Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

5 reviews

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.

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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

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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

2.0

I don’t really know what to say about this one. It’s a bleak story set in medieval Europe about terrible people doing terrible things and that’s about it. It’s well written and I didn’t hate it but I didn’t necessarily enjoy myself either. What a weird book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Murder

porporina's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexism, Vomit, Bullying, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Animal death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Ableism, Abortion, Cannibalism, Child death, Excrement, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, and Violence

ohheyoberon's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-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

3.0

The audiobook can be difficult to follow because the point of view constantly changes between every character with no breaks or pauses.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Murder, Incest, Classism, Death, Colonisation, Cannibalism, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment

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. 
 

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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