Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

67 reviews

a_copp's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

I don’t mind a book that doesn’t have a huge build up but was lacking in something still. Otherwise, loved reading a tale in this setting. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence

ariesrae's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

if you liked the movie “The VVitch” you’ll enjoy this book. it’s dark and very freudian but if you’re looking for something unique and ooky, it’s solid. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Rape, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, and Death

radiant_radish's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Child death, Classism, Death, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Rape, and Pedophilia

emacmillan's review against another edition

Too graphic 🤢

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Torture, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Body horror, Self harm, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Classism, Vomit, Child death, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Incest, Gore, Grief, Excrement, and Emotional abuse

draculaspoolboy'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

And for what

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Ableism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Slavery, Classism, Excrement, Child death, Pedophilia, and Torture

Minor: Incest

venusinlove's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

that sure was a wild reading experience. i don't think i liked the story all that much hence I'm not really a medieval kind of girlie but the writing itself was immaculate! her way with words is so fascinating and it very much reminded me of Madeline Miller's writing style.

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!

---

Content Warnings

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

ollieplimsolls's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.5

this shit was crazy i wish ottessa moshfegh would write a book about a story sometime though

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Gore

Moderate: Vomit

margozaldivar's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Ottessa Moshfegh continuously surprises her readers with the way she can be subversive, writing about the most unorthodox themes– whether it be about the self-destructive ways a woman practices to get through life in the early 2000s, or the intricacies of human behavior explored through a medieval fiefdom. In many ways, she constantly challenges literary norms with “novels that live in an amoral universe, past the political agenda described on social media” (Bookforum, June 2021).

Grotesque and raw, with an accurate portrayal of religious hypocrisy, Lapvona is a musing on the human condition. There is no plot. The novel is character-driven, which— at this point— is what is so special about Moshfegh’s books. You get to delve into the mind of the persona without a harness. As for the setting, the imagery of what happens in the fiefdom stays with the reader. There is no middle ground. Some scenes are funny, demoralizing, and unsettling all at once. In spite of the age-old themes, the novel is a new take on bigotry and how it brings out the ugliest parts in humans, especially when they are starved of love. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Torture, Suicide, Death of parent, Incest, Religious bigotry, and Rape

Moderate: Body shaming

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Rape, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Abortion, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Gore

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Alcohol, Classism, Blood, Death of parent, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Slavery, and Pedophilia

Minor: Vomit

missymaus's review against another edition

dark slow-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

2.25

One of the most grotesque books I've ever read. Interesting but definitely not for the faint of heart/stomach.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Bullying, Classism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Gore, Colonisation, Death, Child death, Abortion, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Religious bigotry, Blood, Body horror, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Incest, Excrement, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit