Reviews

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

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sweetzoejane's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

2.0

anxiousreader's review against another edition

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2.5

60ish pages into the book I wrote the following note in my reading journal: The writing is beautiful, the characters are awful and I don't like them. I stand by that: The writing was quite nice in some places but I just never cared about anything that was going on.
I think that was pretty much the point but I just didn't get it.

sanjasanja's review against another edition

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Grotesque, gory, dark and bizarre... There are so many books I want to read. Don't want to waste time on something that makes no sense to me.

jematral's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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

3.5

This book was incredibly digestible for its dark themes. It was a quick read and I'm glad because I didn't like a single character and I don't know if I would have kept picking it up if it were a dense read. The book was a commentary on the collusion between elites and the church to control the population with religion, while being totally morally corrupt. Tale as old as time. But it was told in an interesting narrative style I have come to enjoy. Lots short p.o.v.'s of many town members. It was interesting to see how the diferent POVs effected each other and how the system of control reinforced itself amongst the town. I was disappointed with the ending and that brought my rating down.

morgalieden's review against another edition

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4.0

Like a Monty python fever dream… entertaining but gruesome . Ottessa are you okay girl?

nnw's review against another edition

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dark slow-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? Yes

cannot even begin to think about giving this a star rating. genuinely one of the most upsetting novels i’ve ever read. is it deeply moving and well crafted? absolutely. would i ever want to read it again or even recommend it to someone? god no.

the evil that’s depicted in this book is so REAL. there’s love in there as well, but none within the main characters, which just makes the whole thing that much more bleak/devastating.

def not my favorite of hers.