Paradise Rot
Books | Fiction / Coming of Age
3.6
(104)
Jenny Hval
"As intriguing and impressive a novelist as she is a musician, Hval is a master of quiet horror and wonder.”—Chris Kraus, author of I Love DickA lyrical debut novel from a musician and artist renowned for her sharp sexual and political imageryJo is in a strange new country for university and having a more peculiar time than most. In a house with no walls, shared with a woman who has no boundaries, she finds her strange home coming to life in unimaginable ways. Jo’s sensitivity and all her senses become increasingly heightened and fraught, as the lines between bodies and plants, dreaming and wakefulness, blur and mesh.This debut novel from critically acclaimed artist and musician Jenny Hval presents a heady and hyper-sensual portrayal of sexual awakening and queer desire.
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Author
Jenny Hval
Pages
160
Publisher
Verso Books
Published Date
2018-10-02
ISBN
1786633841 9781786633842
Community ReviewsSee all
"This was interesting, immersive, and short and sweet. Sweet? Heady and disorienting. Which I love, so yes, sweet it is. As the characters lose their boundaries, so does the reader with the book."
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CaitVD
"Keep your weird fetishes in the bedroom. Don’t write it into your books. Jesus."
Bee null
"This book mentions the sound of urine so many times that I’m sure the author has some sort of fixation on it. Otherwise, it’s a very fascinating read with lots of vivid imagery, and it’s very short! It’s almost written like a crazy dream where you wake up and think “what the hell just happened?” Would recommend if that’s your gig. "
Jordan Womack
"Vert interesting read. Kept me reading and finished it quickly. The author has very interesting descriptions and takes on the characters. Is it weird to say the ending still has me in a bit of a whirl?? Like i understand overall what’s happening but the exact meaning of the wording i don’t?? If that makes any sense 💭"
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Sydney Spillman
"It was weird and strange, but it had some good moments i enjoyed"
Luna Grey
"A feverish, surreal queer awakening! I initially picked this up because of the synopsis, "a college student living in an apartment with no walls and a woman with no boundaries", it intrigued me but I was NOT prepared for the ride this story would take me on.
I really enjoyed the descriptive writing, even if it could be uncomfortable at times. It portrayed a toxic sapphic relationship in a way that captures just how sticky and tangled it can become.
While I enjoyed surrealist and unique genres, this book wasn't my favorite. I think more character development could have happened in between all the descriptions. It also starts off slow but it's a short read.
I think everyone should read it just for the fun of trying to figure out where the story is going. "
Ash
"I loved it 😊 it was short but sweet (meaning I could enjoy the book without being confused) "
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Nassa Lacey
"Imagine being filled with rotten fruit and decay and sticky frothy fermented foam and you’re sitting there as the rot encases you until youre so deep in the dark sludge that you have to claw your way out and you can feel your tendons strain and snap on the way! That’s the book! I love it!!!! A perfect short read if you want to feel horrible, (I mean that as a high compliment.) suffocating psychological sensory horror, with the perfect mix body horror and complex sapphic yearning sprinkled in there. Visceral, gross, and unsettling, yet sexy and alluring. Undoubtedly my new favorite novel. 10/10⭐️"
Verona
"As lyrical as this book is (and may I say I love Jenny Hval 's music) -- I was a bit underwhelmed. For one, it's incredibly short and if you're looking for a robust novel this is not it. If you want something quick and abstract and pretty, I would highly recommend! It's very conceptual and the language (even as an English translation) is pretty stimulating, but as a piece of literature it fulfills a very specific intellectual craving that I doubt many are looking for. "
Lenny Zimmermann
"I think Hval did a good job incorporating the “rot” element of this story, as well as the weird relationship between Jo and Carral. She did a wonderful job illustrating the setting as well, and I thought the apartment was well intwined with their relationship. However, I wish there was just a tad more focus on the rot and mushrooms itself, as well as more character depth for Jo and Carral. Overall though, the imagery was great, and I enjoyed the story."
Hailey Showalter