Reviews with content warning for Ableism - Lapvona

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

abbie_'s review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

3.25

Lapvona was one of those books I tore through (‘enjoyed’ in a sense despite its bleakness - though it was pretty funny sometimes), but then a few days after finishing I was hard pressed to remember the details. It felt like a more expansive story, and my copy had a fascinating interview with Moshfegh at the end where she talks about how her previous novels are more intensely focused in one person’s head. With Lapvona, she was excited to try out something new, a bird’s eye perspective capturing lots of different characters. It definitely didn’t feel any less engaging/well written than her other books, but personally I prefer a book to delve into the deepest corners of one or two characters’ heads - that’s why Death in Her Hands and My Year of Rest and Relaxation remain my fave Moshfeghs!

I remember reading @lunchpoems’ review of this when it came out and as usual Jess hit the nail on the head. It’s possibly a reflection on how many messed up books I’ve read in my life, but the gross aspects of the book weren’t nearly as drastic as I’d been expecting based on other reviews from around the internet. Moshfegh definitely likes to push boundaries, but I don’t think the 👀 aspect came out of nowhere - this is a book about what happens when people are driven to extremes both by natural causes and rich people taking the absolute piss. Mind I could have done with slightly less vomit.

Even if I hadn’t read the interview after, it’s clear to see that Moshfegh had a lot of fun writing this messed up little book, but in the end it was a middle-of-the-road read for me!

Content Warnings

murderjail's review against another edition

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dark sad 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

1.0

Content Warnings

hannacolm's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

megano_oregano's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

geraldinerowe's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I'm not entirely sure what this book was about, but I enjoyed it. Yes, the book is gory and unpleasant at times, but not unnecessarily so as It's set in unpleasant times (although not quite in our universe as there are magical elements). The masses being kept in poverty by an idiot man-child ruler advised by a self-serving hypocrite could be a story for our time, as it could for pretty much any other time. Power corrupts. The consequences of blind faith. Any of these things could be the message of Lapvona. Whatever the case, I'll miss this grumpy bunch of characters.

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