A review by maddness22
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

challenging dark 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

4.5

A reading experience absolutely outside of all of my expectations. I didn't expect to read the entire thing in one sitting or feel the emotions that I felt while reading it. It's a lot darker and more sad than I thought it was going to be but damn that conclusion absolutely sells the point of the narrative. It's probably going to be a novel I'm going to ruminate for ages on and all of the different nuances experienced by the narrator in her incredibly messed up year. 

One of the more accurate portrayals of depression that I've read, honestly, with both the good and bad of it too because there is a certain peace with the isolation that this book captures well in between the bits of absolute dark chaos and void-feelings. This was a lot in a good way.