A review by tivvny
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark funny mysterious reflective tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Trauma porn. That's it. Kept reading because Ottessa has a strange way of making such insanely dark and deprived scenarios mesmerising and (unfortunately) entertaining. It was like looking at the sun even though your eyes are burning but not willing to look away. Or picking at a wound despite the pain. Beyond that, Lapvona offered little. Maybe if you dig far enough it may offer a reflection of the cruelty inherent to human society, a commentary about the delusion of religion, possibly about the treatment of women. But at least it was entertaining.
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