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A review by ribbenkast
Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval
fast-paced
3.0
It's genuinly beautifully written but I feel like the strong prose and the extensive metaphores were hiding the the fact that the book barely has any substance. I really like the rotting paradise imagery, it was very evocative. But the plot didn't have enough built up and bulk to warrant it. It feels like a waste.
I don't think I'm the right audience. Im Dutch and I don't know much about Norwegian literature. But the "weirdness" of this book is bog-standard Ducth lit nonsense. I think this book was meant to shock me somehow. And from that shock it wanted me to draw the conclusion that this book must have a deeper meaning. But to me it wasn't shocking, maybe this works better on less desensitised audiences. Long overly descriptive passages about piss don't necessarily make a book literary or deep, unfortunately.
I loved the themes and I desperately wanted to connect more with this book, but when I finished I just shrugged my shoulders and moved on.
I don't think I'm the right audience. Im Dutch and I don't know much about Norwegian literature. But the "weirdness" of this book is bog-standard Ducth lit nonsense. I think this book was meant to shock me somehow. And from that shock it wanted me to draw the conclusion that this book must have a deeper meaning. But to me it wasn't shocking, maybe this works better on less desensitised audiences. Long overly descriptive passages about piss don't necessarily make a book literary or deep, unfortunately.
I loved the themes and I desperately wanted to connect more with this book, but when I finished I just shrugged my shoulders and moved on.