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

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

I feel like this book healed me in a way that I did not imagine when I started it. The theme of the book is a new start. I've heard a lot of people don't like this book because "nothing happens", but it is about the main characters inner journey, so it's mostly herself reflecting and her inevitable madness. I feel like this book was written for people who have dealt with depression, and it just felt so real and heartbreaking. Depression definitely comes in a lot of different forms, but I could relate to a lot of what she was experiencing. This book was definitely written from someone who did struggle, and I can therefore see why people who have no experience with depression (personally or secondhand) would dislike this book. It is definitely not easily digestible
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