Reviews

Στο σπίτι των ονείρων by Carmen Maria Machado

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vgordon91's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

kirsten0929's review against another edition

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4.0

[2019] In this memoir, Machado addresses the “archival silence” around domestic violence in same-sex relationships through her own experience. Making this issue visible will, one hopes, allow for it to be addressed in the same way as other abuse cases, not hidden away, perpetuating the stereotype that same-sex relationships are somehow more “utopian” than any other. The writing is beautiful but does not in any way undermine or mask the message of cruelty and emotional/psychological abuse that took place in her relationship. Rather, I think the contrast enhances it. I feel like I can feel her struggling to express to the reader how she found her self caught up in this abusive relationship and unable to leave. Written in the form of passages as short as a couple of lines and generally no more than a couple of pages. I like the format, as I tend to think in bullet points and would probably write my own memoir in this style, but part of me does feel like it’s cheating a little, getting to skip all those pesky connections and transitions. Still, in this case she rocks it.

nataliegoodman13's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Go read it. An all-time favorite that I will be revisiting again and again and again.

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leontyna's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

This book is amazing. The structure is ingenious and the writing is so beautiful. I really loved the mixture of personal stories and ponderings about queer history.

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maxieb's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

interesting take on a memoir that made it beautiful

amaliabu's review against another edition

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5.0

The use of folk-literature motifs and narrative tropes to tell her story and open up a conversation about domestic abuse in queer relationships is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and deserves every bit of praise. Carmen Maria Machado has written one of the most introspective memoirs I have stumbled across - will not forget this book.