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A review by aeglaeca
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

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

3.0

I don't even know where to start. I don't think I've ever read a book that was weird/disturbing enough to me that I considered stopping several times (and I hate DNF-ing), but was so compulsively readable at the same time. I was quite enjoying it at first to be honest. The descriptions of Marek's life with Jude, while horrific at times, were also weirdly engaging, as was the development of Marek's character as this kind of bizarre martyr. Even when I came to the first on page interaction that Marek has with Ina, though it was really gross and disturbing, I got it because Marek literally has no concept of love/affection/comfort, but it went so weird/disturbing/debauched after that that I just don't know how to feel. I was, as I said, oddly compelled to keep reading (always a mark of a good author. If you can disturb me or upset me, but keep me reading, you're doing something right. I also disliked 99% of the characters, including the protagonist, but I'm not convinced the author likes him either.
He's awful by the end)
), but I think what's really put me off is that I just didn't see a point to it all. I can think of lots of things that the story might be commenting on - religion as a method of control, social commentary on the 1% and their treatment of the poor, or even that human nature is base and brute at its core - but I don't like to make assumptions about what an author is trying to convey, one, and two, if commentary was the point, then it didn't come across very well. It felt like it just developed into a series of shock factor twists that were trying to make some kind of point, but I was never sure what that was. I think maybe this just wasn't the book for me by this author, but I gather that she's written others that I think I'll try out (again, if you can keep me reading when these kinds of thoughts are going through my head, you're doing something right. 😅) Not for the faint hearted, but certainly a thought provoking read at the very least. 
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