Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

99 reviews

hollyrebecca's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Bullying, Chronic illness, and Alcohol

christina85's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing

booksandbesitos's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.75

A beautifully written memoir about an unfortunate and abusive relationship.

The symbolism of the dream house was very powerful and I loved how the chapters put the dream house as different things to explain the story. The short chapters made it a little easier to consume the heavy topics.
Every chapter is like fragments to show  the big picture. I think that other survivors of abuse can also relate to telling their stories in fragments at first. Until you’ve ready to tell the whole thing. 

Due to the nature of the story, the content in the book is very heavy. I encourage everyone to look at the content warnings before reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Pregnancy

katiefreeman209's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Alcohol and Drug abuse

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

alicia_ann_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I don't typically rate memoirs, but this one was just so good. 

Partly because I could see my own trauma all throughout and it was written in the second person which made it incredibly cathartic; but also because the author interspersed her memoir with information, other stories and events that paralleled or highlighted her, and others experiences and was written in an almost poetic manner.

Just such a phenomenal book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug abuse

nuii's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I like the vignette-structure of the book, it feels like listening to a friend opening up about the abuse she went through and having an intimate look into her coping/healing journey - somewhat fragmented, but showing growth and realness at the same time. 
There arent necessarilly new, profound ideas/philosophy but I did learn a few things and I appreciate the candor and bravery to tell this story, very well-written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

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

vrhayes08's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Violence, Cursing, Stalking, Alcohol, and Biphobia

Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy