McGlue

I normally eat up whatever Moshfegh writes. In a way, this is also the case: I wasn't enjoying the experience but I just kept on reading.
This is Moshfegh's literary debut. Her voice is still a little blunt and her unreliable narrator reliably predictable. The writing craft is already strong - there is one page in 118 almost entirely consistent of a list of goods traded aboard 19th century merchant ships that is a joy to read through.
Sadly, the credibility is occasionally marred by lack of historical research or fact-checking: reading that a 1851 drunken sailor had been prescribed ‘vitamins' in the form of ‘pills' by a medical doctor was simply off-putting to me.

2:

I have a bad cold and I'm certain this book gave me it. It's so gritty, I feel all grimy and sticky even though I just took a shower. I thought, “nothing can possibly be worse than that one part in Eileen, where she explains in detail how she poops.” I was WRONG.

The book was... interesting. I felt for both McGlue and Johnson at times, but I just can't get over the whole swishy potty bucket affair, and that thing with the head... nasty.

But it was entertaining. I saw what was coming from the very beginning, but I wasn't able to tell how it'd happen. It was fine. I'm not sure how I feel about the bazillion times the ‘f' slur was used, but in the end I can sorta see why that was.

I'm giving it 2.7 because it was so gross and I will never read it again. But hey, gay pirates.

Edit: you know what, I changed my mind about the last part. I'm leaving it at 2.7, but not even gay pirates can make up for this whole mess. Smdh Ottessa what goes on up there???

Edit 2: actually, yeah, I'm docking that 0.7. I just can't convince myself that I liked the story, plus I found out that the “f” slur wasn't even actually used as a slur at the time this book is set in! The fuck??

I'm starting to think that maybe Ottessa is just... not for me? Gosh, hope not. I have a copy of My Year of Rest and Relaxation that I haven't gotten around to reading yet...

If you like the dark and grotesque, this book is for you. I picked this up at an airport while waiting for a flight, wanting to expand my reading choices. Turns out it is not the sort of story I like, or the sort of character I like to read about. I found the opening confusing and the narrative difficult, but on the whole, Moshfegh is a skilled writer and the book, for what it is, is well done.