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A review by emilyrowanstudio
Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a strange little book. What did I just read? Or listen to, I should say, as I read this via audiobook. There were many times I winced and said "ew" out loud while reading this.
Children of Paradise was moody, morose, atmospheric, drudgy, dreary, grotesque, unnerving and at times, disturbing. This read like a grungy underground indie film, the visual descriptions and creepy metaphors bringing the eerie tone of the prose to life. One character is described as having pupils so dark, his eyes looked like "beetles swimming in milk". The black uniforms of the cinema workers making them look like "ants crawling over a wedding cake". The cinema is a character in itself, and probably the most fleshed out.
Not an awful lot of plot, but a hell of a lot of vibes. This book, to me, seems to be largely about death, advertently and inadvertently. The death of independent picture houses, the death of cinema, the death of character, the death of friendships, the death of life. In very much it's own creepy way, it is, at times, a great comment on capitalism and non/conformity.
To describe Children of Paradise in one word? Unsettling. To say I enjoyed it feels disturbed in itself. Definitely a thinker.
I can't see Children of Paradise winning, or even being shortlisted for, the Womens Prize, but i'm glad my attention was brought to it by being longlisted.
Children of Paradise was moody, morose, atmospheric, drudgy, dreary, grotesque, unnerving and at times, disturbing. This read like a grungy underground indie film, the visual descriptions and creepy metaphors bringing the eerie tone of the prose to life. One character is described as having pupils so dark, his eyes looked like "beetles swimming in milk". The black uniforms of the cinema workers making them look like "ants crawling over a wedding cake". The cinema is a character in itself, and probably the most fleshed out.
Not an awful lot of plot, but a hell of a lot of vibes. This book, to me, seems to be largely about death, advertently and inadvertently. The death of independent picture houses, the death of cinema, the death of character, the death of friendships, the death of life. In very much it's own creepy way, it is, at times, a great comment on capitalism and non/conformity.
To describe Children of Paradise in one word? Unsettling. To say I enjoyed it feels disturbed in itself. Definitely a thinker.
I can't see Children of Paradise winning, or even being shortlisted for, the Womens Prize, but i'm glad my attention was brought to it by being longlisted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Death