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A review by immabehazzie
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
4.0
‘My Year of Rest and Relaxation’ is an odd and darkly humorous novel that follows an unnamed protagonist as she decides to take a year off from her life by sleeping. As the protagonist embarks on her strange journey of self-discovery through sleep she grapples with her feelings of alienation, depression, and a sense of meaning in a life that feels as though it has become increasingly disconnected.
I can’t tell you what about this book had me hooked by page three and despite its odd premise, I found that it was one of the most relatable books I’ve read in a while. It captures the feeling of alienation and the need for a sense of meaning in life that so many people feel in their twenties. There’s a quote in this novel that goes something like this, “I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to sleep.” and I have never felt more seen. If I could sleep for an entire year to not have to deal with the realities of life, I would.
This book should feel monotonous but it somehow doesn’t. It pulls you in from the very beginning and with the main character being somewhat unlikable it just makes the story work even better. ‘My Year of Rest and Relaxation’ also takes an honest and kind view of the feeling of displacement in your twenties.
Honestly, I did have high expectations for this book as it was recommended by one of my favorite book reviewers and it met all of my expectations.
I can’t tell you what about this book had me hooked by page three and despite its odd premise, I found that it was one of the most relatable books I’ve read in a while. It captures the feeling of alienation and the need for a sense of meaning in life that so many people feel in their twenties. There’s a quote in this novel that goes something like this, “I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to sleep.” and I have never felt more seen. If I could sleep for an entire year to not have to deal with the realities of life, I would.
This book should feel monotonous but it somehow doesn’t. It pulls you in from the very beginning and with the main character being somewhat unlikable it just makes the story work even better. ‘My Year of Rest and Relaxation’ also takes an honest and kind view of the feeling of displacement in your twenties.
Honestly, I did have high expectations for this book as it was recommended by one of my favorite book reviewers and it met all of my expectations.