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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

By: Ottessa Moshfegh
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, read by Julia Whelan.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2019

FROM THE MAN BOOKER-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF EILEEN

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

It’s the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility; what could be so terribly wrong?

Our narrator has many of the advantages of life: Young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, she lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for, like everything else, by her inheritance. But there is a vacuum at the heart of things, and it isn’t just the loss of her parents in college, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her alleged best friend.

Blackly funny, both merciless and compassionate – dangling its legs over the ledge of 9/11 – My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a showcase for the gifts of one of America’s major young writers.

©2019 Ottessa Moshfegh (P)2019 Penguin Audio Dark Humour Fiction Genre Fiction Indigenous Creators Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Mental Health Awareness Satire Comedy

Critic Reviews

"Savage, funny, frequently on the verge of teetering into lunacy...My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a non-negotiable in your holiday carry-on this summer." (Vogue)
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I loved it. After reading other reviews before I purchased, I expected to hate the protagonist but I actually felt very sorry for her. It was a sad story but very intriguing. Loved the ending. I finished it in a day. I will read more by this author definitely.

Brilliant

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The fact that I finished this so quickly despite the main character being one of the worst humans to invest in, is a testament to how well written and also performed this story was.

The character was well developed and even though I despised her actions at times I did feel sorry for her. Also, the book has some comedic moments and that really made it enjoyable. I wish the ending had been more fleshed out as I was interested to see how this character would exist in a different world. Overall though I liked this one and would recommend.

A compelling story of boredom

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amazing book about existential struggle. the ending is fantastic. echoes of Bret Easton Ellis.

rare, great writer

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I didn't have high expectations because of some of the reviews, however I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was hooked on every word. The narration was just perfect. Yes I can understand how some people find the concept self indulgent but looking beyond that there is depth to what the character is doing. it also explores the disturbing depths of complacency, despair and chronic depression/apathy. Who hasn't ever thought what I would do for a year off in total peace and bliss??? Well this character did it albeit in a very non conventional way. Pretty funny some of the crazy sht she gets up to. I loved the raw honesty and some of the underlying themes which I'm still working out...

Very engaging , overall I really enjoyed it!

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This was an enjoyable book, i really felt like i was living in the apartment with her. The description of the settling was great ans i loved the voice performance!

amusing and wry humour

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brilliant performance of an extraordinarily compelling novel. loved the meticulous detail and unblinking edginess. bang on depiction of millennial culture.

could not stop listening

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I really pushed through this book, to the extent that I now need my own year of rest and relaxation to recover from it. The main character, to put it mildly, is a bitch. She is awful. I found myself rooting for literally anyone else. Look the story was…..alright. All I can say is just turn off your brain before reading/listening and you’ll enjoy the trip

Felt like a drug haze…

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Could not stop listening to this story. I could relate to the want of a year of “rest and relaxation” and appreciated the very strong and effective writing style. Maybe not for everyone but I found it an unforgettable window into a strange and unique psyche.

Loved this kooky and fascinating story

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In my deepest depression I wished I could’ve slept for a year. The narration is amazing. I immediately bought a hard copy after listening. Not for everyone but definitely for me <3

Bad that I relate?

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It’s hard to enjoy listening to a character so wilfully self absorbed and with very little development. Maybe I’ve just grown out of the “sad rich white girl with a pill addiction” trope that’s been done a million times before. It’s tiresome and you end up just wanting to shake the character out of their own indulgent funk

This book just feels like you’re listening to someone complain constantly..

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