Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

90 reviews

lotus440's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Self harm

reggiewoods's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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

2.75

Life is nasty, short, brutish and cruel, especially in Lapvona. Really nasty. Flat out disgusting. Gross. The question is, why? Moshfegh is going to great lengths to turn our stomachs, but what is it she’s trying to get us to see? Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe some morality tale about income inequality or nepotism? I think I have to agree with the critics and say she just wants to gross us out. It’s a one-note story, misery, and that note is played on a group of characters that have very little to like about themselves or one another. The plot is interesting, but the characters lack of interest in one another really mutes what should be very striking moments. It is much better written than what you would expect from fetishist fiction, but beyond that shock value I’m not sure what else it offers to entice readers. I only recommend if you delight in the repulsive. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Misogyny, Grief, Gore, Death, Blood, Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Classism, Child death, Cannibalism, Animal death, Rape, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Abortion, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Ableism

hristiyanak's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Excrement, Gore, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Miscarriage

lunariroh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Rape, Cannibalism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Ableism, Incest, Vomit, Abortion, Violence, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

ms_sarah621's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Grief, Miscarriage, Abortion, Religious bigotry, and Torture

flowingleaves's review against another edition

A boring, horrifying for the sake of it, slog of a story. The writing's interesting enough, but the story feels pointless.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Ableism, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual assault

literarylion's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Pros:

• Every book that Moshfegh writes is completely different -- in tone, plot, pacing, character type, voice. You can hardly tell they are written by the same author. It's pretty incredible. 
• Moshfegh is a master of grotesque description that is both arresting and revolting. 
• Well-paced and solid throughout.

Cons:

• From a disability perspective, there are some problematic elements, but it's hard to tell if that's a product of the setting or Moshfegh herself.
• There were some medieval cliches, but not to a distracting level. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage and Pedophilia

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Rape, Abortion, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

kellyung's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Abortion, Animal death, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Physical abuse, Violence, Ableism, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Rape, Child abuse, Grief, Incest, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Pedophilia

stefanyizreadin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Vomit, Body horror, Classism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Cannibalism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Animal cruelty, Blood, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship