A review by abibliophagist
McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Slow start, but kept the tense vibe I come to expect from Moshfegh. The second half hit me like a ton of bricks, and left me in tears. 

  I love pretty much everything I've read my Moshfegh, and I was so suprised how this one skyrocketed to the top of the list for me. More in line with Lapvona and her short stories than Eileen and MYRR

Yes there are a lot of slurs, the character is an alcoholic, uneducated, garbage pale of a man in the 1850s. It was hard to read these at times, but at no point did it feel like a mistep by the author, but instead help aid in us disliking the character quickly. Racial slurs and homophobic slurs, which makes the fact that the character is struggling with his own sexuality even more poignant. 

However if that's something as a reader you have a hard time with, even if it's period accurate and aids to the character study of self loathing, I would skip this one, cause it is.. a lot.


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