Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Gótico Mexicano by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

39 reviews

toffishay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Very intense book and I loved the use of the setting. I think that the characters were sometimes a weaker aspect, particularly the supporting cast. I liked the main character Noemi and seeing her come into her own and try to help her cousin while in this tense situation. The ending was a little weak for me, but I really enjoyed this one overall.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

Minor: Violence

pennepasta's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The story starts off pretty slow but when it picks up, it really picks up. It reminded me very much of some of Lovecraft's monsters but in a more human, real form which really added to the horror element of the book.

When Naomi find out about the whole mushroom, switching bodies, disgusting uncle fiasco, I was actually shocked. I don't know what I was expecting but it was not this. The imagery of Agnes' corpse covered in mushrooms and everything about Virgil did a wonderful job of enhancing the vibe of the book.

I do have to say that some of the racism and sexism was even more disgusting than the actual horror part, but overall, a very compelling horror stand-alone. I wasn't completely terrified, but the atmosphere of the books was more eerie and mysterious and left me on edge ever before the horror actually began. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Racism, and Confinement

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abandonment and Addiction

bendersreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Misogyny, and Torture

Moderate: Gaslighting, Incest, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Sexual violence

gracescanlon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Body horror, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent and Domestic abuse

iamnotyourally's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Pacing and tension were excellent. The further into the book you read the more questions you have. 
Ending could have been stronger, but still satisfying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, and Incest

soundlysmitten's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

In a decadent, decaying manor, high above the rural town of El Triunfo, lives a strange English family. The year is 1950 and the mines the Doyles came to exploit have been in disrepair for decades, but still, the standoffish brood remains isolated a top the hill. Noemí Taboada, a socialite from Mexico City, is an unwelcome visitor. Having received a chilling letter from her cousin Catalina, who recently married into the Doyle family, Noemí arrives at High Place concerned for her wellbeing. The Doyles claim that Catalina is ill with tuberculosis and experiencing feverish delusions, but they are suspiciously controlling and prevent Noemí from spending more than a few minutes with Catalina at a time. As the days drag on, Noemí clashes with the family and feels increasingly powerless to help her cousin. When she starts having disturbing visions of her own, Noemí becomes even more desperate to sort things out and depart. But things get a whole lot weirder before the dark reality of Catalina’s illness and the house’s horrific secrets are finally revealed.

Mexican Gothic combines Latin American magic realism and historical suspense with mystery, horror, and a hint of romance. The narrative is told in third person. The beginning mostly details the dreary aspects of life at High Place. But then a series of abnormal events occur, and bizarre supernatural circumstances ultimately bring the story to a head.

This book is full of beautifully crafted depictions of unsettling things that freaked me out to the point of sleeping with the lights on. It might not be the best read for those who prefer a faster paced novel, but the writing is so atmospheric that I personally found even the instances of monotony engrossing. I did not so enjoy the most grotesque horrors, but I’m a wimp and I get sleep paralysis so I’m surprised I even picked this story up… still, no regrets.

Although most of the cast is unlikeable, I was rather fond of the main character. Capable, clever, outspoken, and flirty, Noemí is a strong heroine, but not in a stereotypical way. People underestimate her, but she challenges the standards that say to be feminine is to be weak and that a woman who fancies fashion and fun is just silly or slutty or shallow. As the author has pointed out, we don’t see many Mexican characters portrayed as anything other than maids and laborers in spite of the different socio-economic classes that exist. But Noemí comes from a degree of privilege, and her position also helps embolden her in dealing with the Doyles.

At the start, it seems like the Doyles all have relatively flat personalities. But what lies beneath the family’s austere demeanor is a sadistic ruthlessness. Shy, kind Francis is the only one with any redeemable qualities. Despite being raised up in a household of white supremacists with misplaced humanity, he does not see the world their way or behave like the rest of them. He stays passive far too long, but abuse is all he’s ever known, and it’s important to recognize how hard such things can be to escape.

In terms of messaging, Mexican Gothic contrasts the use of old gothic tropes with a modern discourse on the state of the world, broaching issues like colonialism, racism, and eugenics. The setting makes use of a less referenced part of Mexico's history. And while examining the limits of a woman’s autonomy in 1950s Mexico, the narrative also touches upon the violations women have faced across the world for millennia. I just wish it didn’t depend on repeated descriptions of sexual harassment and assault to get its point across. Certain parts felt a bit excessive to me and I’m not sure all of the graphic content was necessary.

The only other thing I wish was different is the exploration of Catalina’s character. I would’ve liked her to play a bigger role in the story, seeing as she was the whole reason Noemi ended up at High Place.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Vomit

maryjames's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

carodonahue's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The writing in this was beautiful and the setting and characters well-drawn. I thought I’d try something spooky around Halloween, and while the ghost and haunted elements were quite engaging, I found the sexual violence, or more accurately the threat of it, incredibly disturbing and at several points considered setting the book aside. I was curious enough to finish, but I found this further into real life terror rather than otherworldly horror and would not have chosen it had I known it was intense in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Violence

katielaine_w's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Xenophobia

rachel_kay5853's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Incest, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Colonisation

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content