Scan barcode
emilyrowanstudio's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a strange little book. What did I just read? Or listen to, I should say, as I read this via audiobook. There were many times I winced and said "ew" out loud while reading this.
Children of Paradise was moody, morose, atmospheric, drudgy, dreary, grotesque, unnerving and at times, disturbing. This read like a grungy underground indie film, the visual descriptions and creepy metaphors bringing the eerie tone of the prose to life. One character is described as having pupils so dark, his eyes looked like "beetles swimming in milk". The black uniforms of the cinema workers making them look like "ants crawling over a wedding cake". The cinema is a character in itself, and probably the most fleshed out.
Not an awful lot of plot, but a hell of a lot of vibes. This book, to me, seems to be largely about death, advertently and inadvertently. The death of independent picture houses, the death of cinema, the death of character, the death of friendships, the death of life. In very much it's own creepy way, it is, at times, a great comment on capitalism and non/conformity.
To describe Children of Paradise in one word? Unsettling. To say I enjoyed it feels disturbed in itself. Definitely a thinker.
I can't see Children of Paradise winning, or even being shortlisted for, the Womens Prize, but i'm glad my attention was brought to it by being longlisted.
Children of Paradise was moody, morose, atmospheric, drudgy, dreary, grotesque, unnerving and at times, disturbing. This read like a grungy underground indie film, the visual descriptions and creepy metaphors bringing the eerie tone of the prose to life. One character is described as having pupils so dark, his eyes looked like "beetles swimming in milk". The black uniforms of the cinema workers making them look like "ants crawling over a wedding cake". The cinema is a character in itself, and probably the most fleshed out.
Not an awful lot of plot, but a hell of a lot of vibes. This book, to me, seems to be largely about death, advertently and inadvertently. The death of independent picture houses, the death of cinema, the death of character, the death of friendships, the death of life. In very much it's own creepy way, it is, at times, a great comment on capitalism and non/conformity.
To describe Children of Paradise in one word? Unsettling. To say I enjoyed it feels disturbed in itself. Definitely a thinker.
I can't see Children of Paradise winning, or even being shortlisted for, the Womens Prize, but i'm glad my attention was brought to it by being longlisted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Death
minnietimperley's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Excrement, Abortion, and Gore
literaryscouser's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The books shows how something old and disguising can have charm and bring joy, but a forced change to what is topical which financial interest can be more dangerous and damaging. Using cinemas/film watching to explore some very dark themes and question parts of the human thinking and actions is so interesting and captivating. Didn't put it down and is a very quick, dark read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Drug use, Death, and Suicide
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Excrement
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Infidelity, and Vomit
n_t_sh_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Vomit, and Death
linguaphile412's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual violence, and Drug abuse
Minor: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
feebles640's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death, Drug use, Vomit, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual content, Suicide, and Excrement
mc235's review
dark
fast-paced
3.25
this book had a lot going for it, loved the grotesqueness of it all, and found the atmosphere very carefully drawn. however, it was really weighed down by the decision to over-reference films, which felt pretentious and amateurish. the back half of the book, which had noticeably fewer direct references, was much better. a very quick read and despite its flaws I very much enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Abortion, and Vomit
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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.
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
Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, Death, and Suicide