Book Review | Lapvona

In Ottessa Moshfegh’s latest novel, Lapvona, the story centers around the quasi-medieval town of Lapvona where its villagers face drought and starvation as their despotic lord hoards their water supply.

I admit, this is my first time reading Moshfegh, and, after seeing the book's deep-fried surrealist trailer, I was over the moon excited for this one. I was hoping for Pathologic or a Hieronymus Bosch painting in written form.

However, asides from a scene involving the creative use of grapes and a Homelander mommy issue situation, the story itself was largely underwhelming. Instead the plot slowly meanders through the various farming seasons and the climax is ... well, anticlimactic.

Ultimately, Lapvona presents a dark satire and wry commentary on human greed, but its execution and themes feel half-baked. I wish it had leaned more into its absurdism and mysticism elements and developed its ideas further because the story itself had so much potential.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Press, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : June 21, 2022

Publisher : Penguin Press

ASIN : B09GW3P1KJ

Pages : 314

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