Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

172 reviews

rtherese's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-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

4.0

Moshfegh made a list of all the horrible things imaginable. Then she made sure everything on that list was in this book.

‼️Read TWs before you read this one, I think if you are in a vulnerable mental state you should probably wait until you feel better to consider reading this. I had to take a long break halfway through because it was super heavy

Lapvona is a nihilistic exploration of religion and faith. The setting is very immersive, and the flaws of the characters make them very interesting. But

there is no point to the story. If there was, it would be that there is no point. There is no good or bad. There is no right way to be faithful. There are no rewards for your suffering, nor are there consequences for your misdeeds. Life in little Lapvona just keeps going.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Incest, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, and Fire/Fire injury

jah_dayday's review against another edition

dark funny 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? Yes

3.25

Tiktok said this would be SUPER weird, I have a high tolerance for weird. This was a lil 🤏🏿 weird.

The characters were so funny in their competitive redemptive suffering. I feel like Marek's ending fell a bit flat, though. Ending, as a whole, could've been a bit better.

The characters inner lives and inner thoughts are twisted In a way that glues your eyes to the book. The book is NOT scary, just dark themes. 

A good enough read but did not make me want to read My Year of Rest and Relaxation. But never say never 🤷🏿‍♀️.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Incest, and Pedophilia

emilychristina's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

is there a single character with any redeeming qualities in this book? absolutely not. does the plot move along in an enjoyable and captivating way? the plot has left the room. does the author allude to a supposed 2nd christ child being flung off a cliff? allegedly. someone said they felt like ottessa moshfegh was trying to waterboard the reader and it's absolutely true and yet i'm giving it 4 stars. no i cannot and will not elaborate.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion

Minor: Body horror and Vomit

fanni_ambr_'s review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

Maiming, extreme religious guilt

jade_smith's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

4.5

Every character was so deeply unlikeable and it this book was incredibly disgusting. I loved it. 

This was my first Ottessa Moshfegh book and I’ll be running to pick up the rest of her catalogue. 

Darkly absurd and almost fairytale-esque in its depiction of greed and human perversion, Lapvona is half pseudo-historical fiction and half a horror comedy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Infertility, Kidnapping, Abortion, and Alcohol

claudialucas99's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Incest, Suicide, and Abortion

charprid's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

charlisaurus's review against another edition

4.5

i love this book and how everyone is a complete freak show <3 please read content warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

lizzymcalpine's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mixed feelings with this one. kinda feel like the plot was lost about 3/4 of the way through the book, but at the same time the ending felt predetermined. 
so much to explore and reflect on about the exploitation of the poor and women, about morality and its role in religion, religious justification, governmental neglect. definitely a thinker book, but left me wanting closure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

girluncle's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Abortion, Murder, and Classism