Lapvona is awesome, what's everyone so mad about?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

IMPORTANT: After filming this video, I read this Vulture article which did change my opinion on Moshfegh a bit. She seems to imply that all the feminist and socialist themes which I read into in Lapvona were not intentional. It's a curious article that paints her in an unlikeable light and did make me feel a little more sympathetic towards the people who hate this book. It's definitely worth a read! www.vulture.com/article/ottessa-moshfegh-lapvona-review.html

[@user-vy2hz6fl6x]

Oh thanks for that extra information! ❤️

[@jolafaith]

Omg WHAT?!! I had no idea. I haven’t read any articles with her. It seems so brilliantly and poignantly explored in her books. :/

[@ariannelg]

Should we read the article before or after reading the book?

[@pnin5456]

Chu's review is legendary. Yeah I think you gave the book a more sympathetic and sophisticated interpretation than the author herself intended XD but that IS the wonderful thing about books. Reception & Interpretation has a life of its own outside the author's intention!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Before is fine!

[@obryana20]

I always find it interesting that people can be up in arms about the cruelty portrayed in a book and not the real life cruelty it's based on.

[@bobdhitman]

I can’t believe you said the quiet part out loud 😱😱😱 😁

[@alipurplesticks]

These are my thoughts only two minutes in but I am SO HAPPY you enjoyed this book!! Lapvona was also my first Moshfegh, I received an arc of it and immediately fell in love. I have now read almost every book of hers and every article/ story she's ever written that I was able to find on the internet. I ended up purchasing the finished copy of Lapvona about a month and a half after my first read and immediately started rereading and annotating this masterpiece. I absolutely adore her writing and books and I am quite ignorant when it comes to who the person behind their words/ stories truly are. After reading your article I was a tad bit shellshocked to say the least, but thank you for providing, yet again, another wonderful review and some extra information

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh my god what a compliment! Wow, thank you so much! The article definitely has me conflicted. Lapvona remains a wonderful book and I do want to read more of her stuff but, wow, she comes across as a very entitled person. Really spoiled my view of her writing and made me feel like I was giving her too much credit!

[@marycronin9518]

I’m so happy to find this, after seeing mainly bad reviews I almost didn’t read it, but I loved it and see some scary realistic similarities to our world that are honestly not that exaggerated. I need to check out the interview you mention in your comments, however I don’t think a book has to mean anything & I don’t think it makes anyone bad to not hit the marks we may believe it needs to. I’m glad I found your channel 💙

[@lupitasanchez6739]

Totally agree with the way is written or meant to be read. The way it traps you but in a distant place and yet makes you keep reading and reading further more.

[@kiri7010]

I think many people hate on it due to the fact it alludes heavily to a specific plotline in the first half then continues documenting the characters lives until the very end, and I think a lot of these people need to shift their perspective on the book, like mine shifted halfway through the autumn chapter. A lot of characters became metaphors rather than physical assets, such as Jacob with virtuousness and idealistic royalty as one part of the concept of lordship with villiam being the rest as selfish tyranny. Its “the meaning is up to the reader” without it being a massive cop out which I thoroughly enjoy

[@tobi_adediran]

A gothic, socialist book with unlikeable characters, fantastical elements and body horror. Sounds like a bit of me!!🙌🏾😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Haha I’m glad I piqued your interest! From the interview I linked in the pinned comment, it seems like she didn’t intend much at all with it, but for me those themes are clear as day!

[@Feminazi1dc]

after hearing the way you speak about women , i absolutely love you. & whether the novel was meant to portray these themes or not, its art, its like music, we should be able to determine what is means to us specifically.

[@Computra]

My guess is the reviewers who have clutched their pearls are hiding a very evil side to their personality and this struck a deep accord with them.

[@millieil6510]

Read it in one day. Not sure how I feel about it. It was definitely readable. Thanks for your review!

