McGlue
Ratings9
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings9
Average rating3.4
Salem, Massachusetts, 1851: McGlue è tenuto sotto chiave nella stiva di una nave, ancora troppo ubriaco per essere sicuro del proprio nome, della situazione e del proprio orientamento: potrebbe aver ucciso il suo migliore amico. La memoria intollerabile di ciò che è accaduto si accompagna ai suoi sprazzi di sobrietà. Ottessa Moshfegh veleggia spavalda nella grande tradizione letteraria americana e ci regala un furfante perfido e senza cuore in un viaggio affilato come un coltello attraverso le nebbie dei ricordi. Lo straordinario esordio di Ottessa Moshfegh. “Si legge come lo zampillo sfrontato che fuoriesce da una gola tagliata: immediato, viscerale, audace, spietato, violento e grottescamente bello...” Los Angeles Review of Books
Reviews with the most likes.
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.
So much cursing and use of a particular “f word,” to the point you could make a drinking game out of it. Moshfegh's worst so far, and one I don't recommend unfortunately.
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...
