A review by abithoughtful
Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I can understand why this gets labelled horror but it didn't feel like horror to me. A novella preoccupied with things bodily and unruly and caving in on themselves, the atmosphere and sensuality are immaculate but I just wasn't sure what Hval was getting at with the encompassing Eden metaphor. Certainly says something about temptation and insularity and desire and decay, but I'm struggling to straighten out the thesis of those themes in my head. Maybe I need to read it again with my lit crit head on, maybe it's just not that deep (and certainly with themes as big and unstable as original sin and queer sexuality and growth and decay, I struggle to see how less than 150 pages can advance anything especially nuanced). So I suppose an experience of two halves - gorgeous writing, vivid imagery, an atmosphere that will eat you whole, but persisting on mostly vibes with little real bite.