Reviews with content warning for Racism - Mein Jahr der Ruhe und Entspannung

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Mein Jahr der Ruhe und Entspannung by Anke Caroline Burger, Ottessa Moshfegh

105 reviews

fromatreebranch's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

hm.

it was easy to finish.

and difficult to read.

easy: i really like
the pacing, voice,
characterization.

difficult:
1. I... am studying my eye
for desire politics...

this book was useful
in this regard --

the narrator's discussion
of self, Whoopi
("magical negro trope"/fixation
with Whoopi and her body),

and/in relation with every other
person/subject in the book.

2. This person
is really hurting.

p.s.
did not realize
until now that

i wasn't forgetting
her name -- we do
not ever get it!

Content Warnings

crunchotter's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

3.75

Content Warnings

maddienoorbury's review against another edition

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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

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.

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annaderriere's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Slow to start. Fleabag-esque depiction of the selfishness and all consuming nature of grief. Despite the title, I felt neither rested nor relaxed- the narrator's response to loss is relatable and almost addictive.

Content Warnings

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-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

4.0

It follows a very ignorant and privileged wealthy white woman and her depression. This book is very candid and accurate and creative with its depiction of depression, but it does so from a very privileged perspective. Read this book! And learn about how depression impacts people who are not white and rich.

Content Warnings

lesbegays's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective

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

5.0

this is one of the most relatable and accurate depictions of depression that i’ve ever come across. depression is ugly and disgusting and makes you a shitty friend. the narrator is not a likable person, but i did find myself loving her because of how intimately i understand her and how much of the worst parts of myself i see in her. i found myself both jealous that she is rich enough to actually do what i’ve dreamt about since i was 12 and dedicate all of her time to sleeping, and so grateful that i’m no longer in a place where i want to sleep for a year. just maybe a month. i’ve had this on my shelf for years and i’m so glad i waited until now to read it. both the narrator and i are 26, and i think this would have made me spiral if i was 23.
the writing style of this book is so hypnotic. every time i emerged from a reading session i felt disoriented, like i was waking up from a too-long, sweaty afternoon nap. i felt a little bit how i imagine the narrator felt in her waking hours. a lot of people describe the pace of this book as slow, and i guess that’s fair, but i flew through this. the combination of short, clipped sentences and excessive run-on sentences just pulled me along for the ride.
if you’ve ever felt like sleeping for a year would fix you but are currently in a better, more healed place, i highly recommend this.

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