[@ipshitajee]

I really love how you approach on literature and how you express your takes on books. Especially when the book is considered/labeled by people as too dark or grotesque, but in my view I find these books to be another part of society and human personality that people don't talk as much,yes it's brutal, yes it's awful but so is the society that we live in. Absolutely love your reviews 🙌 P.s- I would love to see your video recommendation on this 'type' of books (or punk and claustrophobic litrature by womens )🥺

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I think you summed up my feelings in a very succinct way! If you like this, you’ll enjoy my next video as well :) I think I will do just that! A punk lit recommendation video!

[@ipshitajee]

@@WillowTalksBooks yesss, I'll be waiting:)))

[@carowolff4702]

It's so interesting to hear your opinions on Lapvona! I personally hated it for the same reasons that you loved it: the simplistic prose, the distance the reader has from the characters, and how the themes are portrayed. On paper it sounds like everything I love in stories, but found myself disappointed by the lack-luster portrayal of exploitation, gender inequality, sexual abuse, religious belief, animality etc. It just said things I already knew of. The one note I agree on is how strange it is to see people clutching their pearls over the cruelty and gore in the novel. There's nothing wrong with depicting disgusting acts if it serves a point or evokes an emotion, the latter in which Lapvona succeeds in. Lovely review!

[@cosmicfox88]

I’ve let the pearl clutchers influence my decision to purchase this book for far too long. Thank you for this in-depth review, Willow. I really enjoyed listening. And I’ve subscribed to your channel. Nice to meet you 😊

[@CestKevvie]

Ottessa Moshfegh is a master at unlikeable characters. The protagonist in My Year of Rest and Relaxation is awful! It's such a great book.and even though I was disappointed with the ending when I first read it, upon reflection that final image and the character's thoughts are a perfect, haunting way to wrap up the story. I was indifferent towards reading Lopvana, but describing it as an entertaining communist manifesto is an excellent way to sell me *any* book. Definitely interested in reading it now!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

A few comments and the article I linked have definitely sullied her a little in my mind. Looks like I read into the book things that she didn’t intend. Seems like she’s mostly a child that goes in for shock value lol but I still enjoyed my interpretation and giving her too much credit 😅

[@mft444green]

Moshfegh is BRILLIANT and INIMITABLE! Cannot wait to read this! Thank you!

[@nathansnook]

thanks so much for your review! it's been hard to find good reviews on this book. it's as if people have forgotten transgressive literature exists!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yup, and I’m all for it!

[@AbsurdExistentialist]

I've heard so much about this book and this author as of recent! Can't wait for your next review on this author!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

My feelings have shifted a bit over the past few days but I’m still excited to read more from her!

[@vaibhav6826]

The problem which i felt while reading the book, is that there's no point to it all. The message/point that was intended (or not) by moshfegh is apparent in the first few pages of the book and rest is just pointless narrative with a wonderful imagination. It's brilliantly written but doesn't serve any purpose, not even of being enjoyable. My issue is not with the gore or violence or other depictions, it's with the fact that this whole charade leads to more or less nothing.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This is interesting! I found a lot of thematic value in it, personally. But after reading the article I linked in the pinned comment, it seems like Moshfegh would actually agree with you. That it was all pointless and for shock. I’m surprised by how childish she seems, given how much value I got from her novel. I guess that’s the beauty of interpretation!

[@yahaira_f]

This so much except for the brilliantly written part lol

[@kennyj9941]

A plot with seemingly no "point" other than theme is common in gothic novels, might just be something you don't like from the genre

[@prove_it000]

I love your reactions- I have similar reactions often to people offened by anything out of the ordinary, no matter how relevant or sensible it might be. I hear you! Just borrowed this book from the library!

