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A review by neviris
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
5.0
Erratic evil spreads in the mind of Lapvona's babes who can only be saved by God himself. Twisted, excessive religious concepts in medieval times never spoke clearer to my unhinged soul.
While Lapvona might seem like an usual village to some, opinions might change rather quickly. Each of the god fearing residents live up to their own expectations in order to please God and get rid of their sins. Some of them might even consider biblical rituals such as whipping themselves or hurting themselves on purpose so they can feel relieved. Ottessa Moshfegh's novel "Lapvona" travels back in time when actions spoke in the name of God and raping a woman was not considered a crime but rather the true colours of love. Still in shock, this novel consumed my soul and made me want to be the "good girl" of the village shepherd.
Moshfegh's writing style is complex and unique. While I have to admit, that it did take longer to read than expected, it was worth every page. The way she has with words makes my mind go insane and can give insight in the world of sociopathy and what religion can lead to. In this novel, numerous different points of view have been exemplified with a deep rooted understanding and dignity which impressed me to the core in a way that made me wonder where my feeble mind gets stuck sometimes. I cannot help but look for aspects I did not like about this book, however, there are none to be found.
To sum it up, I have rarely read one book that consumed me as much and made me question my own views and morals of society. Without hesitation, I would rate the book 5 stars since I feel like this novel really stands out. Not one book I have ever read gets even close to where this book ranks on a scale in this category. Impressive, unhinged and unsettling.
Disclaimer: While I can not get enough of unhinged material, I would rather not suggest it to people who tend to get sick easily since it might affect one negatively.
While Lapvona might seem like an usual village to some, opinions might change rather quickly. Each of the god fearing residents live up to their own expectations in order to please God and get rid of their sins. Some of them might even consider biblical rituals such as whipping themselves or hurting themselves on purpose so they can feel relieved. Ottessa Moshfegh's novel "Lapvona" travels back in time when actions spoke in the name of God and raping a woman was not considered a crime but rather the true colours of love. Still in shock, this novel consumed my soul and made me want to be the "good girl" of the village shepherd.
Moshfegh's writing style is complex and unique. While I have to admit, that it did take longer to read than expected, it was worth every page. The way she has with words makes my mind go insane and can give insight in the world of sociopathy and what religion can lead to. In this novel, numerous different points of view have been exemplified with a deep rooted understanding and dignity which impressed me to the core in a way that made me wonder where my feeble mind gets stuck sometimes. I cannot help but look for aspects I did not like about this book, however, there are none to be found.
To sum it up, I have rarely read one book that consumed me as much and made me question my own views and morals of society. Without hesitation, I would rate the book 5 stars since I feel like this novel really stands out. Not one book I have ever read gets even close to where this book ranks on a scale in this category. Impressive, unhinged and unsettling.
Disclaimer: While I can not get enough of unhinged material, I would rather not suggest it to people who tend to get sick easily since it might affect one negatively.