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.
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About the author
Ottessa Moshfegh
Author
Ottessa Charlotte Moshfegh is an American author and novelist. Her debut novel, Eileen (2015), won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and was a fiction finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Moshfegh's subsequent novels include My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Death in Her Hands, and Lapvona.
Lapvona
by Ottessa Moshfegh
Books Like Lapvona
If you're looking for books similar to Lapvona, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Road
Cormac McCarthy
A post-apocalyptic novel that shares Lapvona's brutal exploration of human survival in a harsh world. A father and son journey through a devastated landscape, confronting extreme deprivation and moral challenges. The book examines the thin line between civilization and savagery, much like Moshfegh's novel. Its stark prose and unflinching look at human nature make it a compelling companion to Lapvona.
Wolf Hall
Hilary Mantel
A historical novel that delves into power dynamics and social manipulation in a harsh historical setting. The story follows Thomas Cromwell's rise in Henry VIII's court, exploring themes of survival and strategic maneuvering. Like Lapvona, it presents a gritty, unsentimental view of human nature and social structures. The novel's complex characters and dark undertones make it a compelling recommendation.
The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco
A medieval mystery that explores power, religion, and human complexity. Set in a monastery, the novel follows a monk investigating a series of murders. Similar to Lapvona, it delves into the dark undercurrents of religious institutions and human nature. The book's rich historical detail and exploration of social dynamics make it a compelling companion.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
A dystopian novel exploring social control, religious extremism, and individual resistance. Set in a totalitarian society, it examines power structures and personal survival. Similar to Lapvona, it presents a dark exploration of human nature and social dynamics. The book's unflinching narrative and complex character interactions make it a compelling recommendation.
Eileen
Ottessa Moshfegh
Another dark and unsettling novel by Moshfegh that explores psychological darkness and social dysfunction. The story follows a young woman working in a boys' prison who becomes entangled in a disturbing crime. Like Lapvona, it features a bleak landscape and characters driven by complex, often grotesque motivations. The novel delves into themes of isolation, desperation, and moral ambiguity.
The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett
An epic historical novel set in a medieval community struggling with survival and social hierarchies. The story centers on the construction of a cathedral and the lives intertwined around it. Similar to Lapvona, it explores power dynamics, religious influence, and human survival in a harsh historical context. The novel's detailed portrayal of medieval life provides a rich narrative backdrop.
The Crucible
Arthur Miller
A play exploring mass hysteria, social control, and human weakness. Set during the Salem witch trials, it examines community dynamics and persecution. Similar to Lapvona, it delves into the dark potential of human nature and social structures. The narrative's exploration of belief and manipulation provides a compelling parallel.
The Golem and the Jinni
Helene Wecker
A historical fantasy that blends mythical elements with human struggle, similar to Lapvona's approach. The novel follows two supernatural beings navigating human society in turn-of-the-century New York. It explores themes of identity, survival, and the margins of society. The book's rich atmospheric detail and exploration of outsider perspectives echo Moshfegh's narrative style.
Circe
Madeline Miller
A mythological retelling that explores marginalization and personal power. The novel follows the witch Circe's journey of self-discovery and survival. Like Lapvona, it features a protagonist navigating a hostile world through unconventional means. The book's exploration of magical elements and social dynamics provides a similar narrative complexity.
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
A classic novel exploring social persecution, moral complexity, and individual resilience. Set in Puritan New England, it follows a woman navigating extreme social judgment. Like Lapvona, it delves into themes of community control and personal survival. The novel's exploration of social dynamics and human nature provides a rich narrative context.
The Buried Giant
Kazuo Ishiguro
A mythical narrative that blends historical fiction with supernatural elements, similar to Lapvona's genre-bending approach. The story follows an elderly couple on a journey through a mystical post-Arthurian landscape. Like Moshfegh's novel, it explores memory, community, and the thin boundary between reality and myth. The book's dreamlike quality and exploration of human nature resonate with Lapvona's style.
Alias Grace
Margaret Atwood
A historical novel exploring power, perception, and social manipulation. Based on a true story of a convicted murderer, the book examines complex psychological landscapes. Like Lapvona, it presents a gritty, unsentimental view of human nature. The novel's exploration of marginalized perspectives and social dynamics provides a similar narrative depth.
The Essex Serpent
Sarah Perry
A Victorian novel blending historical fiction with supernatural elements. Set in a community wrestling with scientific and religious tensions, it explores social dynamics and belief systems. Similar to Lapvona, it presents a complex narrative of community and individual struggle. The book's atmospheric approach and exploration of human nature provide a compelling parallel.
The Witch
Robert Eggers
While technically a film script, this narrative shares Lapvona's exploration of religious hysteria and social isolation. Set in 1630s New England, it follows a Puritan family experiencing supernatural persecution. The story delves into themes of faith, superstition, and community breakdown. Its dark, atmospheric approach and examination of human nature parallel Moshfegh's novel.
The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton
A historical novel set in 17th-century Amsterdam, exploring hidden social dynamics and personal agency. The story follows a young wife navigating a restrictive society. Like Lapvona, it examines power structures and individual survival strategies. The book's atmospheric detail and exploration of marginalized perspectives make it a resonant recommendation.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Elizabeth George Speare
A historical novel set in a small community wrestling with superstition and social control. The protagonist faces persecution and misunderstanding in a tight-knit society, echoing the dynamics in Lapvona. The book explores themes of outsider status, community judgment, and the power of belief. Its exploration of rural social structures and mystical elements provides a similar narrative landscape.
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