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A review by burnyayhayley
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have... a lot of feelings to process.
A consistent piece of feedback I am seeing in reviews of this book is about how the middle of it dragged, and I totally agree. Though it is easily arguable— given the focus of this book— that a human attempting to hibernate would eventually become a bit of a repetitive and tedious narrative to recount. It was bound to drag a little; what do you say about someone sleeping all the time?
Another thing I have seen in reviews is a statement that the ending is too rushed, but I beg to differ. The ending is differently paced, yes, and faster than the middle, for sure, but this reminded me of the feeling of waking up from a nap and there is still a whole afternoon and evening ahead of you and you kind of feel like everything is moving too fast. That head-rush of the waking world I think was mirrored in this last bit of the book, and to great effect. It fits, for me, that after this long spent drugging herself and sleeping on a couch (or wherever she was), everything would seem fast and bright and weird.
Also, given that this book is set in 2000/2001, I was definitely waiting for the 9/11 moment, and given that we were told two of the people in the unnamed protagonist's life were working in the towers, the ending was not a total surprise. But I do give large credit to the beauty and slight obscurity of the very last image. Absolutely stunning.
Ok but also how did I only just realize that the protagonist doesn't have a name? That is usually something I would notice—makes it all the more unsettling, as it easily pulls the reader into her position.
Anyway, this book is darkly funny but also mildly upsetting, so please check the content warnings before venturing in.
A consistent piece of feedback I am seeing in reviews of this book is about how the middle of it dragged, and I totally agree. Though it is easily arguable— given the focus of this book— that a human attempting to hibernate would eventually become a bit of a repetitive and tedious narrative to recount. It was bound to drag a little; what do you say about someone sleeping all the time?
Another thing I have seen in reviews is a statement that the ending is too rushed, but I beg to differ. The ending is differently paced, yes, and faster than the middle, for sure, but this reminded me of the feeling of waking up from a nap and there is still a whole afternoon and evening ahead of you and you kind of feel like everything is moving too fast. That head-rush of the waking world I think was mirrored in this last bit of the book, and to great effect. It fits, for me, that after this long spent drugging herself and sleeping on a couch (or wherever she was), everything would seem fast and bright and weird.
Ok but also how did I only just realize that the protagonist doesn't have a name? That is usually something I would notice—makes it all the more unsettling, as it easily pulls the reader into her position.
Anyway, this book is darkly funny but also mildly upsetting, so please check the content warnings before venturing in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Blood, Abortion, War, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual content, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder