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toffishay's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Violence
pennepasta's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, and Confinement
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment and Addiction
bendersreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Misogyny, and Torture
Moderate: Gaslighting, Incest, Death, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual violence
gracescanlon's review against another edition
- 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? N/A
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Body horror, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
iamnotyourally's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Ending could have been stronger, but still satisfying.
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, and Incest
soundlysmitten's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Mexican Gothic combines Latin American magic realism and historical suspense with mystery, horror, and a hint of romance. The narrative is told in third person. The beginning mostly details the dreary aspects of life at High Place. But then a series of abnormal events occur, and bizarre supernatural circumstances ultimately bring the story to a head.
This book is full of beautifully crafted depictions of unsettling things that freaked me out to the point of sleeping with the lights on. It might not be the best read for those who prefer a faster paced novel, but the writing is so atmospheric that I personally found even the instances of monotony engrossing. I did not so enjoy the most grotesque horrors, but I’m a wimp and I get sleep paralysis so I’m surprised I even picked this story up… still, no regrets.
Although most of the cast is unlikeable, I was rather fond of the main character. Capable, clever, outspoken, and flirty, Noemí is a strong heroine, but not in a stereotypical way. People underestimate her, but she challenges the standards that say to be feminine is to be weak and that a woman who fancies fashion and fun is just silly or slutty or shallow. As the author has pointed out, we don’t see many Mexican characters portrayed as anything other than maids and laborers in spite of the different socio-economic classes that exist. But Noemí comes from a degree of privilege, and her position also helps embolden her in dealing with the Doyles.
At the start, it seems like the Doyles all have relatively flat personalities. But what lies beneath the family’s austere demeanor is a sadistic ruthlessness. Shy, kind Francis is the only one with any redeemable qualities. Despite being raised up in a household of white supremacists with misplaced humanity, he does not see the world their way or behave like the rest of them. He stays passive far too long, but abuse is all he’s ever known, and it’s important to recognize how hard such things can be to escape.
In terms of messaging, Mexican Gothic contrasts the use of old gothic tropes with a modern discourse on the state of the world, broaching issues like colonialism, racism, and eugenics. The setting makes use of a less referenced part of Mexico's history. And while examining the limits of a woman’s autonomy in 1950s Mexico, the narrative also touches upon the violations women have faced across the world for millennia. I just wish it didn’t depend on repeated descriptions of sexual harassment and assault to get its point across. Certain parts felt a bit excessive to me and I’m not sure all of the graphic content was necessary.
The only other thing I wish was different is the exploration of Catalina’s character. I would’ve liked her to play a bigger role in the story, seeing as she was the whole reason Noemi ended up at High Place.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Vomit
maryjames's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
carodonahue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Torture, and Violence
katielaine_w's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Xenophobia
rachel_kay5853's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Incest, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content