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A review by ramreadsagain
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this but also struggling to put into words why.
It definitely feels like a pandemic novel, as we see the undeserving rich living in largely oblivious luxury while the poor starve, die, and are driven to insanity by the drought. Though the setting is medieval, a lot of modern human behaviour is laid out here: the rich playing with people's lives for amusement, resource shortage artificially created in order to ensure obedience, religion and faith used as tools to impose suffering on the masses, by people who do not even believe in a God, and how these come together to prop up the capitalist system.
The book is incredibly atmospheric and I read it in three sittings, the writing style pulled me in and the characters are so awful you can't look away.
There is a lot that goes without explanation particularly revolving around the village "witch" Ina. I enjoyed parts of this mystery, with some other aspects frustrating me with their vagueness. I also felt like the ending fizzled out a bit, whereas I was expecting a big crescendo.
This has been my first Moshfegh read and I'm really excited to delve into her other novels.
It definitely feels like a pandemic novel, as we see the undeserving rich living in largely oblivious luxury while the poor starve, die, and are driven to insanity by the drought. Though the setting is medieval, a lot of modern human behaviour is laid out here: the rich playing with people's lives for amusement, resource shortage artificially created in order to ensure obedience, religion and faith used as tools to impose suffering on the masses, by people who do not even believe in a God, and how these come together to prop up the capitalist system.
The book is incredibly atmospheric and I read it in three sittings, the writing style pulled me in and the characters are so awful you can't look away.
There is a lot that goes without explanation particularly revolving around the village "witch" Ina. I enjoyed parts of this mystery, with some other aspects frustrating me with their vagueness. I also felt like the ending fizzled out a bit, whereas I was expecting a big crescendo.
This has been my first Moshfegh read and I'm really excited to delve into her other novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Animal death, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, and Body horror