A review by readingotaku
Homesick for Another World, by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
mysterious
tense
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
1.0
This is my second time trying to read this book, and I couldn’t get past the second short story. The characters are so flawed they become annoying, and you lose interest in their lives and don’t really care what happens to them.
The descriptions were very intense, detailed which turned my off a bit. Everything was told in black and white while I appreciate a more philosophical approach to building up a story.
Honestly, I found it to be quite a boring attempt at being macabre. I feel like the intent of these stories was to show people are flawed, but the characters are way past being flawed and just seem to be sad incels trying to function in actual society.
Also, I felt the writing was quite racist and classist.
The descriptions were very intense, detailed which turned my off a bit. Everything was told in black and white while I appreciate a more philosophical approach to building up a story.
Honestly, I found it to be quite a boring attempt at being macabre. I feel like the intent of these stories was to show people are flawed, but the characters are way past being flawed and just seem to be sad incels trying to function in actual society.
Also, I felt the writing was quite racist and classist.
Spoiler
She mentioned how the main lady in the first story was getting hit on by skinny Indian men, and I found that to be so irrelevant. Why not just say skinny engineers? Then the description of the homeless person and following up if you couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Just say homeless person then! Not every little thought needs to be spelled out.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Classism