Laura van den Berg's State of Paradise is a surreal exploration of reality, memory, and the uncanny, set against the enigmatic backdrop of Florida's eerie contradictions. Sunlit beaches and sprawling swamps, suburban normalcy laced with an undercurrent of dread. Sinkholes swallow entire streets, a strange cult lurks in the background, and a virtual reality company seems to manipulate perception itself. The novel’s Florida is not just a setting but a reflection of its protagonist’s disorientation, where the boundary between the real and the surreal constantly shifts. Van den Berg amplifies this sense of unease through precise, hypnotic prose, making Florida feel both hauntingly beautiful and deeply unsettling.
State of Paradise follows an unnamed ghostwriter who, after a mysterious illness, returns to her late mother's home. There, she becomes entangled in a series of bizarre events, including her sister's disappearance, the emergence of a local cult, and the unsettling presence of a virtual reality company called ELECTRA. Van den Berg shifts the ordinary with extraordinary, crafting a narrative that's perplexingly engaging. The novel's structure, composed of interconnected vignettes, enhances its dreamlike quality, drawing readers into a labyrinthine exploration of the human psyche.
Critics have praised State of Paradise for its inventive storytelling and atmospheric depth. NPR lauded it as a "wonderful, enigmatic novel that effortlessly blends the commonplace and the extraordinary." The Chicago Review of Books highlighted its ability to "express this moment of transition we’re all in," capturing the unease of contemporary existence. Additionally, Time recognized the novel among its "100 Must-Read Books of 2024," noting van den Berg's "visceral and keenly observed" depiction of Florida's landscape.
Van den Berg immerses readers in a world where the boundaries between the real and the surreal blur. Her portrayal of Florida is particularly striking, transforming the state into a character unto itself, swampy, mysterious, and teeming with hidden dangers. The novel's exploration of themes such as grief, technology, and the search for meaning resonates deeply, offering a poignant reflection on the complexities of modern life.
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