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allygirl50's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
ashlynseehafer93's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.25
quietneptune's review against another edition
5.0
Pretty phenomenal! One of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time!
thornemyers's review against another edition
5.0
Haunting and beautifully written and visceral, this is definitely one of my favorite books that I’ve read so far. The complex dynamics of abuse are often difficult to explain in a way that really captures the felt experience and lasting impacts and this book really does that. The choose your own adventure style section in particular. I’d recommend to everyone, particularly folks who have experienced abuse in queer relationships (though it is intense to read) and folks supporting friends healing from relationships where abuse was present.
howilson's review against another edition
5.0
Carmen Machado eloquently dives into her experiences with same sex partner domestic abuse while also touching on the history and complexity of the issue. While this book can be hard at times because of the subject matter the representation and clear explanation of erasure and shame in this space is excellently illustrated.
linka1000's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately, the style of writing didn't work for me. I found the second person narrative unnecessarily artificial.
Update: Read it again, still not a fan.
Update: Read it again, still not a fan.
waxbiplane's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, even as the subject was exceedingly hard. Machado writes about her abuse and her life surrounding it with such a light touch (without glossing over its horrors) that what could have been a tough sit was a compelling narrative. I found the vignette model to be an effective framework, pulling together all the different pieces to create a fully-formed, beautiful mosaic of prose.
jasmine_ivy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
wrecked me emotionally but I would absolutely recommend this to anyone that's struggling with abuse and toxicity in any relationship but especially those that are in queer/lesbian dynamics. Machado's writing just draws you in and you can't help but keep staring as she breaks down and explains some extremely harrowing and unapologetic moments of her relationship and how it dissolves within the Dream House. I couldn't put it down. her writing is mesmerizing and this is definitely a book that I will be thinking about and be inspired by for years to come.
nancyflanagan's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly unique memoir, a collection of perspectives on a single relationship, as the author falls in love, recognizes that she's being abused, reconciles her self-esteem and desire to be loved with what's actually happening, then ends the relationship.
The beauty--and this is definitely a beautiful book--lies in the structure, a collection of viewpoints and literary tropes and random framings of a single relationship. The writing is gorgeous and witty, which turns a depressingly familiar story (relationship with a deceitful and spiteful, emotionally damaged and unstable person) into something akin to a masterpiece.
I actually worried, toward the end: What will Carmen Machado do next? Because she can't write another book like this. And she must write more. Because this book was marvelous.
The beauty--and this is definitely a beautiful book--lies in the structure, a collection of viewpoints and literary tropes and random framings of a single relationship. The writing is gorgeous and witty, which turns a depressingly familiar story (relationship with a deceitful and spiteful, emotionally damaged and unstable person) into something akin to a masterpiece.
I actually worried, toward the end: What will Carmen Machado do next? Because she can't write another book like this. And she must write more. Because this book was marvelous.