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venusinlove's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
in Lapvona there were so many elements of horror and disgust, so i would advise people not to start this book before checking out the trigger warnings because it is a lot to get through. i don't think i was that shocked to read the more gore-y parts of the story rather than the behavior of the many different characters. there was not a single one that stood out with any positive characteristic to me. however, that didn't make the book bad? usually it would throw me off since i very much so rely on the characters because they are usually the builders of the story, but in this one, i liked it a lot as it was. no complaints there.
i loved how the story was a mix of body horror but also delusion between its characters. it gave off a sense of dark comedy in a way. i'll also say that regarding the story i am willing to excuse (view spoiler) but only in this one instance.
all in all this book was a maze in which every corner made you feel either disturbed, shocked or a bit frightened. it was great!
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Animal death, Incest, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Abortion, Rape, Child abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Death, Physical abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Self harm, and Torture
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
It definitely feels like a pandemic novel, as we see the undeserving rich living in largely oblivious luxury while the poor starve, die, and are driven to insanity by the drought. Though the setting is medieval, a lot of modern human behaviour is laid out here: the rich playing with people's lives for amusement, resource shortage artificially created in order to ensure obedience, religion and faith used as tools to impose suffering on the masses, by people who do not even believe in a God, and how these come together to prop up the capitalist system.
The book is incredibly atmospheric and I read it in three sittings, the writing style pulled me in and the characters are so awful you can't look away.
There is a lot that goes without explanation particularly revolving around the village "witch" Ina. I enjoyed parts of this mystery, with some other aspects frustrating me with their vagueness. I also felt like the ending fizzled out a bit, whereas I was expecting a big crescendo.
This has been my first Moshfegh read and I'm really excited to delve into her other novels.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Animal death, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, and Body horror
bloomed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Gore, Sexual assault, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Incest
minaopal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Excrement, Sexual assault, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, and Self harm
jcapati's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Rape, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Cannibalism, Pedophilia, and Incest
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
gabi_06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Incest, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cannibalism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Child death
megano_oregano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Incest, Gore, Death, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Miscarriage, Child death, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Body horror, Blood, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, and Abandonment
sallak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Murder, Kidnapping, Incest, Body horror, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Rape, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Gore, Death of parent, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Adult/minor relationship
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t dislike it, the writing is beautiful, but I do wonder what the point of it all is.
I loved all the religious references, marek and Jacob, Jude (Judas), etc etc, but something fell flat for me. I think overall the story is good, but it’s missing something. I think Marek could have been focused on more, as well as Lapvona as a place.
That being said I love the cyclical nature of the storyline, and I liked how I was sympathetic for certain characters and then it would slap me in the face with something horrible they’ve done and I’d be like “wow fuck that”.
Ultimately, I believe this is a story of a boy so starved of love and for a mother that he will search for it anywhere. Whether in punishment or in false love, eventually trying to force people to love him.
Lispeth deserved the world.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Animal death, and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage, Incest, Toxic relationship, and Body horror
ileniis_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Incest, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, and Abandonment