My Year of Rest and Relaxation

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, 289 pages.

Moshfegh, author of the novel, Eileen, and the short story collection Homesick for Another World, among others, is comfortable (or at least very good at) writing about dark situations that seem as though they should be impossible. Moshfegh makes it all seem matter-of-fact though. The unnamed narrator of this novel has decided to take a year off. Her parents, with whom she had distant and difficult relationships, have both died, she has broken up with Trevor, the boyfriend she does not really like (and who doesn't care for her), and she has lost her job. She has enough money, but nothing really appeals to her except sleep. So, with the help of a criminally negligent therapist, our narrator, decides to medicate herself into a year-long sleep. Her only friend Reva makes vague attempts at intervention, but is easily distracted by her own wants and needs. Moshfegh makes this bizarre narrative a compelling and eerily interesting book. While there is no one to root for, the story pulls you along. I listened to about half of the book and read the rest. Julia Whelan does a great job narrating the audio.