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

dark 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

2.0

Very interesting concept and fleshed-out psyche of the narrator. I did think it was a good depiction of grief and trauma. The theme of friendship that was explored was also touching to me.

However I felt that the right ideas and sentences were just flooded with randomness. I found it way too wordy, too long and because of this it lost important meaning. I really struggled through it because it was so slow. I understand that that might be the point but it just made me want to put the book down and I have read more meaningful depictions of depression using way less words. Then in contrast the ending felt rushed, unnecessary and hard to believe in the context of the rest of the book.

Another thing that bothered me was how much I felt like this was almost a guide of sorts. Like "How to go about dealing with trauma and coming back reset" There's a fine line there and to me it just felt dangerous to put this book out and act like in the end it just worked out for the main character.
But really a young woman that takes all kinds of pills with alcohol, blacks out for days on end, and puts her life in the hands of a strange man that wants to use her for art while she's passed out, is much more likely to not end up okay. While there is always special cases this wasn't openly reflected enough and that bothers and worries me.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings