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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
machado redefined the memoir. she put you in the dream house, perfectly balancing personal reflection and commentary on abuse in lesbian relationships. one of the most impactful and important books I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual content, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
Read 4 queer book club
This is another body of work that makes me marvel at the humanity of it. How does one put the challenges and complexities of human emotion and experience onto a page so eloquently? The amount of time, effort, and will required to bring this memoir into the world gives me a sense of such wonder. The format it's being told in is so brilliant and innovative and powerful.
My heart aches for anyone that even remotely identifies with the things that happened to Carmen Maria Machado in her memoir, and my heart especially aches for this woman who is clearly beyond amazing, courageous, and strong to even write, let alone publish, something so vulnerable. The whole thing speaks to her creative genius in a way I don't think is possible to ever rival. This book blew literary constraints away (as well as my mind) like they were nothing.
My heart aches for anyone that even remotely identifies with the things that happened to Carmen Maria Machado in her memoir, and my heart especially aches for this woman who is clearly beyond amazing, courageous, and strong to even write, let alone publish, something so vulnerable. The whole thing speaks to her creative genius in a way I don't think is possible to ever rival. This book blew literary constraints away (as well as my mind) like they were nothing.
I’ve read a lot of really phenomenal memoirs this year, and this one joins the ranks. Carmen Maria Machado using horror-tropes to write about her past abusive same-sex relationship. Not only is the conceit of this memoir very unique and creative, but the writing itself is also a gut-punch.
I love a book that plays with structure and In the Dream House delivers. I was worried that my expectations were too high after seeing nothing but praise, but it really is That. Good. The writing is beautiful and the story is in some ways scarier than all the horror books I've read this year. I was especially taken with her musings on ephemera and proof. Because our brains really do paradoxically try to protect us by trying to convince us , "it wasn't that bad" about even fairly mundane things to the point were we aren't fully convinced of our own experiences. Maybe I was just being dramatic. The Dream House as Unexpected Kindness also really rang true to me as a queer and leftist person in the Midwest. I have definitely been half affectionally/half condescendingly called someone's "favorite democrat", and I think everyone I know has a complicated relationship with conservative people in their life. I can usually give or take a memoir but this one really is incredible.
Wow. What an incredibly beautiful book. This book made me laugh, cry, and think. Carmen is so similar to me, even down to her endometriosis experiences. I can also relate to this book from past, personal experiences, making it all the more beautiful and heart breaking. This piece has such an important discussion on queer intimate partner violence. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone willing to listen to her story.
absolutely fantastic. memoir meets historical fiction meets choose your own adventure - all seamlessly interwoven...what more could you want? seriously incredible.