Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

20 reviews

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

3.5

This book deals with an extremely important topic that needs to be voiced and discussed. That said, as a piece of work itself, I liked it so-so. 

I did not get along with the narrative structure, I found the rapid-fire succession of chapters (supposed to show different genres and narrative styles) too much disjointed and confusing. The writing style is a bit too much experimental for me.

I liked much more the chapters that were "essay-like", exploring queer history and theory. However, I think that this mixing of informative chapters together with more literary and elaborately written ones was a bit jarring, it felt like two different books mashed up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Lesbophobia, Body horror, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Gun violence, Medical content, Drug abuse, Torture, Cursing, Car accident, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Bullying, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Dementia

sydneys_neverendingtbr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

I initially really didn't know how to rate this. I don't often read nonfiction; I've maybe read two other ones in my life. But there was something so 'whimsical' about this that it really sucked me in. The mix of second/third POV, writing styles, concepts, and real-life examples of queer abuse gave itself so well to the fever dream/fairy tale feel I believe the author was going for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

cianarae's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I read this entire book in one sitting and could not put it down. It’s beautiful, tragic, splintered, poetic, visceral, unique. I loved the references to movies and books throughout that really gave context to the author’s thoughts and experiences. I want to share this book with everyone I know!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Dementia, and Infidelity

laurenbowes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Vomit

missbsbookshelf's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, and Drug abuse

corvidprince's review

challenging reflective sad tense

5.0

I wasn't in an abusive relationship--not one like this anyways, and yet so much of it hits home about my parents and my childhood into my ongoing adulthood. she captures the same feelings I had, still have, in a way I could never put words to. 

this book is bone chilling and real. it's one of the few books that have ever brought me to tears.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Religious bigotry

albernikolauras's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

This book was written so beautifully and organized in such a well-crafted manor, you could feel the walls closing in on you as well. I did struggle initially reading it due to some of the more elaborate wording. Once I started it on audio, though, it just flowed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

atsundarsingh's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I will never get over this book. Machado writes so beautifully about a long and winding abusive relationship, and it is impossible to look away. The shattered pieces of story match the way she describes being broken open by hurt and then one day, making herself whole again. Excellent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia

camicakes's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Biphobia

queerbiblioboy's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use