Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Fra Drømmehuset

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Fra Drømmehuset by Carmen Maria Machado

1240 reviews

arkwen452's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Carmen's account of her upbringing and identity even as she is involved in her relationship was raw and unrestricted. I was aware of the contents of this book when I picked it up but there were still things that surprised me.

I cannot speak on the specifics of domestic abuse history among Queer relationships. In The Dream house is really my first introduction to the subject specifically.

It's an important narrative on the topic and a good book to explore.

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charrlee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Everything began tasting like an almost epiphany, and the final swallow did end in epiphany. One way or another, we all air our the ghosts in our houses.

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mbzoller's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

This was so well executed with the fragmented prose. I was blow away by Machado's ability to say so much without detailing explicitly the events. She was so adept at making the reader remember an image, phrase, or scenario that was called back for extra effect.

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madsylvie's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative fast-paced

5.0

this is the most insane and incredible memoir i’ve ever read. hands down. there is not a single line in this book, not even a word, without a great use or intention. read it.

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idesofjaim's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

I initially struggled reading this one but I’m glad I came back to it in audiobook form, read by the author. Though I’ve never been in an abusive situation of this magnitude, there were parts that certainly touched upon wounds in my own life. I relate very much to Carmen in the way of a fellow overweight nerd who struggled with the concept of being loved. I know that has had a very big influence in how I’ve gotten into certain romantic situations in my life.

Where I struggled the most with this book was the pacing. In a way, the way you have some of these “cut scenes,” as I like to call them, reflects how our memory can be after trauma. All that’s left are glimpses. But they often felt jarring, and I was glad when we got to a longer “chapter,” if you can call them that. Also, sometimes the literary allusion and metaphor and whatnot felt heavy, but that’s my own personal beef with the style I see from those who have gone through creative writing programs.

I do greatly value Machado’s own story interlaced with the complex commentary on abuse in queer—particularly wlw—relationships. For that alone, this work is invaluable. But with everything said, I would readily recommend this book.

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