Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

25 reviews

rhinaissance's review against another edition

dark funny sad 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

5.0

This book had me in a chokehold the whole time. It is bizarre, perverse, and a bit uncertain of its own ideas at times, but really really fascinating. And enjoyable (if you're weird, like me). I barely put it down the entire time, because I could not at all predict what would happen next. It was chock-full of "....what?" moments without being too overstated and obscene like Tender is the Flesh. I will admit, the moment I finished the book I was mad, but then as 24 hours have passed I find myself laughing at the absurdity. So it has won me back. 

On the surface, it appears as if there is no point, but I urge you to not stop there when thinking about it. There doesn't need to be a neon sign for something to be worth reading/analyzing. 

This book is not everyone's style but Moshfeg has really won me over.  I liked this novel a lot more than My year of Rest and Relaxation. But now I am *almost* tempted to go back. 
 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child death, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Bullying

deandra_lalonde's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

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

lovelylilelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Murder, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Infertility, Incest, Grief, Gaslighting, Blood, Body shaming, Death of parent, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Gore, and Emotional abuse

bugcollector's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

1.0

gross just for the sake of it doesn't make the book good. 
quite shitty, literally, and very edipus-esqe 
left me feeling 'ugh' and being glad that it's over. 
now it's time to forget, which will be easy for me. 
although I probably should have stopped early on giving that it wasn't giving. 
can be similar to Murakami, if you took the fun and life out, and left the way he writes woman characters and off-putting scenes. 

to conclude, 

It's so bad I want to give you a zero. But that's not possible. so I give you- a one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Incest, Sexual violence, Violence, and Infertility