Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

149 reviews

thewellbitch's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 4 stars - Truly gothic, truly Mexican

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Classism, Racism, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Gaslighting, Incest, and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcohol

thoseoldcrows23'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? Yes

4.0

This was exactly what I wanted it to be. It's rare that a horror novel actually manages to gross me out, but man oh man did this manage it. It also managed to evoke such visceral anger in me that I had to put the book down and walk it off. The characters were well crafted, the atmosphere was unnerving, and the plot gave me all the gothic vibes I was looking for. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Racism, Infidelity, Infertility, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Cursing, Body horror, Blood, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Classism, Colonisation, Child death, Cannibalism, and Miscarriage

julesfrigault's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racism, Confinement, Classism, Child death, Suicide, Rape, Murder, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Blood

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was wild. I’m still not sure what to think of it. It wasn’t bad by any means

The beginning was a little slow then there was a lot happening. After the twist was revealed I wasn’t as interested in how they solve the issue. I liked Francis as a character with some complexity. The rest of the Doyle family gave me the Ick and I think that was the point. The author did a good job characterizing the Doyle family

as vile and disgusting. You have eating babies, multiple incestuous relationships, attempted rape, fungi that increase life span, using bodies as fertilizer, hallucinations. It was a wild ride

.

I don’t think the book was bad I just think it was mysterious, then the mystery was revealed and shocking and everything else was just fine.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Classism, Gore, Violence, Blood, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Incest, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Sexism

Minor: Infertility, Alcohol, and Infidelity

ravenpuff's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I was really looking forward to an immersive gothic atmosphere but I never really got that. The main character was so smart throughout the book but made some frustrating choices towards the end. 

There wasn't a ton of character development but I understand why. Most of the characters feel empty, but I feel like they're supposed to given the plot development in the second half of the book.

The book did a good job of reflecting the time period, especially the racism, sexism, misogyny, and the really gross way Howard views "purity". 

The mushrooms themselves felt like a metaphor for colonization and toxic family hierarchy. To support the patriarchal figure of the family, women, children, and indigenous people are literally sacrificed so an old man from the UK can preserve himself and his gross views that only benefit him. Historic events have shown that colonization is a selfish and horrific thing, Mexican Gothic depicts it as such.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide

bearbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Cannibalism, Child death, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

strixy16's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, Racism, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Incest, Murder, Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

behindherpages's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

aparker89's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

Read this for book club not knowing what to expect. 
There is definitely a great atmosphere to this book. I had dreams specifically about the dread and mystery in this book while reading it. Overall, it's got a decent plot. Is Noemi's cousin insane? Is the house really haunted? Is there more to the story of High Place?
We get all the answers. I personally didn't like the answer to the great mystery but it isn't my book lol. I had two theories as to what it was straight away and one of them was relatively close to the author's chosen path. This is a medium paced book with a SLOW BURN! This book is primarily atmosphere with just a tiny bit of action. The action is ALL at the end. The main character is VERY shallow and not loveable at all but she does want to help her cousin and at least she has a relatable desire to help someone she loves. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexism, and Incest

Moderate: Child death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Ableism, Incest, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Cannibalism, Death, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

lilybear3's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

I had a great time with this book.  It was a slow burn learning the secrets of the house and inhabitants with Noemi.   The characters were interesting and creepy.  The environment fit the gothic genre.  I could see some of the inspirations from

The Yellow Wall Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.  I read that earlier this year so it was cool to see those similarities

(i have this in a spoiler in case you've read this work).  I also thought it was a good feminist horror.  Everything about it was great! 

FUNGUS AMONGUS! Honestly, I'll never get tired of fungus

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Gaslighting, Death, Cursing, Classism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Medical content, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault