Where to start with: Ottessa Moshfegh
The American novelist has created an oeuvre of medieval gross-fests, 60s psychological thrillers and hallucinatory evocations over five novels and one short story collection
The entry point
In Ottessa Moshfegh's short story collection Homesick for Another World, she introduces readers to her unique narrative universe. The collection features 14 stories, each delving into the lives of lonely outcasts and weirdos. Moshfegh's unflinching voice brings to light the oddity beneath conventional life, revealing beauty even in abject situations. It serves as a litmus test for readers, determining if they are compelled by her bleak visions or turned off by the grotesque details.
One notable story in the collection is "Nothing Ever Happens Here", which follows a young man who moves to LA to pursue an acting career. He immerses himself in a world of outcasts, drunks, and eccentric characters. This story encapsulates the kind of characters and situations Moshfegh is drawn to, setting the tone for the rest of her works.
The page-turner
Eileen, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016, serves as another entry point into Moshfegh's work. The novel follows the titular character Eileen, a secretary at a juvenile detention center in 1964. Eileen leads a bleak life, obsessing over her own self-loathing and fantasizing about escaping through love or running away. The arrival of glamorous director Rebecca offers her a chance at something different, and Eileen becomes infatuated with her.
Moshfegh crafted Eileen with elements of noir, creating a sticky story that keeps readers hooked. The novel explores themes of self-loathing and obsession, providing a glimpse into Moshfegh's ability to create complex and captivating characters.
The Marmite one
My Year of Rest and Relaxation is Moshfegh's third and most popular novel. Set in New York City, it follows a beautiful and privileged woman in her twenties who decides to hibernate for a year, relying on prescription pills to keep her asleep. This novel delves into themes of numbness and escapism, exploring what it takes to feel nothing and the consequences of such a decision.
While some readers may find the black humor and satirical elements of the novel bracing, others may struggle with the drug-induced stupor of the nameless narrator. My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a divisive novel that showcases Moshfegh's ability to create unconventional and thought-provoking narratives.
The whodunnit
Death in Her Hands presents readers with a mystery to solve. The novel follows Vesta Gul, a widow in her 70s, who comes across a note in the woods that suggests a murder has occurred. As Vesta sets out to uncover the truth, she navigates her own unhappy life and confronts her violent imagination.
In Death in Her Hands, Moshfegh plays with the idea of storytelling and the reliability of the narrator. Through Vesta's rambling thoughts, the novel explores themes of loneliness and the human impulse to create narratives. It offers a unique and engaging reading experience for fans of mystery novels.
