article by freelancer madeline mascott
One of the best things to come out of quarantine is BookTok, which is a trend on TikTok where users share book recommendations. I was one of many that fell deep into the book rabbit hole. When the coquette aesthetic started trending, many people were recommending My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh in my feed. After reading the novel, here are some things I wish I knew before reading this book:
My Year of Rest and Relaxation follows an unnamed skinny white woman who continuously reminds the reader of her pretty privilege. She has no ambitions and dislikes everybody including her “best friend” Reva who the narrator constantly judges. The narrator has absolutely no desire to do anything except sleep so she takes a multitude of drugs and makes it her goal to spend a year sleeping with the intention of becoming an improved version of herself. The majority of the book is spent following the narrator’s cycle of take drugs, sleep, wake up, repeat. Throughout the book the protagonist shares some part of her past which helps the reader mold her into a more complex character that, despite being undeniably toxic, many people can relate to.
I admire the fact that Otessa Moshfegh took it upon herself to make the most unlikeable character possible and still have people obsessed with her book. Now every time somebody tries to make a cute video about this book on TikTok, it seems like Moshfegh is laughing at us. I respect her for fighting back against the notion that females should be likable and act in the way society expects. Such a complex character made the book interesting to read especially since there are few main characters in contemporary literature who are as controversial as the narrator.
Moshfegh provides the reader with all of her main character’s thoughts and opinions about the world around her and sometimes these thoughts are hard to read. I am sure many people can empathize with poor Reva, the narrator’s best friend, who puts all of the effort into their friendship. Almost every exchange between the two characters felt uncomfortable. One conversation that stuck with me was how Reva thought it was nice that the main character hung a polaroid of the pair on her bedroom mirror, but according to the main character, “The photo was really meant as a reminder of how little I enjoyed her company.”
If you are searching for a story for an unlikeable main character that represents society’s toxic beauty standards, look no further. Moshfegh created a fascinating main character that was unlike anything I had read before, but, in my mind, the protagonist’s unique personality did not make up for the incredibly slow plot. I believe there are better options if you are looking for an interesting book with a confident woman protagonist who does not romanticize toxic behavior. I included some of my favorite recommendations below. Happy reading!
- The Bell Jar by Silvia Plath— This novel follows main character Estar in New York City. She lands an internship at a magazine, but struggles with her mental health and identity throughout the course of the book. Similar to My Year of Rest and Relaxation, The Bell Jar highlights societal norms that are unfavorable to women, but Estar does not brag about how they benefit her in the way that the protagonist of Moshfegh’s novel does.
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt— All of Tartt’s characters are morally gray and slightly problematic, but they are much easier to connect with. The Secret History follows Richard Pappen as he adjusts to life at college in New England and to the other four people in his Greek class. The group has an entertaining relationship dynamic that is shown through many outings that I wish I could experience.
- Circe, by Madeleine Miller— Circe is the second book from Madeleine Miller after Song of Achilles, which was popular on BookTok for months. The story follows Circe, a powerful witch, during the Greek gods’ reign on the human world. Miller gives the reader a strong female protagonist that does not alter her personality to fit the patriarchal world she lives in. After using her magic to create a monster out of her rival, Circe must deal with the consequences by being banished away to an island by herself where she grows her magic skills.
- Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid— This book is written as an interview with each individual member of a fictional band from the 70s. Each character gives their take on their band’s rise to fame as well as insight on the relationships that form. Daisy Jones knows her worth and refuses to change herself for any man, which is always inspiring.