Paradise Rot is a novel written by Jenny Hval. The original Norwegian novel was published in 2009 and was titled Perlebryggeriet (Pearl Brewery). The English version of the book, translated by Marjam Idriss, was published by Verso Books in 2018.[1]
 | |
| Author | Jenny Hval |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Verso Books |
Publication date | October 2, 2018 |
| ISBN | 9781786633835 |
Plot
editJo, a twenty-year-old Norwegian studying abroad in Australia, moves in with an eccentric older girl, Carral, who lives in a renovated old brewery. The apartment has few, thin walls and there is no privacy for either of the girls. As the semester progresses, Jo and Carral grow closer.[2]
Reception
editReviews of Paradise Rot describe the novel as "grotesque",[3] "surreal",[4] and "downright nasty".[5]
Pitchfork's Niina Pollari wrote, "The strength of Paradise Rot is its peculiar narrator, whose headspace provides Hval with a showcase for her descriptive style."[6] PopMatters praised the writing as well: "Paradise Rot is not necessarily a pleasurable read, blurring the lines of the coming-of-age genre with psychological horror and rendered in such lucid, impressionistically descriptive prose that merely reading it makes you feel fairly woozy."[2]
In 2024, the novel experienced a surge in popularity as a 'disturbing book' due to attention from the BookTok community on TikTok.[5]
References
edit- ^ Hval, Jenny (2018). Paradise rot: a novella. Translated by Idriss, Marjam. Verso. ISBN 978-1-78663-383-5.
- ^ a b Krieger, Deborah (2 November 2018). "Reading 'Paradise Rot' Will Leave You Feeling Woozy, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ Pyne, Mollie (18 December 2018). "The Destruction Myth: Jenny Hval's 'Paradise Rot'". 3:AM Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ Tavakoli, Mina (25 October 2018). "In 'Paradise Rot,' Jenny Hval Traces A Surrealistic Sexual Awakening". NPR. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ a b Harvey, Sascha (19 January 2024). "REVIEW: Reading TikTok's favorite 'disturbing books' so you don't have to". The Sunflower. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ Pollari, Niina (19 October 2018). "Jenny Hval's Debut Novel, Paradise Rot, Is a Stunning Slice of Fermented Life". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 August 2024.