Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Paradais / Paradise by Fernanda Melchor

131 reviews

sarajjunu's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

writing is good but it’s so boring!!! the plot is okay? i get the shock value aspects in the end but it’s just so annoying and since the protagonist had ZERO depth to him there was really nothing to focus on when reading? it was all “fatboy this fatboy that my annoying mom my stupid cousin” and then they do something horrible in the end and it’s like… okay? i feel like this entire book could’ve been 30 pages because i would’ve loved to read about the narrator AFTER the event because he finally seemed to be developing but nooo

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Rape, Murder, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Sexism, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Incest

schlizzzy's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Murder

Moderate: Vomit

abxgxil's review against another edition

3.5

This book is very disturbing, and I had very little sympathy for any of the characters. But, I couldn’t put it down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, and Misogyny

cat_22's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Alcoholism, Violence, Blood, and Sexual assault

ceco_'s review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fernanda Melchor's best on display. Her stream of consciousness writing style propels you though the narrative at a dizzying, breakneck pace only to come out the other side surprised at how much character work, themes and perspectives you've absorbed along the way. 

Paradais holds up a mirror to the class divide, misogyny and gang violence playing out in Mexico. It's unflinching in the cruelty it portrays, yet honest. Because as twisted as these characters are, as foul and sickening their actions, there's no doubt in your mind that they do exist somewhere out there, maybe not in this exact configuration, not in this exact crime, but an echo all the same. 

I don't recommend this book if you have a weak stomach. Melchor pulls no punches in the way these characters interact with each other and the world. I'm talking fatphobic, homophic and misogynistic slurs + tropes littering almost every page. Read with caution. It will disgust you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest and Rape

twtoppings's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The writing flowed well, mostly long sentences, running on as fast as thoughts. One large paragraph made up of only a couple long sentences. I really liked that. 
Written in 3rd person.

I was so captured by the story, I had a hard time putting it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Kidnapping

katsteele5's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Amazing prose, truly beautiful writing, and yet somehow seems to be unrelentingly dark for the sake of it. I can’t really wrap my head around this. 

I didn’t find Polo’s immediate willingness to go along with Franco’s scheme very convincing. I might have felt a lot differently about it had that not been the case.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

sharissaneault's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Addiction, Rape, and Murder

veara_'s review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

connieevans's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was just too brutal and too much for me. I can appreciate what (I think) Melchor is trying to do - highlight how poverty/wealth can warp an individuals grasp on life and what is worth doing and what they’re entitled to do - however I really struggled to see past the disgustingness of this novel and I just spent the whole time feeling sick and wanting it to end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Alcohol