Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Paradise Rot

Also available in English translation as Paradise Rot, we follow Jo as she travels abroad to study biology and ends up living with a strange woman, Carral, in a strange old factory-turned-apartment where there are no real walls.

What starts of as a realistic narrative that brings up feelings of otherness, slowly turns absurd. The lines between Jo and Carral become smudged, and reality turns dreamlike, and I think at its essense it says something about queer desire.

The book really hones in on our senses. It's the sound of textile agains your skin, the smell of rot, the feel of warm milk on your tongue. The body and it's fluids especially gets a lot of attention. Sometimes I feel like I'm sitting too close, unable to look away.

I loved this a lot more thsn I expected to and I implore you to consider reading it.

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morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

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4.0

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meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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anxiousbookclub's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

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vekenega's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.75

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nadia's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A more experimental book compared to what I've read lately! I certainly enjoyed exploring something different. I went into this not knowing what it was about at all and discovered lyrical prose (of what I call the accessible sort) and lots of vivid, sensuous imagery around sex, sexuality, the human body, and bodily fluids...! Not one for you if you are easily grossed out or need books that have a substantial plot, but an intriguing, atmospheric, quick read otherwise.

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