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My Year of Rest and Relaxation
304 pages, 2019
This is a novel about a young woman who develops a morbid fear of the future and decides to take an extended vacation from her life. By burying herself in her apartment and using one of the worst psychiatrists in the annals of literature and the battery of medications she prescribes, she manages to hide from the world for nearly a year.
She counts on Reva to keep her in touch with the outside world, but Reva's own personal problems make it difficult for her to maintain daily contact with our narrator. Eventually, even Reva gives up on our narrator and tries to leave her behind.
In My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh explores the idea of self-isolation. The protagonist chooses to withdraw from society and spend a year in hibernation. This gives us a chance to look into the effects of extreme solitude on mental health.
The book gives us a chance to see the role of medication in mental health. The protagonist uses prescription drugs to sleep for extended periods. This raises questions about the use and misuse of medication in managing mental health conditions.
The protagonist's relationships with her best friend and her psychiatrist are central to the story. These relationships, both toxic and supportive, shape her journey. This makes us think about the impact of our own relationships on our well-being.
The protagonist's year of rest and relaxation is also a search for meaning and purpose. She hopes to emerge from her hibernation transformed and renewed. This encourages us to dig into our own search for meaning in life.
Set in New York in the year 2000, the book is steeped in art and culture. The protagonist works in an art gallery and is surrounded by the city's vibrant cultural scene. This invites us to explore the power of art and culture in shaping our lives.
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Moshfegh's novel is a bold, brilliant and hilarious take on modern life's absurdities and the human condition.
Lucy Scholes - Literary CriticMoshfegh's book is a darkly comic and deeply intelligent look at the despair of a young woman in New York.
Dwight Garner - Book CriticMoshfegh's novel is a compelling exploration of the human psyche, filled with wit and insight.
Roxane Gay - Writer, Professor