"Perfectly formed . . . Although easily devoured in one sitting, this clever little book is to be contemplated at length afterwards." –The Guardian
"Showing how a child absorbs violence without awareness that something is wrong is a tricky endeavor. Mr. Villalobos nails it." –
Susannah Meadows, The New York Times "
Down the Rabbit Hole is a miniature high-speed experiment with perspective . . . A deliberate, wild attack on the conventions of literature." –
Adam Thirlwell "Juan Pablo Villalobos brilliantly encapsulates the chaos of a lawless existence in which, under the sway of drug lords, anything might happen and everything goes . . .
Down the Rabbit Hole is an astonishing debut." –
Lucy Popescu, The Independent "If you're going to have an imprisoned child narrate a novel, then not so much as a word should be out of place. There are no such slips in Juan Pablo Villalobos's debut novella. We have here a control over the material which is so tight it is almost claustrophobic . . . This is a novel about failing to understand the bigger picture, and in its absence we can see it more clearly." –
Nicholas Lezard, The Guardian, Choice of the Week "Villalobos creates Tochtli's half-corrupt, half-innocent world . . . with a brilliant, tragi-comic light touch." –
Jane Shilling, Daily Mail "Juan Pablo Villalobos has done a masterful job creating a child narrator . . .
Down the Rabbit Hole is, on the surface, innocent, clever and lovable, but its implications are deeply disturbing . . . [it] is a remarkable reflection on the uncontrollable narco violence that defines contemporary Mexico. And it's an absolute must read." –
The Coffin Factory "The riveting voice of Tochtli grasps our hearts as we realize that this is a world where even fate can be governed by power. In this miasma of pathos and politics,
Down the Rabbit Hole brilliantly incorporates dreams, loyalty and the loss of innocence." –
Alice Tao, The Houston Chronicle "With this book we have discovered Juan Pablo Villalobos, a linguistic virtuoso able to penetrate the elusive world of literature, shedding light on many of its mysteries." –
José Antonio Aguado, Diari de Terrassa "With
Down the Rabbit Hole, Juan Pablo Villalobos has made a dramatic entrance into the literary world. It is a book that must be read for its great aesthetic value and darkly humorous tone. A book that throws a clear light on a dark subject." –
Teresa García Díaz, Amerika