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A review by morganjanedavis
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
5.0
She's done. She's tired. Dreams, aspirations, sense of self: crushed, muddled up until it's one big pile of nothing. She just wants to and take some time off. Rest. The degree from Columbia means nothing, the job at the art gallery? Useless. What's the point. With her deceased parents' trust fund money she's paid her bills in advance, and she can visit the bodega downstairs when absolutely necessary. Dr. Tuttle already has all her scripts filled and even gave her some free samples to help with new symptoms. The only unavoidable inconvenience now is Reva, which is manageable. A year and she'll be good as new. This is gonna be a good year. A year of rest and relaxation.
Oof. As someone who predominantly stays within the confines of the horror genre, I didn't know what to expect here. If you're a person who struggles with depression/have loved ones who struggle, the concept of holing away in hibernation for a year can seem liberating. The exploration of someone [FICTIONAL] so brazen to do just that is what initially drove me to pick up this title. The main character completely submits to a self-destructive lifestyle of substance abuse to the extreme with a no holds barred mindset.
Throughout the sheer entertainment our unnamed MC delivers (erratic behavior, insane levels of nonchalance) a sense of melancholy lingers due to the isolation that is clearly painted within the narrative. Interestingly enough, majority of this isolation stems from the fact that she is wealthy and modelesque. Because of these security blankets (and a wildly irresponsible healthcare provider), it is assumed she is fine. This assumption isn't something new, or made by people unfamiliar to her. This assumption has been drilled into her her whole life. She is rich. She is hot. Therefore, she is OK, thriving even.
MYORAR doesn't showcase a full cast, which is fine. I loved sifting through the dynamics of Riva and the MC, both so desperately dependent on the other. This isn't a title where a lot ~happens~. This didn’t bother me. Getting to see the MC's progression over the course of her year-long plan was bizarre enough to hold my attention from start to finish.
MYORAR was my first Moshfegh read, and I’m hopeful her other works showcase more self-centered women. I loved the “acceptable awfulness” delivered here. An easy 5 stars with a gut-punch ending. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Oof. As someone who predominantly stays within the confines of the horror genre, I didn't know what to expect here. If you're a person who struggles with depression/have loved ones who struggle, the concept of holing away in hibernation for a year can seem liberating. The exploration of someone [FICTIONAL] so brazen to do just that is what initially drove me to pick up this title. The main character completely submits to a self-destructive lifestyle of substance abuse to the extreme with a no holds barred mindset.
Throughout the sheer entertainment our unnamed MC delivers (erratic behavior, insane levels of nonchalance) a sense of melancholy lingers due to the isolation that is clearly painted within the narrative. Interestingly enough, majority of this isolation stems from the fact that she is wealthy and modelesque. Because of these security blankets (and a wildly irresponsible healthcare provider), it is assumed she is fine. This assumption isn't something new, or made by people unfamiliar to her. This assumption has been drilled into her her whole life. She is rich. She is hot. Therefore, she is OK, thriving even.
MYORAR doesn't showcase a full cast, which is fine. I loved sifting through the dynamics of Riva and the MC, both so desperately dependent on the other. This isn't a title where a lot ~happens~. This didn’t bother me. Getting to see the MC's progression over the course of her year-long plan was bizarre enough to hold my attention from start to finish.
MYORAR was my first Moshfegh read, and I’m hopeful her other works showcase more self-centered women. I loved the “acceptable awfulness” delivered here. An easy 5 stars with a gut-punch ending. HIGHLY RECOMMEND