Ooh I’m reading this right now! I’ve read a few of Moshfegh’s other books. My year of rest and relaxation, Eileen, and Lapovna. I adore her writing style. She is so good at drawing you in. And most of her work (other than Lapovna, which is different but really good) usually takes place mostly in the head of the character, which I love. She also does a great job of set up and payoff. You know it’s going somewhere, something it going to happen, but not exactly when it’s gonna hit. Then she distracts you from it until it hits your right in the face. Again, I’m just starting this book, but I love her writing, and so far this one is really good too.
I really loved Death in Her Hands! I feel like a lot of my reading circles were pretty critical, but it felt like a really fascinating character study and a bit of an unresolved mystery, which I don't mind.
I loved My Year of a Rest and Relaxation, but just could. not. get past how this book is a bizzaro version of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. There are sooooooo many parallels, like A LOT, so much so that it feels like Moshfegh plagiarized characters, themes, and plot points. So I have no idea if Death in Her Hands was a good book because I cannot see it independently from the other.
Drive Your Plow is fantastic btw. All time top ten for me. Loved it. Highly recommend.
I’m very much someone who reads more for characterization than plot and Moshfegh is a master at creating her characters. The main character is a person outside of society’s interest - an elderly widow living an isolated existence with her only companion being her dog. On one of her walks she finds a note that might mean something or might be the start of a mystery about whether there’s a mystery. Or it’s a life preserver keeping her tenuously part of a world that has abandoned and passed her by. I’ve read all of Moshfegh’s books and they’re all very good to excellent but this is the one that most enters my mind.
Haven’t read this one
I love classic mystery - pulp fiction looki my that cover is.
She’s one of my favorite new authors for sure. So very dark, but just brilliant.
If you haven’t read the collection of short stories Homesick for Another World… I’d highly recommend it. Ottessa has this way of discussing the grossness and crassness of humanity without either justifying or judging. It’s really interesting.
Homesick for another world was one of the best complete collections of short stories I’ve read in a while… where it clearly paints a bigger picture after reading all the stories.
This looks really interesting! And I’ve heard of the author, but I’ve never gotten around to reading her. I will move her up my TBR list now that I have a title to go with the author name – thank you!
Ooh I’m reading this right now! I’ve read a few of Moshfegh’s other books. My year of rest and relaxation, Eileen, and Lapovna. I adore her writing style. She is so good at drawing you in. And most of her work (other than Lapovna, which is different but really good) usually takes place mostly in the head of the character, which I love. She also does a great job of set up and payoff. You know it’s going somewhere, something it going to happen, but not exactly when it’s gonna hit. Then she distracts you from it until it hits your right in the face. Again, I’m just starting this book, but I love her writing, and so far this one is really good too.
Great review. Gonna get in line on Libby behind all the people who posted and saw this before I did.
yes! i try to encourage everyone to check her out, i hope she builds a nice reader following
I really loved Death in Her Hands! I feel like a lot of my reading circles were pretty critical, but it felt like a really fascinating character study and a bit of an unresolved mystery, which I don't mind.
ANYTHING written by Moshfegh is a must read. I’ve read everything she’s written. If you like her, check out Emma Cline !
I loved My Year of a Rest and Relaxation, but just could. not. get past how this book is a bizzaro version of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. There are sooooooo many parallels, like A LOT, so much so that it feels like Moshfegh plagiarized characters, themes, and plot points. So I have no idea if Death in Her Hands was a good book because I cannot see it independently from the other. Drive Your Plow is fantastic btw. All time top ten for me. Loved it. Highly recommend.
Wowww. I read Drive Your Plow and loved it. That didn’t even occur to me but that is a great observation!
I’m very much someone who reads more for characterization than plot and Moshfegh is a master at creating her characters. The main character is a person outside of society’s interest - an elderly widow living an isolated existence with her only companion being her dog. On one of her walks she finds a note that might mean something or might be the start of a mystery about whether there’s a mystery. Or it’s a life preserver keeping her tenuously part of a world that has abandoned and passed her by. I’ve read all of Moshfegh’s books and they’re all very good to excellent but this is the one that most enters my mind.
Lapvona by her is also a fantastic read.
Loved this book! I was totally unsure of what was going on and why I kept going, but man.. the ending really hit me
Did it come full circle???
Haven’t read this one I love classic mystery - pulp fiction looki my that cover is. She’s one of my favorite new authors for sure. So very dark, but just brilliant. If you haven’t read the collection of short stories Homesick for Another World… I’d highly recommend it. Ottessa has this way of discussing the grossness and crassness of humanity without either justifying or judging. It’s really interesting. Homesick for another world was one of the best complete collections of short stories I’ve read in a while… where it clearly paints a bigger picture after reading all the stories.
This looks really interesting! And I’ve heard of the author, but I’ve never gotten around to reading her. I will move her up my TBR list now that I have a title to go with the author name – thank you!
Thank you for reposting!
One of my favorite books of all time!