Lapvona: A Novel
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!
“Lapvona flips all the conventions of familial and parental relations, putting hatred where love should be or a negotiation where grief should be . . . Through a mix of witchery, deception, murder, abuse, grand delusion, ludicrous conversations, and cringeworthy moments of bodily disgust, Moshfegh creates a world that you definitely don’t want to live in, but from which you can’t look away.” —The Atlantic
In a village buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself part of a power struggle that puts the community’s faith to a savage test, in a spellbinding novel that represents Ottessa Moshfegh’s most exciting leap yet
Little Marek, the abused and delusional son of the village shepherd, believes his mother died giving birth to him. One of Marek’s few consolations is his enduring bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, who suckled him when he was a baby. For some people, Ina’s ability to receive transmissions of sacred knowledge from the natural world is a godsend. For others, Ina’s home in the woods is a godless place.
The people’s desperate need to believe that there are powers that be who have their best interests at heart is put to a cruel test by their depraved lord and governor, especially in this year of record drought and famine. But when fate brings Marek into violent proximity to the lord’s family, new and occult forces arise to upset the old order. By year’s end, the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, and the natural world and the spirit world will prove to be very thin indeed.
“Lapvona flips all the conventions of familial and parental relations, putting hatred where love should be or a negotiation where grief should be . . . Through a mix of witchery, deception, murder, abuse, grand delusion, ludicrous conversations, and cringeworthy moments of bodily disgust, Moshfegh creates a world that you definitely don’t want to live in, but from which you can’t look away.” —The Atlantic
In a village buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself part of a power struggle that puts the community’s faith to a savage test, in a spellbinding novel that represents Ottessa Moshfegh’s most exciting leap yet
Little Marek, the abused and delusional son of the village shepherd, believes his mother died giving birth to him. One of Marek’s few consolations is his enduring bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, who suckled him when he was a baby. For some people, Ina’s ability to receive transmissions of sacred knowledge from the natural world is a godsend. For others, Ina’s home in the woods is a godless place.
The people’s desperate need to believe that there are powers that be who have their best interests at heart is put to a cruel test by their depraved lord and governor, especially in this year of record drought and famine. But when fate brings Marek into violent proximity to the lord’s family, new and occult forces arise to upset the old order. By year’s end, the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, and the natural world and the spirit world will prove to be very thin indeed.
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Community Reviews
This novel was entertaining, but it was like watching a car crash with vulgar curiosity. It was not as disgusting as everyone pitched it to me, though. Overall, it was entertaining enough to finish, and Ottessa's writing is descriptive.
The group found Lapvona to be a dark, cynical, and unsettling read, with a disturbing tone that nonetheless compelled them to keep going. They noted the book’s unique structure—divided into seasons rather than chapters—as effective in pacing the chaotic narrative. The shifting character perspectives were seen as disorienting yet intriguing, adding a strange comedic element. While some characters offered brief moments of relief, others, like Jude, were strongly disliked for their lack of redeeming qualities. Overall, the book sparked a strong reaction, with its bleak portrayal of humanity leaving a lasting impression.
won this book in a goodreads giveaway. not even sure why i liked this so much but itâs definitely a tâestiment to moshfeghâs writing that kept me captivated and speeding through this story. itâs super gross and depressing, not for the faint of heart, and no one has a good or even okay life in this dreary village, and yet i totally loved reading this. also am typically a fan of moshfeghâs irksome tellings, so was mentally prepared.
Initially I thought the setting and characters would make an interesting movie, but after finishing the book, I think maybe not. Too many instances of dark human behavior and grotesque descriptions of bodily functions. Moshfegh is a great story teller, although I'm not sure what the point of this novel was. Nearly everyone was miserable, rotten, or murdered. Quite a commentary.
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