For some reason, I thought that it would be interesting peak into the morbid side of the literary world. I recently read Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica; and while the book is unforgettable for its gross depiction of cannibalism, I thought that the dark topic wasn’t enough to make me feel much of anything. So, I wound up borrowing Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh from my local library.
I went into the book blind. In other words, I had no idea what I was getting into. And it was worth it… sort of.
About the Book
Lapvona (2022)
Author: Otessa Moshfegh
Genre(s): adult, historical fiction, horror, magical realism, supernatural
Theme(s): Christianity, famine, poverty, masochism, power, religious corruption/hypocrisy, sadism, wealth
Trigger(s): cannibalism, child abuse, incest, infanticide, murder, pedophilia, rape, religious abuse/trauma (or disrespectful religious imagery)
Summary
In a village in a medieval fiefdom buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself the unlikely pivot of a power struggle that puts all manner of faith to a savage test, in a spellbinding novel that represents Ottessa Moshfegh’s most exciting leap yet.
From Goodreads.com
Little Marek, the abused and delusional son of the village shepherd, never knew his mother; his father told him she died in childbirth. One of life’s few consolations for Marek is his enduring bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, who suckled him as a baby, as she did so many of the village’s children. Ina’s gifts extend beyond childcare: she possesses a unique ability to communicate with the natural world. Her gift often brings her the transmission of sacred knowledge on levels far beyond those available to other villagers, however religious they might be. For some people, Ina’s home in the woods outside of the village is a place to fear and to avoid, a godless place.
Among their number is Father Barnabas, the town priest and lackey for the depraved lord and governor, Villiam, whose hilltop manor contains a secret embarrassment of riches. 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 Villiam and the priest, 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 upset the old order. By year’s end, the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, the natural world and the spirit world, civility and savagery, will prove to be very thin indeed.
Review
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Because this is not a spoiler-free review of Otessa Moshfegh’s book, I will be getting into detail about certain things, such as the plot and the characterizations. However, I will keep clear from spoiling too much of the book.
Before getting into the stuff that I liked and disliked about Moshfegh’s novel, I’ll talk about the controversial topics, or triggers.
The Controversial Stuff (Triggers)
Like I mentioned above, there are a lot of triggers that most new readers of the book should be aware of. A lot of these cover violence that cause harm to other human characters, especially those who are underage.
Cannibalism is the most surprising topic that the story covers. Moshfegh writes this in an interesting way. Because there is a hint of supernaturality in the book, the scenes depicting cannibalism—which aren’t many—are often blurred by the dizzying imagery. The characters are mostly disoriented due to their malnutrition and desperation for food. Although these exchanges are brief in the book, the author doesn’t shy away from the gruesome details.
Rape, child abuse, and pedophilia are the most common topics that the book touches on. The main character, Marek, is physically abused by his father Jude. Again, the imagery is vivid; readers can expect heavy details on the main character’s physical state during and after his beatings. Marek is a thirteen-year-old, but he is described as a sadomasochist. For instance, after getting beaten by his father, Marek thinks fondly of ascending to heaven if he died in his father’s hands. He also thinks fondly at the idea of his father’s guilt that he would later express during prayer:
“And then he took his hand away from his ear to allow Jude to deliver a few more blows […] and then Marek stretched his legs and rolled on his back so that Jude could kick him or stomp him wherever he liked. If my father kills me, Marek thought, I am sure to go to heaven […] He licked his lips and sucked the blood back into his mouth, comforted with the knowledge that the damage Jude had done to him would warrant a whole night of praying”
Part 1 of Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh
Besides Marek’s abuse, Jude is a pedophile. Marek’s mother was an underage girl when she was assaulted by Jude. Readers should be aware that the details of her assault are horrifying and as vivid as everything else. Jude would later set his eyes on another girl who is said to be 16. Although Jude doesn’t do anything to her, his thoughts are more than enough to raise red flags.
Murder and infanticide are the least surprising things in the book. I don’t have much to say about the two, but just be wary of them.
Religious abuse/trauma (or disrespectful religious imagery) is abundant in Moshfegh’s work. The commentary surrounding the corruptive and hypocritical practices in Christianity is something that readers will find in the novel. Take note that the book is a satirical display of human cruelty. Moshfegh does not shy away from painting Christianity in a bad light. The poverty-stricken characters are taken advantage of by a priest in favor of a terrible man who would rather keep him as an immature friend than as a respectful and wise devotee. I’d say that not many people who practice Christianity will appreciate the terrible abuse of power that occurs in the book because the characters will excuse such actions as God’s will. But if you are someone who may be deterred from reading this book because of the ill depictions of the religion, I’ll still suggest it to you because of how terribly realistic these depictions are.
It’s no secret that people in positions of power in theocratic and monarchic settings have used religion to their advantage. I’m not saying that Lapvona represents such tidings in a perfect way, but it can inspire readers to converse about them.
The Writing
I hate to sound like a broken record, but Moshfegh’s writing is incredible. The vivid imagery is consistent and I never felt bored while I read.
The story is not necessarily linear; things happen at a turn of a page and readers are often given flashbacks and dream-like sequences that are relevant to the story or character. The plot itself is unique in a way that the rising action is hardly existent. What we get is the story of thirteen-year-old Marek who is involved in the death of the lord’s son Jacob. He is then adopted by the lord, Villiam, who finds humor in the suffering of others. Marek resents his father for giving him up, though he still wishes to be loved by him. In a turn of events, his mother, Agata, also returns in his life. She was presumed dead by Marek as his father Jude had lied to him about her his whole life.
Other events occur in the story, though the main plot of the novel is whatever occurs with Marek. I think that I would have given the story a 5 out of 5 star rating if it did not stray so much from Marek’s point of view. I should also mention that the story moves at a snail’s pace. Sometimes it did feel like all I was reading were episodic accounts of what some characters in Lapvona, the village where these characters reside, were experiencing. Moshfegh even gave a voice to minor characters. While Moshfegh gives the villagers’ accounts of the events that transpire in the novel, I can’t say that all of them were necessary. I looked forward to the main plot of the story than to anything else.
The Themes
Lapvona includes an interesting look into Christianity through corruptive practices. Father Barnabas, who acts like Villiam’s friend and counselor, often encourages Villiam to act terribly. He takes some joy in the humiliation of other people, though the final parts of the book reveals that he has some regrets. He’s aware of his misdeeds. However, the author suggests that his regrets are not enough to change his ways.
Other themes include famine and poverty. I’d say that these are self-explanatory; however, Moshfegh shows the extremities of each topic. Characters become violent and irritable when they’re unable to eat food due to a drought. Some resort to cannibalism; while the book only describes one account, the writing suggests that others may have also partaken in the act. Similarly, wealth and power are shown in an eerily realistic way. Villiam, lord of Lapvona, keeps water from the villagers to satisfy his interest in keeping a pool for the hot summer days. Villiam and Barnabas are aware of the consequences, but they don’t care. Villiam is confident that there will always be people willing to live in Lapvona.
Masochism and sadism are not necessarily erotic in the book. Characters like Villiam likes humiliating other people. As for Marek, he likes being hit if it means that God will pity him enough to let him into heaven when he dies.
Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh is unlike any book I’ve read. It’s not for everyone. I do recommend it to other readers, though I would suggest being cautious of the triggers. The book is heavy with imagery. The book is short enough to be read in just two or three days (my copy was 420 pages), but the gore, sexual violence, and realism made it exhausting to read at times.
Now, did I like the book? Sure… But I wouldn’t read it again any time soon.
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