My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottesa Moshfegh
LLBC Rating: 7/10
Book Synopsis: An intimate window into the mind of depression, My Year of Rest and Relaxation is the first person narrative of a New York woman trying to fulfill her wish of sleeping for a year.
Our unnamed protagonist recants the story of her life that brought her to the numbed state she is in now. The depression spiral worsens when she meets Dr. Tuttle, a psychiatrist with some sketchy credentials. With a multitude of new prescriptions and a bank of VHS tapes, our protagonist struggles to accomplish the transformation she needs to survive.
This book perfectly meshed with the theme of Rebirth and Self Growth of February, however, some of the narration of the story felt unfinished. Of course, this was to project the mental state of the protagonist, but much of the book could have been scrapped as the scenes throughout the story became repetitive at the halfway point. Truthfully, you read the first 100 pages and the past 100 pages, you would have likely walked away with the same understanding of the story as someone who read every word. Regardless, the story is enjoyable and one for starting conversations.
OUTING:
In the spirit of self-growth, we threw a Galentine’s day party with chocolates and roses and a bottle (or two) of champagne. In front of the camera sat each of the members individually and together. With four personal hype women at your service, falling in love with these photos of yourself, and yourself in general, was a breeze. It was a total girls day and one we wouldn’t change for anything.
February’s writing assignment was, in any form, write about love. Love letters to another, love letters to yourself, a story about lovers, a story about love gone wrong. Whatever speaks to you, just write about love. The best part about a broad prompt such as this is the variety of pieces that are presented. We had poetry, letters, essays, and short stories, each capturing a piece of love that the writer has experienced, wants to feel, or might never want to feel again.
FINAL MEETING:
At the final meeting, we discussed the end of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, and, let me tell you, it certainly was a surprise that I cannot believe I did not see coming. You will just have to read to find out.
Overall, Otessa Moshfegh does an incredible job immersing the reader in a dark story of the mind and what lengths people might go to in order to achieve peace. We cannot wait to catch up with everyone in March when we celebrate Women's History Month!
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