I can't believe I forgot to mention this in my review, but Sarah, who I'm connected to on GoodReads, summed 'Lapvona' up perfectly: 'it’s not the novel we want, but it feels like the one we deserve.' 100 percent correct!
Thank you for this amazing review of a book I probably won’t read. This one is a great example of why I love to read good book reviews, but not necessarily the actual books! The review can live on its own.
What Leslie said, plus: Glad to see you picked up True Grit. I’m a big Portis fan. Library of America published his collected works this year. His first novel Norwood is my favorite—so funny. He was a master of deadpan humor. True Grit is a bit of an outlier but also a great read for me—the narrator he creates—wow.
I’m dying at a character coughing up a toe 😂 this plot is WILD. You’ve nailed this review - making it sound appealing whilst also not necessarily recommending it, so much book review skill! Well done. Looking forward to you reading Grain Of Wheat as it’s on my shelf!
Hahaha we all have a couple of those books that become part of the furniture - one of mine is Crime and Punishment. Waiting for the day to strike where I want to read it... Here’s to it being a compelling read (so that I’ll pick it up off the shelf after your review)
Thank you for your review. As others have commented, nowI know I won’t read it. While the author is making very valid observations and arguments about society then and now, the graphic nature of the book is probably too much for me. I tend to dwell on tough parts of books and they can really affect my mood.
As for True Grit, I read it for a read along fairly recently and was shocked by how much I liked it. I hope you enjoy it as well and looking forward to your review in December. Happy Marathon Day!!
Thanks, Kate! As I was writing the newsletter today, I was thinking 'this is definitely not for Kate.' Steer clear for sure! I'm excited to share True Grit soon. I flew through it on the train back from Montauk. A tight and good story, and what a tremendous narrator! It's a beautiful day for a marathon! Hope all is well with you.
I wasn’t sure before if this book was shocking just to be shocking but your review gives me more context and I’m actually more interested in reading it now. Not sure when I’ll be quite “in the mood” for this one though.
Thanks, Sarah! I totally get it. This is why people who lie about reading this book will be easy to spot. There is no getting through it, even if you don't finish it, unscathed.
“Wow. Yikes” is a perfect rating. Love your review!! This was my experience as well. I also feel like there’s a generous heaping of schadenfreude in Moshfegh’s work that makes the read so uncomfortable and yet compels you back.
Thanks, Amani! You're 100 percent right. So many times I was like, I'm done with this, but yet there was something to it that compelled me to continue. Part of it was 'where is she going with this?' and another part was 'all these characters need to have a bad end.'
You've settled the question for me. This one will go to the bottom of a future TBR stack. I am grateful to you for reading this because I will not do it right away. I can't say never but it will be a long long long time.
thanks for the honest review on Lapvona. I guess I need a year to hype myself up to read this. 😂 I just finished Down the Drain and wow it’s a whole other world.
Thanks, Jam! You definitely have to gear up for Lapvona. I'm super excited for Down the Drain. I'm thinking of doing a roundup of celeb memoirs next year, including that one.
ohhh nice. I recommend I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mccurdy if it isn’t on your list yet. I also enjoyed You’re That Bitch by Bretman Rock but only because I love him so much!
I just want to know how Moshfegh LIVED inside this book for long enough to write it. We might need to check on her. Also why does Julia Fox have a memoir??? You need to report back on that one. Lastly, Calvin and Hobbes is one of the single greatest creations on the planet and I still read it to this day when I need uplifting.
Julia Fox is also someone I find very interesting. She was so good in Uncut Gems. Martha and I are looking to do a co-read or something. Feel free to join us!
I haven’t read C&H in forever but I recently found all my collection books. Need to give those a reread.
This article is a great find!! Julia Fox is an anomaly - let me know when you start and I’ll hop on the buddy read. I love memoirs on audiobook and it’s now on Spotify so there’s my sign
I can't believe I forgot to mention this in my review, but Sarah, who I'm connected to on GoodReads, summed 'Lapvona' up perfectly: 'it’s not the novel we want, but it feels like the one we deserve.' 100 percent correct!
Thanks, Rachel! Totally fine to stay clear of this one because woof indeed!
Thank you for this amazing review of a book I probably won’t read. This one is a great example of why I love to read good book reviews, but not necessarily the actual books! The review can live on its own.
Thank you, friend! Glad you liked the review.
Exactly!
What Leslie said, plus: Glad to see you picked up True Grit. I’m a big Portis fan. Library of America published his collected works this year. His first novel Norwood is my favorite—so funny. He was a master of deadpan humor. True Grit is a bit of an outlier but also a great read for me—the narrator he creates—wow.
