A review by mikuish
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark fast-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? Yes

3.5

Not sure what to say after finishing Lapvona. It definitely kept me interested throughout the read. World-building is good and so is the writing. But reflecting on it, while there are clear themes (religion, authority, etc) and ideas you could pull from it, I don’t think it has enough substance. This goes particularly for the sexual assault in the story. It doesn’t feel out of place but it does make me wonder what Moshfegh’s intent was in including it, or if there was much intent beyond telling you a bit more about the characters and the horror/disgust factor. Ultimately you can find media of all kinds that include these topics on the internet. I’m not sure what would place Lapvona above the others aside from better (but not amazing) execution. 
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