spaces_and_solaces 's review for:

Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh

5.0

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Ottessa Moshfegh's collection of stories leaves you teetering on the edge of something unknown, a captivating discomfort that lingers long after finishing. There's the grotesque and the bizarre, but it's a beautiful tapestry woven with raw humanity. You'll find isolation's echo, the unease of being in your own skin, and the absurdity of modern life, all painted with sharp, sardonic humor. Fatphobia, sex, and a disdain for life might shock you. Expect creepy abandoned places, disturbing imagery, and what I term as gross lit fiction, which feels all in service of Moshfegh's unique lens on the human condition. This is not a comfort read. Plot takes a backseat to the immersive experience, built on the intensity of emotional and sensory dissonance. Whether you embrace it or remain an outsider, Moshfegh's unsettling vision is guaranteed to linger long after the last page.