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cat_ansell's review against another edition
3.0
Not the book to read if you're in a similar state of mind to the protagonist!
Moshfegh captures well the feeling of grief/depression and the want to sleep your life away, hoping that on waking things will be better. Some light relief (if you enjoy dark humour) from the protagonist's self-destruction is provided by her terrible psychiatrist and the art world she previously inhabited.
Ultimately, I found this to be a deliberately provocative book that wasn't as quite as refreshing as I'd hoped. At times, it reminded me of Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City and Brett Easton Ellis' American Psycho, which I enjoyed more.
Moshfegh captures well the feeling of grief/depression and the want to sleep your life away, hoping that on waking things will be better. Some light relief (if you enjoy dark humour) from the protagonist's self-destruction is provided by her terrible psychiatrist and the art world she previously inhabited.
Ultimately, I found this to be a deliberately provocative book that wasn't as quite as refreshing as I'd hoped. At times, it reminded me of Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City and Brett Easton Ellis' American Psycho, which I enjoyed more.
sdoncolo's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so ... weird. I listened to the audiobook and found myself obsessed. I disliked the main character/protagonist fiercely; and yet I admired her. It was as if someone took all the worst thoughts and tendencies from a life and distilled them into the bulk of one person's daily interactions and perceptions. Yet enough tragedy has happened to the female narrator that I sometimes did feel a bit sorry for her. And then she turns back into her asshole self -- but a truthful asshole; she's really never delusional, is she? -- and I loathed her again.
It's basically worth reading just for her truly insane psychiatrist, the kind of person I would never go near because of my own sense of self-preservation ... something that's fun to abandon while reading the book.
It's basically worth reading just for her truly insane psychiatrist, the kind of person I would never go near because of my own sense of self-preservation ... something that's fun to abandon while reading the book.
beverfly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
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
3.0
Appreciate the unique take, but not my favourite
eldubwalker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
3.0
alecto's review against another edition
2.0
mediocre with some enjoyable parts.
gets quite annoying at parts, even though I like an unlikable narrator, wished it was a bit more nuanced, deeper. in the end the narrator is just a bit of a boring person.
(also sorry to say, but the 9/11 weave-in is as clumsy here as it is most times)
gets quite annoying at parts, even though I like an unlikable narrator, wished it was a bit more nuanced, deeper. in the end the narrator is just a bit of a boring person.
(also sorry to say, but the 9/11 weave-in is as clumsy here as it is most times)
andreamanuel13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
julshakespeare's review against another edition
3.0
3.4/5 stars, full review to come! What a horrible, delightful, surprisingly moving and disgusting book. It's really hard for me to pin down my thoughts on this one because they are so divided. Some of the writing was the most gorgeous, annotation-worthy prose I've read, and that was contrasted with things that were perverted and grotesque for seemingly no reason? Shock value? Likewise, I love (mostly) how the book ended and where things eventually ended up for our main character but the journey there was so meandering and confused that I felt my interest growing and waning throughout. I will definitely try this author again, but this particular book was a mixed bag for me.
Plot: 3/5 stars
Characters: 4/5 stars
Pacing: 3/5 stars
Writing: 4/5 stars
Enjoyment: 3/5 stars
Plot: 3/5 stars
Characters: 4/5 stars
Pacing: 3/5 stars
Writing: 4/5 stars
Enjoyment: 3/5 stars
tiamarea's review against another edition
dark
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
3.0
absj's review against another edition
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
eshj's review against another edition
5.0
In 1 dag uitgelezen. Een jaar slapen om als herboren wakker te worden.. Moshfegh schrijft met veel (donkere) humor. Ik heb ervan genoten. Welterusten.