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

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very dark, but surprisingly funny. I laughed out loud in public several times while listening to the audiobook. 

Moshfegh perfectly captures the desire to just step into a new life. The deep self-loathing that makes a person desperate to wake up as a new person. 

The desperation of addiction is also written perfectly.
When Riva takes the narrator's pills, the narrator's reaction is extremely accurate to a real addict's. Tearing apart her apartment to find anything, imagining taking the pills to try and satisfy her mind, the willingness to go to any length to get them back, the way that she cannot think of anything else besides her addiction. It's harrowing to read if you've ever experienced addiction yourself or been close to someone who has.
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