[@andreeadraginov8465]

I don't know how you do it! I was gonna skip this one but now that I've seen this I have to read it :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

My skills at work 😏

[@gregkrazanski]

i read "death in her hands" earlier this year and was blown away, i absolutely loved it

[@omalleysmith9100]

I just finished this one and absolutely LOVED IT. Its the type of book that reminded me of why I LOVE reading. It was engrossing and gross. I took the depravity and disgusting parts with a grain of salt and wasn't looking for any deeper meaning or political leanings while I was reading it, so there was nothing to hamper my enjoyment. It was just pure fun. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[@SaharaKnoblauch]

Question: do you know any other writers with such a writing style (punchy, simplistic - like you described it at 7:20 ?) Thanks for the review!!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Cormac McCarthy was definitely known for that. I also recently read Boy Parts by Eliza Clark and it kinda fits the bill too

[@SaharaKnoblauch]

@@WillowTalksBooks thanks, I’ll check them out!

[@justinreader2804]

Love your channel and Moshfegh! Can’t wait for you to read and make videos for myorar and Eileen they are both amazing.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I’ll be reading MYORAR soon!

[@thedarkestreads7971]

Hmm I highly disagree with your evaluation of socialist themes in the novel. Maybe it’s because I’ve read more of her work but it reads as right wing libertarianism. The novel is very childish in a lot of ways, it feels like a high schooler has just found out about inequity and has begun parroting ring wingers on youtube. The characters are very hallow and I think that Ottessa Moshfegh is very concerned with spectacle without having much to discuss beyond a surface level understanding of what she brings up. Ottessa Moshfegh as a person is very first and foremost concerned with trying to make the reader squirm and it leaves her narratives very dry. Her writing and provocation are what keeps her around I feel like, because she is a good writer just one with no cause and it hinders her work a lot. In My Year of Rest and Relaxation the narratives discussion of depression is phenomenal, but then every so often it delves into “satire” to make fairly juvenile observations on racism and fatphobia and antisemitism. Something similar happens in her short stories Homesick For Another World. The worst of them all is her debut novella McGlue, where she has her main character utter the words fag and faggot nearly 100 times while completely ignoring that fag wasn’t even a word to be used in that distinction in the time period the novel is set. It’s an interesting portrayal of alcoholism, yet an abysmal look into homophobia and religion, she has no stake in getting these things well told because her heart is in the idea of “well why CANT i say what i want” rather than actually putting meaning behind her words.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You have pretty much perfectly summed up what’s in the article I linked to in the pinned comment. I read the novel the way I read it and I can’t change that, but your comment and the article definitely reframe her as a childish writer who lacks substance and I’m very surprised by that, given how much I enjoyed this novel.

[@willcacti8302]

Woah I didn’t know this book existed. I’ve read Death In Her Hands by Otessa Moshfegh and was very intrigued by her writing. I plan on reading McGlue (You might enjoy it) by her and then I’ll peep this book. Thanks for doing a video on this!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I’ll be working my way through her works as well!

[@fashionearrings]

This is the review I was waiting for. Thank you very much.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You are more than welcome!

[@heatherkirkland9056]

Totally agree , I've read most of Ottessa Moshfegh's books and haven't been disappointed a great writer. I just get her writing, but I understand some may not get it ! Next on my list, Death in her hands.

[@laineyrae8981]

I had no idea I was waiting for this video from you! Thank you! Comparing this book to a stage comedy is so on point. While I read Lapvona, I kept thinking of a TBS anthology comedy called Miracle Workers, specifically season 2 because of its medieval setting. Of course these stories and characters are commentaries and unlikeable. Lapvona has the tragic comedy of Miracle Workers and the shock violence of Game of Thrones, that's how I phrase it to customers at the bookstore. I haven't read the article you shared yet, it's already disappointing to think about though. I love your interpretation, it's how I felt while reading, but didn't know how to put my thoughts in such a comprehensive row.

[@barbaraellison1095]

Fantastic presentation.

