English language
Published Dec. 25, 2018 by Penguin Random House.
It's early 2000 on New York City's Upper East Side, and the alienation of Moshfegh's unnamed young protagonist from others is nearly complete when she initiates her yearlong siesta, during which time she experiences limited personal interactions. Her parents have died; her relationships with her bulimic best friend Reva, an ex-boyfriend, and her drug-pushing psychiatrist are unwholesome. As her pill-popping intensifies, so does her isolation and determination to leave behind the world's travails. She is also beset by dangerous blackouts induced by a powerful medication.
It's a book about nothing but sort of a fun mesmerizing read anyway. It feels like discount millenial Willa Cather.
The book is also full of wierd anachronisms. all the characters have cellphones in the 2000, there are drugs mentioned which wouldn't be released for several years. It really feels like she shohorned in the 9/11 thing at the last minute
That said I did enjoy the read.
Moshfegh is a reliably good writer, this was the only one of her books I've read that I wasnt extremely upset by, ha. Excellent bedtime read because its mostly about sleeping and it made me very sleepy.
