First edition cover
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| Author | Fernanda Melchor |
|---|---|
| Original title | Páradais |
| Translator | Sophie Hughes |
| Language | Spanish |
| Publisher | Literatura Random House |
Publication date | 2 February 2021[1] |
| Publication place | Mexico |
Published in English | 23 March 2022[2] |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 200 |
| ISBN | 978-607-31-8797-8 |
| OCLC | 1179050066 |
| 863/.7 | |
Paradais (originally titled Páradais in Spanish) is a novel by Mexican author Fernanda Melchor. It was published in its original Spanish in 2021 by Literatura Random House.[3] An English translation by Sophie Hughes was published in 2022 by Fitzcarraldo Editions and New Direction Books.
Benjamin P. Russell of the Houston Chronicle described the novel as a "commentary on" the "often haunting facts" of Mexico, stating "a more incisive commentary [...] would be hard to find."[4]
This was the second Melchor novel to receive an officially published English translation.[5]
The setting is the gated community Paradais, located in the state of Veracruz. The novel is about a teenage duo, Franco Andrade and Leopoldo "Polo" García Chaparro,[6] who do criminal activity together.[7]
Franco, who lives in Paradais,[6] has the nickname "fatboy".[8] Franco is from a wealthy family, has little social success. Franco wants to have intercourse but has not found a willing female partner.[7] Gabriella Martin of Harvard Review wrote that Franco is "Exhibiting all the qualities of a classic “incel,”[...]"[8] Franco's father is a lawyer.[6] Franco has a sexual obsession with Señora Marián.[8]
Polo is from a low socioeconomic background and works at Paradise by gardening. Polo, who did not graduate from senior high school,[8] is 16 years old.[6] Justin Torres of The New York Times compared Polo to Bigger Thomas.[7]
Señora Marián is married to a television host and has two children. She lives adjacent to Franco.[8]
Justin Torres of The New York Times stated that the work is "seductive" despite the "unbroken wall of text" that makes a "visual effect", and he praised the work of the translator for showing "vitality of the prose".[7] The English translation of the novel was longlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.[9]
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