[@stephenp1461]

I read this in one sitting in a night bus to Kyoto for my little summer holiday. Ah. Youth. lol.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Bliss

[@markhnk]

Wow, you are very passionate about this one :) I have only read My Year of Rest and Relaxation of hers and loved it, but something which is clear, also from her interviews, is that she plays with provocation. Especially the way her descriptions of the human body can make the reader uncomfortable. She has the reputation of being the most hated writer at neighborhood book clubs ("Kristen, how you could bring THAT book. It's so gross! Anyone more wine?). If no people would be mad about this book she would have done something seriously wrong. It's not her mission to please her readers and reviewers. Now personally I have admit that my concern with this book is that I don't know to what extent she really set out to write a new and interesting book (your review gives me hope), or if she just wrote an Ottessa Moshfegh book, so do the disturbing elements support the story or are they just in there for the effect. From just reading that one book I cannot really tell if she is the one sort of writer or the other, but I feel more like reading one of her other novels first.

[@markhnk]

Posted this before reading your additional comment. One more wild theory about why the reviews have been so mixed this time. I think the reviews for her previous books were very favorable, but it feels like the typical Moshfegh tropes in this book are so exaggerated that previously sympathetic reviewers may wonder if they were wrong about the quality of her books the whole time. The moment the literary establishment that hyped her before feels like she was just a cheat who made fun of them they will drop her. The former literary star who fell from grace syndrome.

[@mishellygarcia]

Anyone have any recommendations for a book that’s less detached from the reader. I did love the contents of this book but the distance almost made it too easy to digest for my taste. Thanks!

[@juuzeden]

you should read tender is the flesh

[@mayaf1106]

I LOVED "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" - looking forward to hearing your opinion :)

[@sydneychampagne402]

I love your reviews!!!!!

[@rubyj7647]

nobody was mad at game of thrones and that was pornographic and terribly made. lapvona's a good book.i also don't understand why people are referring to these characters as "awful." people, do you think you're above the behaviors of these characters given their abject circumstances? then avoid me during the apocalypse, please :)

[@jackseney7906]

Yeah, everybody's criticizing it, but I won't be able to get a copy from the library for months cause everybody's also clamoring for it, and I'll likely have to buy it in order to read it anytime soon 😡😾

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Sounds like it’s doing its job!

[@xcgbfdsc]

I truly debated reading this, you convinced me. Thank you! Have you ever read cows?

[@katieryan01]

Love this review and completely agree!

[@annaeliseteresa6135]

I loved this book so much, purely for the *vibes*

[@WillowTalksBooks]

The vibes are damn fine!

[@bookofdust]

To me this book was basically an adult Disney romp, set in a medieval animated world with Villam being like the king in Shrek and Marek as a Quasimodo like character. And the body horror is cartoonish, perhaps more on an adult level, but far from being as gross out as people make it and they seem quite oblivious to the humor in it all. This was my first book by her, but I’ll definitely read more. Some of the responses to this remind of those that were brought against A.M. Homes’ first books. I don’t think she gets read much anymore these days.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This is actually a very interesting reaction to the novel and I don’t disagree! I like that!

[@superhetoric]

yeah I enjoyed the book in general but it definitely read like a mid-tier splatterpunk romp with a middle ages coat of paint

[@petedako]

Such a great, smart, deeply sad and FUNNY book this was her third for me… like Eileen… and My Year - deceptively (expertly) ' simple' imho… I immediately reread them and listened to audio performances too I'm savouring Lapvona again before I jump into the rest of her work

[@ashleymiller4697]

So don’t judge me, but I’ve just discovered the magic of books after 33 years on this planet lol. I finished this in 6 days. I loved it! Now does every book have a deep, cryptic meaning behind it or should I expect some to be just surface level entertaining? I’m trying to pick it apart and understand what the message was but am I digging too deep? Again, please don’t judge me. Lol

[@Ekaekto]

Literary fiction often has a deeper meaning behind what is told on surface level. Most contemporary or genre fiction is more clear with the meanings, they’re less subversive. Welcome to reading! If you enjoyed Lapvona you might also like the following books: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, Our Wives under the Sea by Julia Armfield, Bunny by Mona Awad, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado.

