Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

267 reviews

cwbillings's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I forced myself to read this in a day and I’m so glad I did. I truly love it. It’s exceptional. But this story is not one you can carry in your mind for long. It’s heavy. It’s demented. And the allegorical messages are superbly written. I’d recommend reading this if you’ve got a strong stomach.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Violence, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Murder, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Gore, Sexism, and Sexual content

cpratreads's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was fine. I struggle to explain exactly how I feel about it. I find Moshfegh's writing to be very easy to read, and I certainly read this book quickly. I did want to know where the story would go. But I didn't enjoy the story. 

I think part of that is that I had my own idea of what it was going to be, and boy was I wrong. But also, it just felt mean? 

I know it's "historical" fiction but it's also fantasy, and Lapvona isn't a real place, so you can really make the rules whatever you want. 

the way EVERYONE treated Marek was so mean and dehumanizing. If you're making up the rules of the land, you don't need every single person to comment on how "monstrous" and "disgusting" he is every chance you get. On top of that there was a very unneccesary rape scene that was very hard to get through.

 

Overall, I don't want to read it again, and I don't think I would even recommend it to anyone honestly. 

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Cannibalism, Gore, Ableism, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse

sarahbberrigan's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Hated this book but it’s weird and memorable and well written 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Cannibalism

klilla's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Child death

amelieedenn's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

reading this was kind of like witnessing a car crash - awful but I also couldn’t look away

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Excrement, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Blood, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Cannibalism

filesm's review

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow y’all really mad at Ottessa for this one… it’s not her fault medieval people were freaks! 
I imagined Jude as Rhett from GMM and now I’m kinda scared of Rhett :,(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Excrement, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Suicide

laideyofthelake's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Visceral and grotesque, this book is a poignant and largely grim reflection on power, belief, and the dark sides of love. I particularly loved the allegorical/satirical tone and magic realism elements within a medievalist setting. More contemporary fiction using medieval aesthetics please!! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

sofi_b's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Just when I thought something couldn’t get as insane as One Hundred Years of Solitude, Moshfegh surprises me with the most disgusting magical realism. 1000% unlikable and annoying characters but still super addictive 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Violence

tiaroseshang's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Animal death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Abortion, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Classism, Vomit, Blood, and Kidnapping

cheuksin's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Generally one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. I hated every single one the characters

(except lispeth, dibra Agata they were mostly innocent bc as far as I can remember)

. I was told it was weird but wow was I shocked at this true extent of how bizarre and uncomfortable it would be. One of the most in depth books when it comes to critiques of religion, patriarchy and capitalism and just overall so well thought out

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Animal death, Gore, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Animal cruelty, and Incest

Minor: Excrement and Miscarriage