Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

281 reviews

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

In the Dream House felt so reminiscent to me of Children of the Land, in that both memoirs are non-linear and episodic, weaving truth abstractly to allow for a retelling of significant trauma. The use of horror devices - and the eery symbolism of the dream house - underscore the constant suspense and fear Machado experienced within an abusive relationship with her female partner. Her narrative creates new space for accounting trauma within queer relationships, and she incorporates historical discussions of intimate partner abuse in queer relationships and research into its prevalence. 

This narrative structure also helps the reader understand the slow boil of abuse and sheds light on the ways people wield power within relationships. It is a heart wrenching examination of the isolation, emotional manipulation, bullying and gaslighting of emotional abuse in particular. I also really appreciated the reflections on language and pop culture (the origin story of the term gaslighting was new to me and fascinating).

This is a horrifying and beautifully written memoir that will resonate with those who appreciate nonlinear reflections. I particularly loved the use of second person to address her younger self, and the simultaneous distance and intimacy this created for her as she examines this part of her life. 

I would also note that the audiobook is narrated by Machado and I highly recommend this format.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

mald626's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Vomit, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity

Minor: Dementia and Fire/Fire injury

julieriley99's review

emotional informative tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia

melted_books's review

dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

An exquisitely crafted memoir. Lyrical, evocative, poignant, vulnerable. Listening to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, is mesmerizing as you absorb the multidimensionality of Machado's experiences being psychologically and emotionally abused. Machado's choice to tell her story using various narrative tropes was boldly creative, and it is the main reason why this is a standout memoir to me. I had not read anything quite like this before. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia

Moderate: Physical abuse

ivi_reads_books's review

The writing style was too embelished for me and the narrator/author seemed quite detached from what was happening in the book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

sparklynightmare's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse

saviirose's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Rape

lilylovestoread's review

informative reflective sad tense

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Lesbophobia

coralcrab77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

iwishihadmoretimetoread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Drug use, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Dementia and Drug abuse