Books like My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Set in 2000 on New York City’s Upper East Side, the novel follows an unnamed young woman who, overwhelmed by the loss of her parents and strained relationships, decides to isolate herself for an entire year. During this time she maintains minimal contact with friends, an ex‑boyfriend, a bulimic confidante, and a psychiatrist who prescribes increasingly risky medication.
Her experiment of extended sleep and isolation escalates into a deeper withdrawal from the world. As she consumes more pills, her detachment deepens, culminating in dangerous blackouts induced by the powerful drug regimen. The story portrays her descent into solitude, the breakdown of her social ties, and the toxic dynamics of her interactions with medical quackery.
First publish date: 2018
Genre: Psychological Fiction/Psychological Drama
Authors: Ottessa Moshfegh
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