| Paradais | |
| Author: | Fernanda Melchor |
| Title Orig: | Páradais |
| Orig Lang Code: | es |
| Translator: | Sophie Hughes |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Publisher: | Literatura Random House |
| Pub Date: | 2 February 2021[1] |
| English Pub Date: | 23 March 2022[2] |
| Media Type: | Print (paperback) |
| Pages: | 200 |
| Isbn: | 978-607-31-8797-8 |
| Oclc: | 1179050066 |
| Dewey: | 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". 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,”[...]" Franco's father is a lawyer.[6] Franco has a sexual obsession with Señora Marián.
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]