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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
This astoundingly innovative memoir is an incredible exploration of abuse. It's also an exploration of how society is ill-equipped to understand many kinds of abuse. For example, it obscures the existence of abuse between same-sex partners. And - as the author points out in one devastatingly terse chapter - the verbal and emotional abuse she was subjected to for years was technically legal everywhere. Many stories of abuse do not fit the common narrative, and many stories of abuse have not been streamlined into academic studies. As a result there are many of us who struggle to find resources, or even language for what we were subjected to.
Therefore, for me, Machado's memoir touched me on several levels. Her personal story is harrowing even as it's portrayed in gorgeous prose. There's no other story like it precisely it's hers alone (just how everyone has their own story.) And yet her struggles to define what happened to her - when what happened to her is so wholly invisible in societal jargon, academia, pop culture, etc- was something that resonated with me deeply. As someone who loves to write, I deeply believe in the power of naming things. When some things seemingly have no name, though, it puts me into a tailspin.
Machado synthesizes an incredible amount of information in here, in a way that feels so uniquely millennial. I'm also someone who turns to things like Star Trek and the Iliad in order to put a name to unnameable things. And I'm also someone who used to do that consistently on livejournal. There were so many types of recognition I experienced with this book.
Therefore, for me, Machado's memoir touched me on several levels. Her personal story is harrowing even as it's portrayed in gorgeous prose. There's no other story like it precisely it's hers alone (just how everyone has their own story.) And yet her struggles to define what happened to her - when what happened to her is so wholly invisible in societal jargon, academia, pop culture, etc- was something that resonated with me deeply. As someone who loves to write, I deeply believe in the power of naming things. When some things seemingly have no name, though, it puts me into a tailspin.
Machado synthesizes an incredible amount of information in here, in a way that feels so uniquely millennial. I'm also someone who turns to things like Star Trek and the Iliad in order to put a name to unnameable things. And I'm also someone who used to do that consistently on livejournal. There were so many types of recognition I experienced with this book.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I couldn’t listen to all the way through. She spoke about herself in the second person, which is so odd for a memoir. Maybe she should have written a story inspired by true events.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
A gorgeous read. The author has done an amazing job creating a landscape to tell her story and I loved immersing myself in it.
Though the subject was difficult, it was refreshing in a way to hear the perspective of another fat queer woman, and eye opening to compare our lives. I had to buy the kindle version so I could highlight the parts that really stuck with me and I’m glad I did.
Though the subject was difficult, it was refreshing in a way to hear the perspective of another fat queer woman, and eye opening to compare our lives. I had to buy the kindle version so I could highlight the parts that really stuck with me and I’m glad I did.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
