Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Children of Paradise

I was hesitant to pick up Children of Paradise. I saw words like surreal and discomforting used to describe it and decided it wasn’t likely to be for me. I was both right and wrong.

What I loved about this novel was its richly descriptive details. The characters and the cinema, definitely a character in its own right, were so clearly and vividly depicted that I was sure I’d been there and met all the staff. It was immersively atmospheric. I also thought the writing brilliantly captured the interpersonal dynamics of a small tight-knot, rather quirky, group who operate in a very insular fashion, for whom the world outside their little bubble doesn’t really exist. It was the quality of the writing which hooked me immediately and carried me through most of the novel. I also enjoyed the chapter headings which were titles of old movies. While I wasn’t familiar with all of them, it was fun drawing connections with the chapters for those movies I did know. I imagine true cinephiles would pick up more from this aspect of the book. Another thing I enjoyed was the storyline related to the cinema being sold to a big chain and the changes that resulted. I connected with this and liked the points it made about what is lost when big corporates take over and drive out smaller, independent, unique businesses.

As the novel progressed it moved more and more in directions that don’t align with my personal taste. Lots of drug use, so many bodily fluids of all types, body horror, sordid sex. Strange things started happening and being seen by the characters. Was this surrealism? Magical realism? Simply the result of heavy drug use? Possibly it was a combination of all of the above. As time passed the body count rose and rose. Such an unlucky cinema to have so many staff and patrons die on the premises.

Much of the novel was not to my personal taste. However, I could appreciate it and enjoyed it much more than expected due to the richly detailed writing. I was transported back to the days when going to the movies was a real experience (although thankfully I never experienced many of the things that occurred at the Paradise) and movie theatres all had their own individual feel.

Content Warnings

camila_caminioca's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

2.5

The kind of book that makes me think 'do I hate literary fiction?'

Content Warnings

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

I'm not sure I entirely "got" this book. Each of the chapters is named after a classic film, but I couldn't see the link between the film and what happened in the chapter (on the rare occasion I'd actually seen the film). It's an odd mix of a tale of a crappy job, forming relationships and surviving within that difficult environment, and an odd smattering of possibly supernatural happenings. I enjoyed it enormously, but couldn't really say why.

Content Warnings