[@ashleymiller4697]

@@Ekaekto thank you so much!! 😊🥳

[@beabaptistaa]

I love books with unlikable characters, I like to read stories about unhinged woman, I enjoyed Eileen by Ottessa (3.5/5 imo) and I looooove Gillian Flynn, but Lapvona is missing something, Ottessa books miss something and I think it's a good plot, good climax and/or good ending. I don't mind feeling disgusted after reading about poop and piss and vomit and all the other body fluids and holes that you could possibly imagine, but you have to offer something else... if we take all the disgusting things that Ottessa loves to write about, this book would be so plain and predictable!! Gillian Flynn, for example, doesn't have to be so grotesque to delivers us an intriguing, smart and still provocative book. Nevertheless I think if you like this genre you should at least read one book by Otessa Moshfegh but after reading Eileen and Lapvona I lost my interest to pick other books by her. _____________________________________________ Btw some quotes by Gillian Flynn that I love: "I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ. Slit me at my belly and it might slide out, meaty and dark, drop on the floor so you could stomp on it" - (this is the opening line!!) Dark Places “They always call depression the blues, but I would have been happy to waken to periwinkle outlook. Depression to me is urine yellow. Washed out, exhausted miles of weak piss.” - Sharp Objects “Women get consumed. Not surprising, considering the sheer amount of traffic a woman's body experiences. Tampons and speculums. Cocks, fingers, vibrators and more, between the legs, from behind, in the mouth. Men love to put things inside women, don't they? Cucumbers and bananas and bottles, a string of pearls, a Magic Marker, a fist. Once a guy wanted to wedge a Walkie-Talkie inside of me. I declined.” - Sharp Objects “Cool Girls never get angry; they only smile in a chagrined, loving manner and let their men do whatever they want. Go ahead, shit on me, I don't mind, I'm the Cool Girl. Men actually think this girl exists. Maybe they're fooled because so many women are willing to pretend to be this girl.” - Gone Girl “It's a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless automat of characters. And if all of us are play-acting, there can be no such thing as a soul mate, because we don't have genuine souls.” - Gone Girl

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Doesn’t seem like my cup of tea but that makes it like most of the Best Sellers List to me. Thanks for including the article as a counter point but if you feel it’s a good book it shouldn’t matter how the author portrays themselves. It sure got some folks talking and some good discussions but ultimately the market place will decide this book and others like it future

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It’s not just what kind of person she is but the fact that I seem to have extracted from the book things that weren’t there at all. She wrote with a view to shocking people and I insisted that the book is deeper than that lol

[@jttreads]

The comparison to Mr Fischoeder is elite, immediate subscribe & like! I also found Lapvona to be a 5* read!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Haha thanks!

[@eeeeeeesthereal]

Everyone talks so much about how grotesque, raw and disturbing this book is, that if I buy it and not get disgusted... I'll be mad. I WANT TO FEEL DISGUSTED AND THOUGHTFUL

[@sarahalsaeedi2600]

Best review ever!!!

[@GunpowderFictionPlot]

I just finished this book and I'm still digesting, but I think the reason it's getting negative reviews is two fold, it isn't as good as Eileen or My Year of Rest and Relaxation (both of which I think you'll love) and Moshfegh's characters are always horrible, but they're horrible in a different way and people are feeling shocked. Excellent review as always.

[@eenainwonderland]

WE’RE ALL OUTSIDERS OF LAPVONA and that’s what I love about Ottessa’s writing! Can’t wait for you to read Death In Her Hands too! Also, re: hate, I will always remember what Alison Rumfitt said in her review of Lapvona that most of the people who hated the book hated it already before they got the chance to hold it I read the article too, but yeah, a lot really just hates her writing too. I think in my case I always overthink things whenever I read a Moshfegh novel or I put so much value into it because her writing gives me an avenue to feel like I’m a smart reader that could analyse deeper than the surface lol and I will never forget how she explained her characters in My Year of Rest and Relaxation that made me feel in that time that maybe there’s really something more to it. Not sure if I made sense lol 😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

These are all really great points! I’m kind of addicted to her writing now and can’t wait to read MYORAR!

[@eenainwonderland]

@@WillowTalksBooks MYORAR is still my fave Moshfegh book and I cannot wait for you to review it!!!!!!!!!!

