One-line summary:

My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a darkly humorous novel that follows the story of a young woman’s quest for self-discovery and escape through a year-long hibernation induced by a cocktail of prescription drugs.

The Pursuit of Oblivion

In My Year of Rest and Relaxation, author Ottessa Moshfegh presents a satirical and darkly humorous exploration of a young woman’s desperate attempt to escape the realities of her life through a year-long hibernation induced by a cocktail of prescription drugs. The unnamed protagonist, a recent Columbia graduate living in New York City in the late 1990s, is disillusioned with her privileged upbringing, her job at an art gallery, and her superficial relationships. Faced with the loss of her parents and a deep sense of existential emptiness, she embarks on a radical experiment to numb herself from the world.

With the help of a manipulative psychiatrist, Dr. Tuttle, the protagonist begins a regimen of various medications that induce sleep and erase her memories. She spends most of her days in a drug-induced haze, sleeping for days on end and waking up only to take more pills and consume junk food. As she disconnects from the outside world, she becomes increasingly detached from her own emotions and experiences.

The Illusion of Escape

While the protagonist believes that her year of rest and relaxation will provide her with a fresh start and a chance to reinvent herself, it becomes apparent that her pursuit of oblivion is merely an illusion. Despite her efforts to erase her past and numb her emotions, the memories and traumas she seeks to escape continue to haunt her. The novel explores themes of isolation, alienation, and the futility of attempting to escape one’s own identity.

As the protagonist’s year of hibernation progresses, she encounters various characters who serve as reflections of her own disillusionment. Her best friend Reva, a self-absorbed and materialistic socialite, represents the superficiality and emptiness of the world she is trying to escape. The artist Ping Xi, whom she befriends during her rare moments of wakefulness, embodies the struggle for artistic expression and the search for meaning in a world consumed by consumerism.

A Journey of Self-Discovery

Throughout the novel, the protagonist’s year of rest and relaxation becomes a journey of self-discovery. As she confronts her past and her own flawed perceptions, she begins to question the validity of her chosen path. The novel delves into themes of identity, privilege, and the search for purpose in a world that often feels meaningless.

In the end, the protagonist emerges from her self-imposed hibernation with a newfound clarity and a desire to live a more authentic life. While her year of rest and relaxation may not have provided the escape she initially sought, it serves as a catalyst for her personal growth and transformation.

• The pursuit of escape and the illusion of oblivion
• The futility of attempting to erase one’s past and numb one’s emotions
• The journey of self-discovery and the search for meaning

“Sleep felt productive. Something was getting sorted out. I knew in my heart—this was, perhaps, the only thing my heart knew back then—that when I’d slept enough, I’d be okay. I’d be renewed, reborn. I would be a whole new person, every one of my cells regenerated enough times that the old cells were just distant, foggy memories.”

My Year of Rest and Relaxation offers a darkly humorous and thought-provoking exploration of the human desire for escape and the complexities of self-discovery. Through its satirical lens, the novel invites readers to question the validity of societal expectations and the pursuit of happiness in a world that often feels empty and devoid of meaning.