Reviews with content warning for Murder - Paradais / Paradise

A disgusting and vulgar piece of literature.

Paradais certainly was not a favourite of mine. Fernanda Melchor uses disgusting and vulgar language that might deter some readers, and make the ones that do decide to stick around uncomfortable. However, this is not a definite. I am sure there are also readers who do not mind that sort of language, and I obviously see the point the author is trying to make with this. It is quite clearly the voice of someone who is angry, and for good reason. At the same time as being a disgusting, misogynistic, and cynical piece of literature with absolutely unlikeable characters, it is also a voice that needs to be heard and an issue people need to talk about urgently.

However, let me warn you. This book fulfills all the trigger warnings you can think of; alcoholism, misogyny, violence, r*pe - just to name a few. And all of them are very much graphic at that.

Needless to say, this book was not the one for me, hence the 3/5 stars (3.5 on StoryGraph). I agree with the authors' point, but I disliked how they chose to portray it, even though such offensive language and violence is probably the right way to do it. Better to just read it for yourself.

Content Warnings

alliereads_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I wanted to like this book so badly. The description sounded just edgy and uncomfortable enough to be up my alley, but this book is actually just 110 pages of unfettered swears, slurs, and violence. I’m not someone who is easily repulsed, nor was I necessarily by this book, but I was uncomfortable in the bad way.

Melchor has some beautiful prose, but the unbroken walls of text that some critics have praised were just overwhelming to me. The pages of run-on sentences were too easy to get lost in - not in the daydreamy way, but in the actually losing my place on the page way. I despised both of the main characters, who I found hateful and pathetic. At points throughout the story, I thought that perhaps the author was approaching a point, but she never quite followed through.

There were quite literally no redeeming qualities about this story to me; nothing that made me want to keep reading. I only finished the book because I committed to it for a book club, and that book club is literally just me and one other person. Obviously, with a place on the longlist for the 2022 International Booker Prize, this book spoke positively to many people. I, unfortunately, was just not one of them.

Content Warnings

luna_snowfeather's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was brutal in the best way possible. Absolutly Unhinged.

We follow 2 teens in mexico as they graple with their place in society. Melchor's writing makes you almost feel for them as you are brought into this intense moment in their lives, when they are really at their worst. What they do is horrific, and completely deranged.
I have seen many bad reviews for this book, and can put it down only to its very graphic writing. It is not for the delicate, and features very graphic and vivid images of sexual violence and complete madness. If that's not for you, then do not read this.

I found it so unbelievably adictive, I only wanted to continue. The pages practically turned themselves, especially at the end... I'd recomend to anyone who is mentally able to take it, it's not for everyone.

Content Warnings

loreeennaaa's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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georgiarybanks's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Content Warnings

soj19's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

Content Warnings

emilymayreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

1.25

i think i understand what paradais tries to do, but the eventual execution of its ideas was just not it for me. melchor def delves into many aspects of life in mexico - or a particular kind of the country if u will - be it class, sex, colorism and life under gang control. the novel shows a unfiltered, brutal look into the lives of those rarely given such glaring spotlight in books. moreover, once the action gets going, it becomes a thrilling, rollicking ride thats almost impossible to stop.

w/ that said, a lot of the content can be raw, dark and challenging. this isnt a bad thing, esp as it's a necessity in the book, inseparable from the reality of the world depicted. my issue is when coupled w/ the endless droning narrative - or unending descriptions thats bafflingly detailed to the point of being redundant, to be more apt - of the story's first half, it becomes almost unbearable to trudge on and read.

ig melchor's technical and stylistic choice here is supposed to firmly put readers into polo's and franco's heads, providing a rationale or explanation for two main characters' warped views and choices that ultimately result in the tragic ending, but it simply overwhelms the narrative for me. the entire first half's spent describing and explaining both characters' psyches and situations, and imo for a supposed thriller there's too little action that drives the story forward, w/ the characters' actual plotting and action - which is excellent btw - only taking place in the last 20% or so.

considering the book's rating im obvs in the minority here and i do wish i could like it, but this just isnt it for me.

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