Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Paradais by Fernanda Melchor

16 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

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

nikwui's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

Disturbing and visceral, made me want to throw up a lot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Homophobia, and Sexual violence

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

okaymistelyn's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

this book was….a lot. disgusting, fucked up, uncomfortable, all of it. but it was still good. just prepare yourself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Ableism, Alcoholism, Rape, Body shaming, Alcohol, Violence, Incest, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

margarrrita's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Gore, Incest, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, and Murder

syd_the_bookish_kid's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Stalking, Drug abuse, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Racism, Pregnancy, Blood, Ableism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Cursing, Addiction, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Fatphobia, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Toxic friendship

kaiulanilee's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Violence, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Body shaming

Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, Racism, Torture, Classism, Blood, and Child abuse

jasonwarrick's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

2.5

When it isn’t trying to shock your socks off, there is some really great tension here. You just have to find it in between all of the repetitive descriptions of Polo’s bed, Franco’s fantasy, and Zorayda’s flirting. If the repetition (and some of the edge) had been cut out, this could’ve been a very tight, gripping, and affecting short story, but instead it feels a little one-note.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Rape

ayoderable's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Violence, Incest, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Vomit, Murder, Rape, Blood, Addiction, Gun violence, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Gore