Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

195 reviews

readwithev's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Loved this! It was insightful, reflective, and emotionally cutting. Machado utilizes second person to so well, i felt uncomfortable and affronted in many scenes. It is painful and fair warning this book is triggering.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Vomit

moonlitemuseum's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

Dark, sad, and beautifully told.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

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

sarahjx's review

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual violence and Lesbophobia

regent_ace's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Hate crime

thewrongalice's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

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

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

tobooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Violence, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Homophobia, Gun violence, and Gaslighting

charlie_woodchipper's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

I audibly gasped many times by the description of abuse in the relationship. I've never been in an abusive relationship, and this book was eye opening, sad, tense. I had to press pause on the audibook a couple times

If you've lived through that, I'd be careful about picking this book up. It would certainly be very relatable, but also very triggering

Very glad that this was made. Like the author mentioned, it's very taboo to talk about abusive lesbian relationships, especially in the queer community. Very proud of this author for making it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexual violence and Fatphobia