Thanks, Brian! True Grit was a book that had been on my list for a long time and I'm glad I found it. Look for my review in December.
I’m dying at a character coughing up a toe 😂 this plot is WILD. You’ve nailed this review - making it sound appealing whilst also not necessarily recommending it, so much book review skill! Well done. Looking forward to you reading Grain Of Wheat as it’s on my shelf!
Thanks, Martha! I appreciate the kind word. And A Grain of Wheat has been on my pile forever. I couldn't bear to drag it into another year.
Hahaha we all have a couple of those books that become part of the furniture - one of mine is Crime and Punishment. Waiting for the day to strike where I want to read it... Here’s to it being a compelling read (so that I’ll pick it up off the shelf after your review)
Thank you for your review. As others have commented, nowI know I won’t read it. While the author is making very valid observations and arguments about society then and now, the graphic nature of the book is probably too much for me. I tend to dwell on tough parts of books and they can really affect my mood.
As for True Grit, I read it for a read along fairly recently and was shocked by how much I liked it. I hope you enjoy it as well and looking forward to your review in December. Happy Marathon Day!!
Thanks, Kate! As I was writing the newsletter today, I was thinking 'this is definitely not for Kate.' Steer clear for sure! I'm excited to share True Grit soon. I flew through it on the train back from Montauk. A tight and good story, and what a tremendous narrator! It's a beautiful day for a marathon! Hope all is well with you.
I wasn’t sure before if this book was shocking just to be shocking but your review gives me more context and I’m actually more interested in reading it now. Not sure when I’ll be quite “in the mood” for this one though.
Thanks, Renee! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it if the mood ever strikes to pick it up. It's intense, for sure!
I keep pushing this one off until "I'm in the right head space." But I'm not sure I ever will be?
Thanks, friend! Yeah, this is one of those books where the mood to read it might never come. And that's OK. Plenty of other books out there!
Yeah, I don't think I'll be tackling that one. Excellent use of gifs, though! 👍
Thanks, Gina! Glad you enjoyed the review.
This was a great review, Mike... and I still can't with this book 🙈
Thanks, Sarah! I totally get it. This is why people who lie about reading this book will be easy to spot. There is no getting through it, even if you don't finish it, unscathed.
True. I have no problem admitting I didn't finish it -- I don't even think I got 70 pages in.
“Wow. Yikes” is a perfect rating. Love your review!! This was my experience as well. I also feel like there’s a generous heaping of schadenfreude in Moshfegh’s work that makes the read so uncomfortable and yet compels you back.
Thanks, Amani! You're 100 percent right. So many times I was like, I'm done with this, but yet there was something to it that compelled me to continue. Part of it was 'where is she going with this?' and another part was 'all these characters need to have a bad end.'
hahah for real!!
You've settled the question for me. This one will go to the bottom of a future TBR stack. I am grateful to you for reading this because I will not do it right away. I can't say never but it will be a long long long time.
Thanks, Betsy! Happy to help!
thanks for the honest review on Lapvona. I guess I need a year to hype myself up to read this. 😂 I just finished Down the Drain and wow it’s a whole other world.
Thanks, Jam! You definitely have to gear up for Lapvona. I'm super excited for Down the Drain. I'm thinking of doing a roundup of celeb memoirs next year, including that one.
ohhh nice. I recommend I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mccurdy if it isn’t on your list yet. I also enjoyed You’re That Bitch by Bretman Rock but only because I love him so much!
Thanks for the recs! Donna has read the McCurdy book and said it was good so it's on my list. I'll check out the Bretman Rock one, too!
I've had Lapvona for a while but you just made me really want to read it now!
Thanks, Mercè! If you decide to read it, let me know what you think!
I just want to know how Moshfegh LIVED inside this book for long enough to write it. We might need to check on her. Also why does Julia Fox have a memoir??? You need to report back on that one. Lastly, Calvin and Hobbes is one of the single greatest creations on the planet and I still read it to this day when I need uplifting.
Thanks friend! Your question led me to this article in The Guardian: https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/13/ottessa-moshfegh-im-not-brainstorming-ways-to-freak-people-out-lapvona-paperback
Her answer is fascinating.
Julia Fox is also someone I find very interesting. She was so good in Uncut Gems. Martha and I are looking to do a co-read or something. Feel free to join us!
I haven’t read C&H in forever but I recently found all my collection books. Need to give those a reread.
This article is a great find!! Julia Fox is an anomaly - let me know when you start and I’ll hop on the buddy read. I love memoirs on audiobook and it’s now on Spotify so there’s my sign
My library hold is down to ~7 weeks