Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Paradais by Fernanda Melchor

20 reviews

joy_lin's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual violence

laneport's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.5

An incredible work of literature and translation. But brutal, and hard to enjoy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child death, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

Minor: Drug use and Cursing

darbo's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

A disgusting and vulgar piece of literature.

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, Blood, and Sexual content

luna_snowfeather's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

 This book was brutal in the best way possible. Absolutly Unhinged.

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Fatphobia, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Violence

ornebbn's review

dark tense fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Rape, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Fatphobia

_chonklord_'s review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Addiction, and Toxic friendship

reider's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

coramorton02's review against another edition

dark tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Murder, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, and Incest

pain_org's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This is probably, without a doubt, the darkest most unforgiving book I have ever read. Wow, did I enjoy it though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Bullying, and Body shaming

daisywilkins's review against another edition

dark tense 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? Yes

5.0

The luxury housing estate, Paradais, becomes the scene of a gruesome scheme devised by two outcast teenagers, sex-obsessed Franco and tired Polo, who feel they are deserving of the things they desire.

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!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Addiction, Murder, and Toxic friendship