- This extraordinary little novel, only 124 pages, made it onto the 2022 International Booker Prize longlist, and it so well deserved the honour. It is superbly translated from Spanish by Sophie Hughes.
- Written in stunningly vital prose, full of passion and anger, it's a grenade in your hand.
- Franco ('Fatboy') and Polo, are Mexican misfits in their mid-teens. Fatboy is sexually obsessed with the beautiful and sexy Senora Marian who lives with her husband and young son in an apartment in the new upmarket residential precinct, Paradais. Fatboy also lives there with his wealthy grandparents. We don't know what happened to his parents. He is obsessed with porn. Polo, lower class and a school dropout, is employed by the precinct as a gardener. He loathes the job and considers Fatboy an ugly, flatulent, pain in the arse.
- However he sticks with him as Fatboy funds their nightly binge drinking and smoking. It's the only joy they have, apart from sex.
- Polo's world is violent and controlled by Narcos. There is no escape. His older cousin Milton, who he likes, was savagely beaten by a vicious gang and had no option but to join them. His female cousin, Zorayda, a 'slut' who Polo had frequent sex with, got pregnant. Perhaps the baby is his.
- The story builds to a shattering and tragic climax. There is only death and hopelessness in this community. Certainly no future.
- Immerse yourself in the sheer orgasmic joy of Melchor's blistering prose, and have a nice day.
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