A review by rzh
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark 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

3.0

this book was ..... a lot. the prose was expertly written, which made the whole horror of the book so much more difficult to bear: its like a car crash where you can't look away. everyone online seems to be trying to find some kind of dEePeR mEaNiNg to the book and decide which of the characters is their pet favourite but i feel like lapvona refutes both possibilities entirely. the violence and perversion and death are stupid and pointless, and the characters are all selfish, mean, and cruel to each other. and that's literally it.
i really like books that make me rethink how i'm reading them as i'm reading them, and lapvona is one of them. however, the actual sadism of the content was entirely too much so i'm rating it down for that. 3/5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, Excrement, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol