Reviews

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

kendallashley's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sandiet's review against another edition

4.0

The adjective gothic describes something that is characterized by mystery, horror, and gloom — especially in literature. Gothic literature combines the genres of romance and horror.

Typically this is a genre I stay well clear of, and it took me awhile to get through it. I do not like horror but I read this because it was one of the five finalists in the 2023 Canada Reads competition. This book is CREEPY with a capital C, I couldn't read it at night but it kept me turning the pages.
Noemí Taboada is sent to El Triunfo by her father to check up on her cousin Catalina. A letter making strange accusations against her husband has Noemí's dad questioning Catalina's sanity. Upon her arrival, almost instantly Noemí begins to feel the coldness of the house and the people within. High Place as the house is called, is a character in this book, literally with a life of it's own and a strange pull on the occupants.
Mushrooms (yes mushrooms), despair, evil, and eugenics all figure prominently in this weird and creepy tale.
Glad I read it, though it's unlikely I'll read anything by this author again.

orla_odonnell's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

calloe's review

4.0

1st time: 3
2nd time: 4

drrodman29's review against another edition

1.0

I truely hated every minute of reading this book. I wanted to DNF every page I read. I nearly threw the book across the room and would of if it belonged to me and not the library. It was so dull! It was not at all scary. It was neither Mexican nor Gothic. The premise was so stupid. Evil mushroom ain’t it. Why mention the stupid snake eating it’s tail 1,000 fucking times? Lock Every Door had the exact same symbol and had a much stronger impact mentioning this symbol a handful of times. The premise of body switching can be done in a fantastic manner i.e., The Skeleton Key. This was not done well in Mexican Gothic. I prey my next read is a five star so I don’t end up in a 6 month reading slump.

vanesszab's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

applemagnet's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dana_yamaguchi's review against another edition

2.0

"The world might indeed be a cursed circle;
the snake swallowed its tail and there could be no end,
only an eternal ruination and endless devouring."
-Noemí Taboada, from Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dannber87's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

amywoo's review against another edition

5.0

Great atmospheric gothic literature. Similar Poe retelling as 'What moves the dead' and somehow even better