You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kukubirdgf 's review for:
Lapvona
by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely not for everyone considering how dark the content is. Lapvona portrays human nature at its ugliest and most depraved. There isn't exactly a lesson or message here, but the way religious trauma and class express themselves within the story feels natural and makes for a very interesting read, disgusting and tragic as it is.
While a lot of the scenes are very graphic, violent and depraved, they didn't feel gratuitous to me as some have criticised in other reviews I've read. Rather, they just felt brutally honest, and in some scenes showed how twisted the characters were to be able to justify their actions to themselves. Again, speaks to the ugliness and delusion that unfortunately comes along with being human.
I also actually kind of liked that the world of Lapvona was rather narrow, that the world building was fairly minimal. It added a sort of dreamlike quality to it if that makes sense, like you've just been placed in this world and that's all that exists which shouldn't be, but somehow you just go with it.
Moshfegh is also an undeniably talented writer, her prose is gorgeous in some moments and skin-crawling in many more, and I thoroughly enjoy her style. I personally think there was a place for more story here so that would have been nice, but otherwise still worth the read if you're feeling like something a little bleak and a lot fucked up.
While a lot of the scenes are very graphic, violent and depraved, they didn't feel gratuitous to me as some have criticised in other reviews I've read. Rather, they just felt brutally honest, and in some scenes showed how twisted the characters were to be able to justify their actions to themselves. Again, speaks to the ugliness and delusion that unfortunately comes along with being human.
I also actually kind of liked that the world of Lapvona was rather narrow, that the world building was fairly minimal. It added a sort of dreamlike quality to it if that makes sense, like you've just been placed in this world and that's all that exists which shouldn't be, but somehow you just go with it.
Moshfegh is also an undeniably talented writer, her prose is gorgeous in some moments and skin-crawling in many more, and I thoroughly enjoy her style. I personally think there was a place for more story here so that would have been nice, but otherwise still worth the read if you're feeling like something a little bleak and a lot fucked up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Incest, Suicide