Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

19 reviews

lauchpferd's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

!Spoilers!

I don't know why this book exists, this should've been a short story and even then the plot is extremely flimsy. It took me 6 months to finally finish because of how much it drags it's feet. Most of the characters are completely unlikable and don't change or develop at all over the course of the story.

The main character does a 180 in her personality once the author realises the book is almost over but there are no in-story justifications for it. Reva dying is cliché, of course the best friend has to die for the betterment of the main character. Using 9/11 and her subsequently buying a new DVR to record it as a metaphor just seems crass, as does the very last line: "There she is, a human being, diving into the unknown, and she is wide awake."

While the occasional sentence or image might be interesting, (the arctic fox freezing to death) it's immediately undermined by whatever comparison to genitals the author can come up with.

The book was recommended to me for being "deep" and "real" but I'd say it's the exact opposite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Grief

amsswim's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was the first book of her that I have read, and I think this author probably one you just like or don't. I enjoyed this read but could see where people have issues with it.

If you're into reading about completely unhinged women doing unhinged and borderline horrifying things, do read. If you're worried definitely leaf through the trigger warnings to get an idea at least. 

I think I'll read from this author again, would recommend to some (definitely not everyone)!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Child abuse, Animal death, Cursing, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Body shaming

Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Excrement, Classism, Fatphobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Violence

cobblestone_crow's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria, Cultural appropriation, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Alcohol, Ableism, Eating disorder, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Alcoholism, Cancer, Bullying, Suicide, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Body shaming, Body horror, Abandonment, Rape, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Addiction

asrino's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

mitrosec's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

This book is so beautifully written. It is a true testament to Ottessa’s talent that she can write a book about a girl that does nothing and make it feel so profound. This main character is selfish, mean, and lazy but she is just like us. The portrayal of depression and substance abuse depicted in this book is so rich. This main character will touch those of us who have had similar struggles in life. I will be thinking of this book for months to come. I can’t wait to read more from the author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Addiction, Body shaming, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

_renee_'s review

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

5.0

None of the characters in this book are supposed to be loved. This book is a hyperbolic satire on Americas self proclaimed high society. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abortion, Abandonment, Addiction, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Xenophobia

kokiribell's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, and Body shaming

hnnh_bug's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

Incredible writing. Intense trigger warning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Medical content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Grief, Animal death, Addiction, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gore, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Confinement, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abortion

rclreads's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 stunningly written book with characters who felt very real that left me staring at a wall for a solid couple of minutes after reading the final sentence.. how could i not give it 5 stars? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

kiana_hi's review

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Pedophilia