A review by takarakei
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark 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

4.0

I truly wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. You have to be down to read about a truly awful person and really be in her thoughts with no escape while basically nothing else happens. So if that's not your vibe then this book isn't for you!

I loved the descriptions of the art world, art bros etc, they were spot on. I was absolutely screaming in laughter and had to read them to my friends!
It's funny because I too quit my corporate (somewhat art related) job a few years ago to really reassess my life, however for me personally I was depressed being in that job and quitting (and processing in therapy) is what helped me. I also recognize this book is set over 20 years ago and it was just a completely different world. I deeply felt for the character when she says:
There was no sadness or nostalgia, only disgust that I'd wasted so much time on unnecessary labor when I could have been sleeping and feeling nothing. I'd been stupid to believe that employment would add value to my life. 

This is definitely a commentary about mental health/depression and also of course on our society's focus on pharmaceutical patches vs actual mental health care. Her psychiatrist was wild to read, just how absurd she was - really a caricature of a person. Actually come to think of it pretty much every single side character in this book is also kind of awful. Especially her ex-whatever-boyfriend is disgusting. 

There's a point at which the lengthy descriptions about drug use and waking up not remembering what she's done got a bit repetitive. This was likely a choice by the author to really beat us over the head. I wasn't expecting the ending
to be so positive for our MC! I guess I just kinda thought she would continue to fuck up her life beyond repair? and I'm not saying I was unsatisfied with the ending, but it was unexpected to me.


This is a hard one to really form coherent thoughts on, but I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a while. And likely would reread it at some point!
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