Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

174 reviews

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

kwalker1's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

really really strange and unsettling, not sure if i liked it or not but i read the whole thing pretty quickly

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Excrement, Cannibalism, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, and Suicide

bubwub's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad tense medium-paced

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

1.75

I could not put it down for the first 1/3. But by the halfway mark, it felt cheap and hollow. Eh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

v_ganczar's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Abandonment

mangonana's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.25

ew ??? omg ?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

adv_nduku's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Ableism and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

hick's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Abortion, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Excrement and Fire/Fire injury

yulimaru's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

all the bad reviews made me want to read this. so thanks for that. i really enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Incest, Rape, Blood, Cannibalism, Abortion, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Confinement, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

cecilyroseceillam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

Lapvona was very captivating and was very engaging, it had a lot of references to religion. Like LapVona and Villiam's manor representing heaven and hell; it had a lot to say about class systems and how religion is used to keep people in a certain bracket. I liked the representation of Ina as Eve/ Lilith. It was interesting to see her take part in nurturing all the people in the village with her breast milk, using herbs, and talking to the birds to learn about the world. Ina is my favorite character. It was interesting to learn about her powers, like being immortal through reversing her age. I also liked the symbolism of Cain, God, and Abel shown through Marek, his dad, and his cousin Jacob. The violence they commit to each other to go to heaven makes an interesting parody of how religion is used to justify evil. I also liked the commentary on what happens when taxes come from religion. The cultural impact it had on resources and people's land was shown in the book, as well as the constant fear of going to hell and sinning. The symbolism of the lambs and babes was also clever, and I enjoyed how it related to Marek and the ending. Villiam was also an interesting character because of how sinister he was. It could be referencing William the Conqueror/William the Eighth as he brought religion and taxes to LapVona for the sole purpose of being wealthy while keeping everyone else poor under the guise of God's decree. The philosophical conversations present what existence truly is, if there is a place for humans in the world, and how God seemingly promotes suffering. Seeing how the characters dealt with it was interesting. Overall I highly enjoyed LapVona and think it’s very effective at presenting its message. However, the book didn’t truly land for me since I’m not extremely knowledgeable on the bible, so many references went over my head as I only have a baseline knowledge.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism