DigeeBooks

“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 AtlanticIn 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 yetLittle 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 when he was 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, will prove to be very thin indeed.

Lapvona: A Novel by Ottessa Moshfegh is a dark and twisted tale set in a medieval world of poverty and superstition. The story follows Marek, a young boy who is sold to the lord of Lapvona, Villiam, as a plaything for his sadistic son, Jakob. Marek endures unimaginable horrors at the hands of his captors, but he also discovers a hidden strength within himself.

Lapvona is a novel that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. It is a story about power, violence, and the ways in which people can be both good and evil. Moshfegh's writing is spare and lyrical, and she creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. Lapvona is a challenging and rewarding novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Here are some of the key themes in Lapvona:

• The power of love and hate: Marek experiences both love and hate in his life. He loves his mother and his fellow villagers, but he also hates his captors and the world that has treated him so cruelly. These conflicting emotions drive Marek's actions and make him a complex and sympathetic character.
• The nature of good and evil: The characters in Lapvona are all capable of both good and evil. Even the most善良的人类are capable of terrible acts when pushed to their limits, while even the most evil people are capable of showing kindness and compassion. This ambiguity makes it difficult to judge the characters in Lapvona, and it forces readers to confront their own beliefs about good and evil.
• The importance of hope: Even in the darkest of times, Marek never gives up hope. He believes that there is a better world out there, and he is determined to find it. This hope gives Marek the strength to endure the horrors of his life and to fight for a better future.

Lapvona is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will challenge your beliefs about the world and about yourself. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

If you are interested in reading Lapvona, you can find it at the following retailers:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million
• IndieBound
• Powell's Books