Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

50 reviews

shmegsreadz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

a mournful, gutting, soaring reprise of abuse in a lesbian relationship. as a lesbian, neoteric and unwilted, this is the most important book i have read in some time. i am forever grateful to machado for offering me insight into something i’m sure i would never be able to understand unless i lived through the experience, “you can be hurt by people who look just like you. not only can it happen, it probably will, because the world is full of hurt people who hurt people. even if the dominant culture considers you an anomaly, that doesn’t mean you can’t be common, common as fucking dirt,” (232). her prose is warm and every metaphor, reference, and motif is expertly tied to her point. what a beautiful thing; “book” feels like an underscore. this is advice and vulnerability. i will treasure my copy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Vomit

good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

Second person perspective, if you don’t like don’t read.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Biphobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

This was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. 

The thing that sets this book apart is the way it was written. The tone feels like poetry while equally being digestible and readable. The switch between first and second person was such an interesting way to tell a story. The "I" was disconnected from the "you" but still told told a cohesive account of Machado's story. The you chapters invited the reader in to examine the parts of their reality that they are disconnected from too. 

This perspective on domestic abuse intersected with queer culture intersected with fat culture and with religious trauma is engaging and terrible and inspiring. 

A wonderful read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Homophobia

Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, and Mental illness

handful_of_frogs's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

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 against another edition

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

lilylovestoread's review against another edition

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

7juniormint's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Mental illness

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcoholism

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