My Year of Rest and Relaxation Hardcover – July 10, 2018

So, I'm not an avid reader. Nor am I a big 'chick lit' fan. I rarely finish books, but I was looking for something to sink my teeth into after a long spell without anything decent to read (by 'decent' I mean nothing I cared about after 20 pages). Well, this book really hit the spot for me.Its a very easy read. Just crack it open and you'll be swept away. The book is written in first person perspective of the main character. I wouldn't say I liked her, nor did I especially dislike her. But I can empathize with her plight.The core concept that drives the plot is pretty provocative - go to sleep for a year and erase your trauma, wake up refreshed and ready to resume life as you were meant to live it, without baggage, without hangups, just living as yourself. Who wouldn't want that?But the way she goes about it, absolutely brilliant.If you can allow yourself to be led down on a journey without constantly pointing out, nitpicking and tearing apart each seemingly unrealistic proposition, you'll be rewarded with an experience that ultimately feels cathartic.I'll admit, there were times that I felt it droned on and on and ....But just speedread beyond that and keep going. The end comes before you know it, and it comes right when you're ready for it.Worth the read.

This book is like groundhogs day with its repetition. The amount of pills the main character is taking.....wow! Is that even possible to survive?! I have a feeling as I digest this book more and more, I'm going to really grasp the meaning of it all. It was very Interesting in a weird way and kept me reading. I need time to process it all now to understand the deeper meaning and complexity of what it all means in the end. The ending was unexpected! Vert good book!

Would really give this 2.5 stars. Really nothing to write home about. This was seriously overhyped.The narrator drones on for 2/3 of the book about hating everyone and everything. I guess it’s good that she’s self aware that she has no real problems, but then I don’t understand why this is a book then. She has no redeeming qualities. It doesn’t seem like she even learned anything at the end. Exactly what she wanted at the beginning (and arguably did not deserve) is what she got at the end. I was mostly listening to the audiobook. Had I tried to only read this one without audio I don’t think I would’ve ever made it all the way through. I also don’t know why the author chose that ending. I mean obviously it’s predictable, I doubt she was expecting anyone to be shocked/surprised, but it just seems like such a random thing to make a scene about. It’s in no way related to the themes of the story. I’m sure someone thinks otherwise though. If I give it a lot of thought I guess it can be profound, and maybe in some twisted way it’s a good ending for Reva but, I think that’s weird.One thing I liked is that it was set in 2000. I liked how the scenery was portrayed, pop culture references, events, etc. I guess that was cool. It was also written pretty well. It’s just the actual plot was eh for me.

I haven't read this author before, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story, although it paints the main character as an over-privileged sort of tomboy-princess, so if that aspect will totally get in your way, keep that in mind. But, I think that's a point of the author's as well, and it's written in a rounded way with a totally new take on a usual "she's depressed" type of theme. It's supposed to be coming out as a movie soon, on a cable channel, I believe (I can't remember which and just moved so the book is still packed in a box which I can't check on this second), and I'm excited to see how the movie compares with the book, although most movies can't hold water to the original novel. Very original story with a sort of seemingly-simplified ending but that actually leaves you with more abstract thinking to do than you might think, in my opinion. Definitely more of a literature feel than some usual "chick-lit" type of book, although the latter has its place as well. If you like the summary of the book, give it a try. It's a quick read with juicy, but also fascinating themes if you think outside the box.

I can see why people would dislike My Year Of Rest & Relaxation. The main character is hardly sympathetic--privileged, cynical and bored. It's a tough profile to love. But that shouldn't give readers license to misrepresent the book which is witty, comical and wonderfully plotted. It isn't a bit depressing--it's about a depressed person which is a vital distinction.And yes, the main character is unlikable through most of the book but as you read it you discover why. An alcoholic mother who spends the day in bed and crushes barbiturates into her kid's formula to keep her quiet and later kills herself is quite a bit to get over.Most important, the character grows. She develops. She comes out the other side of her dark moods and smug self-absorption to authentic and moving realizations about herself, life and its value. Along the way author Otessa Moshfegh has some searing and hilarious observations regarding our pill-popping culture, the lifestyles of the rich and wannabe famous and mountebanks of all kinds. She creates pitch-perfect portrayals of snooty New Yorkers, try-hards and pretenders. It's a dazzling portrait of the "I'm too cool" crowd that had me laughing out loud at times.My Year of Rest and Relaxation challenges the reader in many ways, not the least of which is to have sympathy for a seemingly not-so-sympathetic woman. I thought it was absolutely terrific.

A static character so terrible she reminds you of raging bull, our nameless protagonist brings us to the trenches with her.

Llego muy bien y el libro es excelente

This is by far the best read of my year 2022-2023! This is dark, funny and insightful. The way it is written is so spéciale et délicieux, vraiment j'adore!! I found myself laughing out loud multiple times!! So sarcastic and witty!Dear fellow readers I totally recommend. Please give it a try!! Love you.

Ho amato questo libro e la sua "stranezza". Se letto con la giusta attenzione si capisce quanto non sia superficiale, comprendendo a pieno cosa abbia portato la protagonista a creare questo suo progetto di "ibernazione" dal mondo esterno. Lei ha un atteggiamento evitante nei confronti di tutto ciò che la faccia sentire "viva", o che la riporti a quelle sofferenze del passato dalle quali non è mai guarita. Può sembrare forse superficiale perché il punto di vista è il suo, ovvero quello di una ragazza incapace di ammettere a se stessa la gravità delle sue azioni, ma se ci si allontana e si prova ad essere più neutrali, si capisce quanta sofferenza la pervada ogni giorno della sua vita.

One of the best books i have ever read. Devoured every word. Truly life changing.

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