[@rominapardo-cardenas3864]

I absolutely love this book

[@laurel7867]

Something that bothers the shit out of me is that for some reason, men writing satire receive lots of praise, but when women do it, the reviews are awful! I was looking for satire books and all the ones above 4 stars were men, whereas none of the female writers receive above 4 stars.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That’s a very good point!

[@laurel7867]

@@WillowTalksBooks thank you!

[@bluebraun2979]

I just bought it!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

This was such an amazing review. Before I drop a video on a book, I love to go see what other reviewers say about it. This was the best review of Lapvona I have come across. Excellent job!!

[@lapvona]

as you can see by my username i think you can tell i liked it

[@Stugazii]

I ordered it solely based on the fact that it is apparently disgusting and morbid and cruel. Some people like horror and fucked up shit some don’t that’s just how shit goes.

[@Honeycombheartartist]

I bought this two days ago wow!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Great timing!

[@Repulsiastorm]

Another one for the library list! Maybe I should order ten copies, add it to the book club lists and watch society collapse 😈 Pearls will be clutched. Fetch my fainting couch!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That’s a great bit of marketing right there! Put a stack of them next to a fainting couch and a sign saying “you might need this”

[@Repulsiastorm]

@@WillowTalksBooks We're having a book tasting on Thursday, Flavour notes for Lapvona: Strong odour. Well aged and oakey with hints of self-flagellation, depravity and a surprise grapey finish!🍇

[@kevinrussell1144]

@@Repulsiastorm I understand women guards at Auschwitz used to make jokes about the poor Jews scratching at the walls and screaming. That grape schnapps is vundabah! Yeah, life has its horrible elements, but if you can't even tell the difference between horrible and business as usual, you've crossed into a strange land. Remember, too, that OM is getting filthy rich writing this death pornography. How do you look into your child's or niece's eyes and admit you do this for a living?

[@victorortega2718]

Great book

[@goaskellice]

Eileen is a great book too

[@nishantmadhan2482]

Ina was the most well developed character to me personally

[@soulwandering_freya]

the name “Ina” also means mother in filipino language which i find very interesting

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

I'll take your word for it. This author's writing is a no for me. Glad it was a win for you

[@WillowTalksBooks]

A big win, yeah!

[@daragh5052]

You know what, you’re dead right. Great book, great read!

[@trapdoor3461]

I’m melting

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Me too it’s bloody hot here

[@yahaira_f]

I feel like you're doing more work than Moshfegh did 😬

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahaha yeah, based on the article I linked she really doesn’t think too deeply about themes and politics. And yet it all felt very on-the-nose to me when I read it!

[@BatGroening]

You’ll love MYORAR the narrator is so unlikeable but it’s so funny

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That’s exactly what I love!

[@daerunia]

I honestly cant tell if you're wearing eye makeup, or if you just have the most thick and stunning eyelashes known to humankind. Either way your eyes are very lovely ❤

[@OliJeffery]

Ina is far from sympathetic though, she sexually abuses Marek.

[@mcjovies36]

That’s exactly what I was thinking! Everyone is awful in this book and no one is redeemable. Maybe Grigor though?

[@eltonsterling1456]

Right?? If anything I saw her as the villian of the story.

[@superhetoric]

​@@eltonsterling1456the villain??

[@eltonsterling1456]

@@superhetoric I guess A villian is better. Nearly everyone is a villian in this book.

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

The character i was rooting the most was Jude, lmao im a bad feminist

[@alinafabozzi8380]

I think you're just trying to be edgy by liking a gross book.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I’m so edgy though! Queen of the edgelords. If a book doesn’t have blood and guts aplenty, I toss it across the room and say, “Bring me something depraved!”

[@alinafabozzi8380]

@@WillowTalksBooks oh I thought you were a dude

[@julygirl9995]

​@@alinafabozzi8380he's not just a dude. He's the queen of edgelords dearie. Also any more depraved book recs?