Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'
Mein Jahr der Ruhe und Entspannung by Anke Caroline Burger, Ottessa Moshfegh
1108 reviews
tiffyb's review against another edition
DNF’d about 60 pages in. This book is grotesque and I find myself physically pulling away from the kindle every few pages because it’s just intentionally nasty. Just got thru a passage where the main character poops on the floor of an art gallery and shoved her used TP into the mouth of a taxidermy dog. Not my cup of tea. After checking reviews, it seems that the book continues this way, so I won’t be finishing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Cancer, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
evelyns's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Confinement, Alcohol, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Body shaming, and Addiction
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-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
4.5
This one was interesting. It was mostly a stream of semi-consciousness from the main character, I feel like mental illness was portrayed well but maybe a little glamorized at the same time, but it felt like it fit well with the personality of the characters. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Excrement, Mental illness, Grief, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Ableism, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
caitlincurran's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Genuinely don’t know if I loved or hated this book? The main character was very unlikable, though I suppose that’s the point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
athomehangel's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Eating disorder
Minor: Abortion
jazzy_g's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-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
3.0
This book was both unique and bizarre. I had bought it at the airport looking for a light holiday read but instead found it kept me anxious and tense, worried for the wellbeing of the protagonist and in disbelief that someone could survive at length the absurd cocktail of prescription medication! The focus was on the protagonist who it feels we never really get to know which made for slow development, and the flow often felt repetitive and drawn-out, although this was possibly an artistic choice. Despite this, I did enjoy the way the author writes and many elements were wonderfully detailed and beautifully grotesque so despite wanting to abandon it a few times, I persevered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, and Emotional abuse
ada_henry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*PSA-- this is not a healthy way to live. You WILL die if you take that many medications at once.*
Hmm...
This book was really gosh darn good. It was such an interesting examination of love, friendship, and femininity with great commentary on mental health, art, and privilege. There were a lot of hot takes in this book, and I was here for all of them.
It felt like a mashup between The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar, which might make it one of the best pieces of fiction ever written. It follows a wealthy and privileged but depressed young woman as she attempts to sleep for a year. It was brilliant, witty, and incredibly funny at times. Anyone looking for well-written, engaging prose would find this book satisfactory.
That being said, it was veering on annoying. If I didn't like it, I would've hated it. It's like that one friend everyone has who is effortlessly pretty, kind, and good at everything, but doesn't seem to recognize how lucky they are. The main character is bratty and self-centered, which was a very purposeful decision, but it can become exhausting nonetheless.
I found a few things to be particularly interesting:
- The narrator's name is never revealed. I found this to be similar to books that don't mention a specific time period or location-- it makes the book more readable and it allows readers to connect more. I don't think anything would have been taken away from the story had the main character had a name, but I do think the lack of a moniker really added something to it.
- Interesting how her [narrator's] mother died from combining alcohol and sleep medications and all she wants is more sedatives.
- I wasn't expecting this book to be so sad-- girlie is seriously traumatized and needs a better therapist to help her process her very tragic life.
- Books always have such extreme takes on mental health. This book is interesting compared to others I've read recently: it is undeniably focused on mental health, but it doesn't have a direct approach to it, like Girl in Pieces does and it while it's the central part of the story, it's not explored in great depth. The narrator's reaction to her past experiences is almost the opposite of that in A Little Life. This book was especially interesting to read in the context of A Little Life.
- I could see that ending coming from a mile away. That was my only complaint with the book and the reason why it's getting 4.5/5 stars. The ending felt rushed and unnecessary. And it was so predictable.
All I can say is that I will definitely be reading more of Moshfegh's writing in the future.
Hmm...
This book was really gosh darn good. It was such an interesting examination of love, friendship, and femininity with great commentary on mental health, art, and privilege. There were a lot of hot takes in this book, and I was here for all of them.
It felt like a mashup between The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar, which might make it one of the best pieces of fiction ever written. It follows a wealthy and privileged but depressed young woman as she attempts to sleep for a year. It was brilliant, witty, and incredibly funny at times. Anyone looking for well-written, engaging prose would find this book satisfactory.
That being said, it was veering on annoying. If I didn't like it, I would've hated it. It's like that one friend everyone has who is effortlessly pretty, kind, and good at everything, but doesn't seem to recognize how lucky they are. The main character is bratty and self-centered, which was a very purposeful decision, but it can become exhausting nonetheless.
I found a few things to be particularly interesting:
- The narrator's name is never revealed. I found this to be similar to books that don't mention a specific time period or location-- it makes the book more readable and it allows readers to connect more. I don't think anything would have been taken away from the story had the main character had a name, but I do think the lack of a moniker really added something to it.
- Interesting how her [narrator's] mother died from combining alcohol and sleep medications and all she wants is more sedatives.
- I wasn't expecting this book to be so sad-- girlie is seriously traumatized and needs a better therapist to help her process her very tragic life.
- Books always have such extreme takes on mental health. This book is interesting compared to others I've read recently: it is undeniably focused on mental health, but it doesn't have a direct approach to it, like Girl in Pieces does and it while it's the central part of the story, it's not explored in great depth. The narrator's reaction to her past experiences is almost the opposite of that in A Little Life. This book was especially interesting to read in the context of A Little Life.
- I could see that ending coming from a mile away. That was my only complaint with the book and the reason why it's getting 4.5/5 stars. The ending felt rushed and unnecessary. And it was so predictable.
All I can say is that I will definitely be reading more of Moshfegh's writing in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Animal death
pierreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
vivelaviv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Eating disorder, Cancer, Abortion, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Death of parent
maddienoorbury's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
2.0
If addiction and trauma were sentient it would be the main character of this book. She's so unlikeable, and while that's kind of the point, what's the purpose of a book like this? She's awful, the point is she's awful, and at the end
Spoiler
her "best friend" who she HATES dies in 9/11??? </Spoiler> also a lot of weird subtle (not so subtle) racism with the only Asian character being a predatory man who apparently starves and taxidermies dogs. Truly insane. Go to therapy, girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Racism