Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

26 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

pinkpotayto's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

This memoir resonated with me in numerous ways. The eloquence and intelligence with which Machado writes is so fucking perfect. She is real and honest in dark ways that most people are too afraid to even think even though it's such a human way of thinking. Her abuse unfolds like thorns digging into your sides, thorns you cannot reach to remove. You have to get through it though, to reassure yourself that she mentally and physically escapes the dream house. Phenomenal and powerful book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Grief, and Lesbophobia

cemeterygay's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

5.0

I cannot sing the praises of this book enough, It is such a hauntingly thorough retelling of the author's experience with domestic violence. I adored the greater structural analysis of Intimate Partner Violence and how it relates to homophobia, biphobia, and lesbophobia and how the author made sure to connect her story to the stories of many IPV survivors in the community. I cannot praise enough how much care and sensitivity was taken to the issues discussed in this book. I definitely don't think the author's writing style is for everyone as it can be very experimental at times but I personally adored it. 

If you are looking for an unusual exploration into domestic violence in queer relationships, I could not recommend this enough

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Vomit

Minor: Eating disorder, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Additional CW: Sexual abuse, assault, grooming, emotionally abusive parents,

hannibanani29's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Drug use, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Biphobia, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Dementia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

toffishay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

What an amazing, powerful, interesting, and informative read. The formatting of this book pulls you in, with each "chapter" representing the story of this relationship from a different literary genre or device. I read this book so quickly and you are pulling in with every word. It is certainly emotional and I teared up more than once. This is a memoir about domestic abuse, so I would certainly look up trigger warnings. But, I find this to have been such a valuable and engaging reading experience that I absolutely have to recommend.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Vomit, Torture, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

fungivibes's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

daisydoolie's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

Beautifully written, first book I’ve ever read that talks about lesbian domestic abuse in a way that gave great clarity and frankness - whilst still being a brilliantly composed and written book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Vomit, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

cianarae's review against another edition

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

saintsunshine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25

Deeply engaging and often emotionally challenging, Carmen Maria Machado has crafted a wholely unique memoir in In the Dream House. Machado places her story of domestic abuse amid historical and cultural contexts that often ignores queer women. Dream House is as informative as it is personal, and I deeply enjoyed it. Though difficult to get through at times, Machado's poignant memoir will likely become a classic in the genre in years to come.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Drug use, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Fire/Fire injury

pirate's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Death, and Fire/Fire injury