CBR Bingo – Funky, because like most Moshfegh novels this book isn’t afraid to really get into the funk of being a human.
I am still trying to decide how much I actually like Moshfegh’s novels. I really enjoy her WRITING, and her books keep me interested the whole time, which I suppose are two signs that I really like her. She’s not at all squeamish about human bodies, and there’s something sort of refreshing in that. And yet, there are images in her novels that you just cannot UNread, that plant a picture in your mind rather deeply and disturbingly. I’m not altogether sure I like the feeling after reading her novels. Is that the point of her novels, to confront us with our own discomfort?
Anyway, this novel is bleak. Set in a medieval village (Lapvona), the cast of characters includes Marek (an abused son of a shepherd who believes his disfiguration and bouts of physical abuse from his father are surefire signs he’s on his way to heaven), his father (a delusional shepherd), Ina (a witchy wet nurse), Father Barnabas (a corrupt local priest living the high life at the castle) and Villiam (the mad king of the village). Marek has never known his mother, and believes that she died in childbirth because that’s how his father explained it to him, going so far as to create a gravesite for them to visit annually. The novel follows the course of a year, summer – winter – fall – spring, and with each season comes further deterioration for the village and its inhabitants.
Most of the village inhabitants are poor and dependent on King Villiam’s generosity for food, water, and protection from bandits who raid the village with unquestioned regularity. They have almost no idea what happens in Villiam’s castle, because most of them never have the opportunity to visit. Villiam is, of course, basically insane, using his wealth to buy amusement after amusement for himself with very little thought about anything beyond his own pleasure. Father Barnabas is complicit in helping Villiam to feel satisfied with that arrangement – but in this year, things take a turn that even Father Barnabas begins to question. A series of events brings Marek to the castle, reveals secrets of his parentage, and draws the magical Ina from her forest dwelling to the castle for some truly stomach-turning midwifery.
This book is quite compelling, and yet as I said above I’m not sure it worked for me. The plot felt a little meandering rather than driven, and while I appreciate the experimentation with forms this didn’t feel like it worked as well as A Year of Rest and Relaxation, which had some similar notes (unlikeable characters, not being shy about bodies) but worked much better in my opinion.