A review by acaciatree
Lapvona, by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5


When I initially came across this book. I was extremely excited to read it. Like with Ottessa's other novels, the synopsis is very intriguing. This one didn't live up to the hype I had for it. This was a story about a cruel medieval "God" worshiping people doing grotesque things paralleled with paragraphs of watching paint dry in between. (Why couldn't there be more grotesque excitement)

The plot mainly revolved around powerful men who did shitty things to those considered lesser than them because they could. By powerful, I don't just mean in riches. There is power that can come from delusion and the supernatural.  

All the characters were selfish and or self-absorbed. There were constantly regurgitated scenes where the many perspectives would think about how much they hated/were disgusted by other characters. 

There were also some uncomfortable scenes that were honestly probably the most emotion-provoking (disgusting) parts of the story. Good thing I don't like grapes. I think the concepts were there for an intriguing story. The execution was just a miss for me. I was bored 95% of the time. I hated all the prevalent citizens of Lapovona (which I think was the point). And I just struggled to finish the book.