so-soMy interest waned throughout the story. I did enjoy the glimpses of McGlue's past and his relationships. But there was this disconnect in vocabulary or word choices that dampened my enjoyment.
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McGlue | 
so-soMy interest waned throughout the story. I did enjoy the glimpses of McGlue's past and his relationships. But there was this disconnect in vocabulary or word choices that dampened my enjoyment.
The ship is leaving. I puke and hold on to the side of the stern and belch bile for a bit watching the water rush past, until land is out of sight. It‘s peaceful for a small while after. Then something inside me feels like dying. I turn my head and cough. Two teeth skip from my mouth and scatter across the deck like dice.
pick3 Stars • McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh is a novella set in the mid-19th century that follows the story of McGlue, a sailor who is dealing with a murder accusation. The narrative is told from McGlue's perspective, starting in a drunken haze, as he tries to piece together the events leading up to his current predicament. Throughout the story, McGlue grapples with his relationship with his friend Johnson, whom he may have killed.
bailedCouldn't get into it. I love pirates and the synopsis sounds amazing but it fell flat for me.
Next up. Have heard mixed things, but I'm overall really excited to try this author.
pickA complicated little fever dream that follows McGlue as he‘s arrested for the murder of his best friend in 1851. McGlue is a drunk and can‘t remember the night everyone is so concerned with. A fever dream of a novella, the second half gripped me strongly and wouldn‘t let go. I saw the ending coming, but that makes it no less captivating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickMoshfegh‘s characters are “unlikeable”, complicated, and unnerving. McGlue was no different, and I enjoyed the heck out of this novella. Both cringeworthy and sympathy-inducing. Another win for me with this author. Can‘t wait to continue exporting her work.
DAY 6 #7days7covers #covercrush
pickI'm not always sure if Moshfegh's books are great or if they just strike a satisfying chord in me. Either way, I enjoy following the paths twisting through her characters' minds. And McGlue's mind is especially twisted, so much so that even he tries to escape it.
"Why not just the breeze and the ocean? Why me?"
Not exactly a quotable book, it‘s like a punch on the gut and a kick to the head, but weirdly you find yourself enjoying the taste of blood in your mouth.
No matter how good the books I'm already reading are, the book I just picked up from the library is always the most tempting.
pickWho knew a sea faring tale set in the 1800‘s involving a love for ale, whores, brain matter, blood, death and forbidden desire could be so consuming??!?! Really enjoyed this sordid novella. While I read it over 4 days as a mini buddy read, I think this short read would work best if read in one or 2 sittings. I‘m just wondering if repugnant characters are all OM can write??? Lots of similarities between McGlue, Eileen & the narrator of My Year.
Not wanting to lose my McGlue momentum,I‘ve read day two‘s chapters. McGlue is in the throes of alcohol withdrawal and he‘s describing what his mind feels like.... “My hot snake brains they feel like, slithering and stewing around, steam seeping through the crack in my head.” McGlue is an interesting character and it‘s obvious he‘s repressing some homosexual feelings. I‘m quite liking this story.
I‘ve just started McGlue for a buddy read with @Cinfhen and @shawnmooney and I randomly picked up I‘ll Be Gone in the Dark yesterday and immediately read half of it.
I‘m going to need something sweet and jolly as a palate cleanser after these two. 😳😳
I‘ve read my first 5 chapters for the #McGlueBuddyRead and I‘m dazzled by Moshfegh‘s evocative writing. Curious to hear @shawnmooney and @LeahBergen initial impressions 😀
pickI wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first, but I ended up liking it. #readingwomenchallenge This was for my novella task
bailedI tried to get into this novella, but it‘s not gonna happen. This is the first book Moshfegh published and the reprinting feels like an attempt to cash in on her recent success. The story reminded me of something an MFA student would write to shock her fellow workshop members. Moshfegh writes a great gross character. McGlue is pretty f-ing gross. But he‘s not that interesting. Read some Melville if you want a real masterful gross tale.
so-soThis one is a little hard to rate. I didn‘t like it, but I didn‘t hate it. It was gritty and raunchy and gory, but I had to keep reading. McGlue is such an unreliable narrator that his ramblings and his ramblings on top of ramblings were convoluted and strange. My first by Moshfegh; I‘d read another by her.
Today has been declared a self care Sunday for me! There are so many projects going on at work that it‘s making downtime seem like a luxury, and my constant working has meant less reading time! In between naps and fighting off a headache, I‘m enjoying some reading time with #Zeke and #SebastianKitty . Zeke refuses to leave my side - he‘s missed me! #catsoflitsy
Also, this book is W-E-I-R-D.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Messed up characters, swashbuckling times at sea, a totally unreliable narrator, parts that I can't decide were real or were imagined---a strange little book for sure, and I dig it 👍🏼
Two of my favorite things: Milo and Ottessa Moshfegh
panWhat did I just read? I literally have no idea what happened here. What was real, what was imagined? This book got a lot of Litten love. But maybe I‘m not smart enough to figure it out.
This is my Novella for #ReadingWomenChallenge
WOW!!! That was lightening speed quick ⚡️⚡️⚡️My #bookmail from BookDepository arrived today @LeahBergen @shawnmooney 💕🙌🏻Let me know when u want to do that #ThreeWay 😉😂 And how awesome is the new book mark??
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ McGlue‘s a drunk. It‘s 1851, & with a grog-laden body & muddled head, he‘s detained for murder. He is so consumed with desire for more drink that he‘s convinced he did nothing wrong. What follows is a fever dream-like sequence of drying up & remembering.
Moshfegh‘s ability to create vulnerable characters feels like a reflection of herself, & ultimately, of the reader. Her prose is consistently sharp, gorgeous, & grotesque. 🖤
The order has been placed @shawnmooney Now the wait begins.... I didn‘t realize this is a novella! I‘m kind of excited by that 😉 Looking forward to our mini buddy read ❣️❣️❣️❣️
Okay...this is completely #BlameItOnLitsy . I finally broke down and placed on hold Year of Rest and Relaxation. I also ordered this one for the library system‘s collection, and it was processed for me today (perk for being the person to purchase the books, I guess). I‘ve seen so much about this author...might as well give her a try!
“hot snake brains” = description of a man going through alcohol withdrawal
Ottessa Moshfegh, and her completely odd, yet brilliant way of describing the darker side of life. It‘s kind of her thing.
Perfect weekend reading sounds chilling creepy biked as an epic at sea classic a chilling who done it .Could he in a drunken stupor have killed a man ,the man his best friend .Type of opening that draws me right in thanks @PenguinPublishing
pickWOW! This is what I call literature!
Set in Mid 19th. Century, this is a first person account of the dark, troubled life and mind of brutal ambivalent alcoholic named McGlue.
Moshfegh has way of introducing us to characters that are somehow helplessly "flawed", with self loathing become so real.so vital.you feel a compassion for them, an understanding of their tragic lives.
Amazing novel.
Amazing author.
Amazing woman.
I love Otessa Moshfegh!!
Starting this today.....Ottessa Moshfegh has quickly become one of my favorites. Eileen and Year of Rest and Relaxation were awesome reads.....so I have high hopes....
I went to the library to get McGlue and Kindred.....somehow I left with a stack....lol
Energy flagging. Time to break out the birthday cake!!! #readathon
Starting another one for the #readathon. Velvet Elvis is still keeping me company. Just found out she‘s officially been adopted, so this is our last night together. 😿
#catsoflitsy
pickMoshfegh is one of my favorite living writers. She wades into the muck and the mire of being human while also maintaining beautiful language and a slightly dreamy quality to her prose.
