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A review by james1star
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book did something to me. I am so conflicted and literally became obsessed with it, I just wanted to spend my whole day reading it (this is so out of the norm for me as only got into reading about a month ago - this is my 3rd book) and I just read and read not looking at the pages getting through 30, 40, 50 pages in what seemed like 10.
Now the review: I loved the writing in the book, it’s *very* vivid and you can definitely imagine what’s going on and being described. It is very character based with a basic of plot line of a woman who goes to the bodega, gets coffee, takes a plethora of sleeping tablets, sleeps, sees her psychiatrist, her ‘friend’ and sleeps some more. Albeit, other things happen and she does take us back through memories about her ‘ex’, her life pre-sleep year, her childhood and parents. Now. Whilst character based novels are enjoyable, it’s hard when you literally despise the protagonist and I did with her. I hated her. She was horrible, an absolute bitch! For basically the whole of the book I honestly didn’t care what happened to her … but for some reason I did want to read on and on, I was invested in her life and this year. Additionally, I kinda hated all the other characters too: reva, ping xi (especially- oh my goodnessssss this man made my blood boil!!), her mum and dad, Trevor (aghhhhh him too really irked me), dr Tuttle (I always read it aloud as turtle) and practically everyone else that we came across, I remember telling my friend about it and how the only unproblematic character was reva’s mum and all she did was die.
Also, this book contains many trigger warnings and things the main character says can be extremely hurtful so if you struggle with eating disorders, mental health, suicide, tense and negative sexual relationships, racism, death, and so many more then you may want to give it a miss.
As it went on, and *kinda a spoiler*, in the last chapter I did begin to hate the protagonist less, even more so after completing her year of sleep. I still don’t exactly know her reasoning for wanting to sleep for a year - I presume a mix of built-up tension and depression from events in her life but I don’t feel this is explicitly stated - which I did want to know so I can understand her better but didn’t. Also, I feel reva’s character - albeit problematic - is portrayed in a negative light throughout the book until the last page and now with hindsight I do dislike her less and I did actually cry at the ending.
I did really enjoy this book, it captivated me and sent me spiralling. Despite being very problematic I just wanted to read on and the writing is very good and vividly depicted scenarios.
Now the review: I loved the writing in the book, it’s *very* vivid and you can definitely imagine what’s going on and being described. It is very character based with a basic of plot line of a woman who goes to the bodega, gets coffee, takes a plethora of sleeping tablets, sleeps, sees her psychiatrist, her ‘friend’ and sleeps some more. Albeit, other things happen and she does take us back through memories about her ‘ex’, her life pre-sleep year, her childhood and parents. Now. Whilst character based novels are enjoyable, it’s hard when you literally despise the protagonist and I did with her. I hated her. She was horrible, an absolute bitch! For basically the whole of the book I honestly didn’t care what happened to her … but for some reason I did want to read on and on, I was invested in her life and this year. Additionally, I kinda hated all the other characters too: reva, ping xi (especially- oh my goodnessssss this man made my blood boil!!), her mum and dad, Trevor (aghhhhh him too really irked me), dr Tuttle (I always read it aloud as turtle) and practically everyone else that we came across, I remember telling my friend about it and how the only unproblematic character was reva’s mum and all she did was die.
Also, this book contains many trigger warnings and things the main character says can be extremely hurtful so if you struggle with eating disorders, mental health, suicide, tense and negative sexual relationships, racism, death, and so many more then you may want to give it a miss.
As it went on, and *kinda a spoiler*, in the last chapter I did begin to hate the protagonist less, even more so after completing her year of sleep. I still don’t exactly know her reasoning for wanting to sleep for a year - I presume a mix of built-up tension and depression from events in her life but I don’t feel this is explicitly stated - which I did want to know so I can understand her better but didn’t. Also, I feel reva’s character - albeit problematic - is portrayed in a negative light throughout the book until the last page and now with hindsight I do dislike her less and I did actually cry at the ending.
I did really enjoy this book, it captivated me and sent me spiralling. Despite being very problematic I just wanted to read on and the writing is very good and vividly depicted scenarios.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cancer, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Minor: Racism