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joy_lin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
ayoderable's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
darbo's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
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.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
luna_snowfeather's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
lorelai98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
cianarae's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy
_chonklord_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
ninadickens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Alcohol
victoriajacobi's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia
daisywilkins's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This short piece packs a punch - a classic Melchor punch of a grim and brutal depiction of toxic masculinity and a fragile society. There’s a lot of parallels with Hurricane Season throughout - difficult relationships between mothers and their children, lives governed by poverty, misogyny and violence against women. It’s hard to feel any sympathy for Franco and Polo in Paradais, but I couldn’t help but feel for Polo and his relationship to his mother - it’s just so sad.
While Melchor’s works adopt really graphic and sometimes disturbing themes, there’s something so addictive about her style. Her writing is so lyrical and powerful, charged with so much emotion and anger that it’s impossible to put down. I’m yet to find another author like her.
Melchor should come with a trigger warning, so do check these out before reading her work. Paradais is really not for the faint-hearted!
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship