My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Have you ever gone through such a hard time in life where the only relief seems like a good deep sleep? <i>My Year of Rest and Relaxation</i> is about just that as we follow its narrator through her pursuit of an escape from the everyday world, attempting to sleep for an entire year. Purposely heavily medicated and sedated, she attempts to shut out the world through slumber, her only main outings being quick trips to the local bodega and appointments with a wacky yet obliging psychiatrist.

Orphaned in her early adulthood, the unnamed protagonist is able to take this time off while she lives on the inheritance left to her by her wealthy parents. After several phone calls trying to find a medical professional to help her sleep, she stumbles upon Dr. Tuttle, an incompetent quack who - lucky for her - hands out drugs like candy. She falls for the narrator's lies as she claims increasing insomnia and doles out higher doses and stronger treatments over the course of their monthly visits. As the narrator pops mind-blowing amounts of sleeping pills and tranquilizers, she slowly shuts off the world around her...

There are very few people in her life: the aforementioned psychiatrist, a dud of a sometimes-boyfriend Trevor, a peculiar artist Ping Xi, and Reva, her oldest friend. Dr. Tuttle is her lifeline and drug supplier. Trevor is hardly worth a mention, as he is such an insignificant character, perhaps only there to signify how little the narrator has in terms of meaningful relationships. Ping Xi is an important part of the story - an odd character, yet a lifesaver of sorts. Reva is a bit of an anomaly - the ditzy friend who swans in and out, whose friendship feels like it's well past the expiration date, yet both girls appear to need something from the other that no one else seems able to provide.

After experimenting with numerous drug combinations with varying success, things really ramp up when the narrator is prescribed a superstrength sleeping pill called Infermiterol. Once she starts taking this particular drug, giant chunks of time are spent in blackouts. She wakes up to discover that she's made strange phone calls, has left her apartment, and has eaten and shopped for things, not remembering a single moment of doing so. She takes drastic action in an attempt to remain able to take the drug, yet keep herself safe.

Reading this book with such a sleepy prominent theme almost made me feel as though I was falling into a trancelike state. As someone who could very easily not leave the house and loves hibernating as much as possible, it was easy to get sucked into the cozy parts: the movie marathons, the comfortable apartment, the enveloping sofa...everything fades into the periphery and it's as though the book emanates a soft glow of comfort and sleepiness.

<i>My Year of Rest and Relaxation</i> provided something unique. It was a book unlike any other I've read, yet it had all of the elements that make up my favourite novels: humor, originality, self-reflection and a good dose of quirkiness. It might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.

But that's enough for now. I might only be imagining it, but I swear my couch is calling my name...