Reviews with content warning for Murder - Paradais

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Paradais by Fernanda Melchor

84 reviews

patidimauro's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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ummefatema's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.25

A difficult book to read; took a while to get into but the pay-off was definitely there. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, surely didn’t think it would be mine but somewhere along halfway it started to come through. The book feels longer than a 100 page novella though, I feel like I’ve just finished a 300 page novel; that’s how much is packed in this.

The actual scheme doesn't really start until the last 20% of the book, the first 80% is just repetitive descriptions of Polo's life and in the most lewd language I have ever read, but like I said, halfway through you get used to the language which also tones down a bit, and that's when it all starts to come together.

The writing was exquisite and I must specially praise the translator because this could not have been easy. But I’m definitely taking a star away for the insufferably long paragraphs. Never thought I’d have to stop reading a book in the MIDDLE of a paragraph but there’s always a first time for everything.

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raila_h's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

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cmcrockford's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Pretty great crime novella even if part of me thinks it should be a short story.

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mermaidstears's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

1.5

read the content warnings before you even consider picking up this book. Heavy topics don't really deter me but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. I understand why some enjoy this but it's an absoulte no from me. stay safe out there x

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bloupibloupreads's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Horrific, disgusting, frightful and nauseating, ‘Paradais’ is a story about porn addiction, taking the reader directly in the mind of a raging misogynistic boy.

Located in a lavish residential complex in Mexico, ‘Paradais’ follows Polo, 16, alcoholic, living in an abusive house with his mother and “oversexed pervert” cousin Zorayda and Franco, or “Fatboy”, an overweight teenager addicted to pornography living in the wealthy residence of Paradise where Polo works as a gardener. Franco develops an unhealthy obsession with his neighbor, Senora Marian, a beautiful woman married with two children.

The two boys end up in an mutualist relationship, Polo gets free alcohol from Franco and Franco gets to have an ear to listen to his horrific rants about Senora Marian. As time goes by, Franco convince Polo to follow him in a gruesome scheme he planned.

‘Paradais’ is narrated in this torrent of prose and stream of thoughts, clustered-like paragraphs that make the reader feel trapped in Polo’s mind as he slowy drives himself to madness.

I knew from the very beginning how the novel would end, not because I was spoiled but because it is quite obvious and yet I still found myself hoping for a good ending, a redemption arc from the characters, wishing for them to back up from their original plan.

I was planning on giving 4 stars but I settled for 3.5 because this book just doesn’t sit right with me. Upon finishing it, I felt like it was more revenge-violence-porn oriented and was lacking in concrete depth and moral. I felt disgusted to say the least. This book is nasty, in a good and bad way.

After sitting and letting the book marinate in my mind I came up with the conclusion that it was not a fun read and was never intended to be one. It is, ultimately, a book about violence and how normalized it is in our society. I applause Fernanda Melchor for her talent.

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