend of audiences gravitating solely towards media with a clear-cut, black-and-white portrayal of a hero with perfect morals. but i can also understand why some readers hate the narrator so much they find it unbearable to read, and it’s certainly difficult to really connect with her. i liked the writing and i was very impressed by the fact that a book where virtually nothing happens could have me hooked to the point that i read it as quickly as i did. for some reason i did expect some more dramatic twists or turns in the plot and was left a little disappointed and wanting more from the ending, but i can respect that it wouldn’t have really represented the character or the experience of depression. overall i liked it but it wasn’t my favorite book i’ve ever read
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