Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

201 reviews

mahhias's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.0

What a book! Such a new perspective and storytelling. This is my first Ottessa book and  I loved Moshfegh’s techniques in story telling!  

 I will say however that I felt the book lacked some good-quality writing, there was stilted, almost blunt dialogue, and it made the experience a bit frail. The plot was a bit more mediocre than I expected and there was nothing remotely off-putting or grotesque as people were suggesting. Had my hopes very HIGH: so I was utterly disappointed by this. I think a lot of people say this since it’s probably their first book with this sort of sensitive topics and odd, wicked elements. 
So, people, don’t be so sensitive. You guys have not read books that are GROTESQUE and truly DISGUSTING yet. Do not be that dramatic. There is so many books out there that would perfectly fit the description that Lapvona is depicted as way better. 

I am fond of Lapvona in a way: but it’s not enough for me to really, really like it: there is gross imagery, most of it relating to bodily fluids and excrement, which I found super: disgusting (and this is the only disgusting thing I found in this book even though I was promised more)  and it’s darkly comedic prose, which I did liked this, sometimes, but it was done so many times that I found it super banal.

I feel this book could’ve been a bit better: but overall, this book was enjoyable and it had me very motivated to keep reading. Had me disappointed: of course, but It’s so bleak and satisfying at times. Good book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Cannibalism, Ableism, Pedophilia, Incest, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, Excrement, Drug use, Blood, Death, Abortion, Self harm, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Gaslighting and Suicidal thoughts

haileyeh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.75

Gross for the sake of being gross.

This book answers the question - what if Saltburn was less interesting and 10x more gross? 🙄

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Cannibalism, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Self harm

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Violence, Pedophilia, and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Excrement, Incest, Abortion, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

paigehf's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Murder, Ableism, Abortion, Incest, Self harm, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Gore

emilymyra's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Abortion, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

lilyethington's review

dark mysterious sad tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Abortion, Murder, and Pedophilia

crybaby_chloe's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

enticingly filthy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cannibalism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape and Abandonment

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Abortion, and Animal death

isabelamaro's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I found the book to be very dark and quite upsetting personally. There are numerous scenes depicting abuse, neglect, and even rape. While I acknowledge that it is well-written and an overall commendable work of dark fiction, one must appreciate the style to truly enjoy it. Unfortunately, it does not align with my personal taste, and it's not a book I would choose to read again. It doesn't evoke a positive feeling upon completion. On the flip side, there is intriguing character development for the main character, Marek.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Abortion, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Addiction, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Child abuse

sassafrasreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

So gross and strange but a really good read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Gore, Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Ableism, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Violence, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Excrement, Child death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Incest, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Self harm

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

avamariearm's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

Not my favorite, although the plot was creative. Unexpectedly super dark and confusing at times

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Abortion, and Cannibalism

rosie_tyl_er's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

all of these characters are bonkers cray cray and i didn't like any of them but it was still a really fast read, and i couldn't put the book down ! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Gore, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Death, Cannibalism, and Sexual content