Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Mexican Gothic - Mexikói rémtörténet by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

355 reviews

ninahuynh's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

4.5

What a story! I liked the character development within Noemí. She was already a tough person, and in the face of the Doyle's manipulation, she stayed true to her values and protection of Catalina. This would be a great film or show. All the imagery.

I was suspicious of Francis for most of the book, but pleasantly glad that he was not Virgil or Howard Jr.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Gore, Cannibalism, Classism, Drug use, Kidnapping, Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, and Incest

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. 

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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

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.

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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.

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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

mari1532's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

5.0

I have had the copy of this book for way longer than I care to admit and the fact that I did not read this book sooner frankly makes me want to ask my past self what I was even thinking for not reading this book immediately. Although I have this book on my Kindle I decided to check the audiobook out of my local library and did not want to stop listening. 

Marino-Garcia paints a vivid and dark world full of intrigue. Noemí leaves her life of studying anthropology by day and attending high society parties by night when a strange letter from her cousin arrives. Having recently married an Englishman, Catalina now lives in an isolated mansion and appears very ill when Noemí arrives. However, as Noemí attempts to figure out what exactly may be the cause of her always-healthy cousin's illness, Noemí begins to experience strange things in the house. Little does she know it is only a matter of time before she will have the answers she's looking for, but they might lead to even bigger problems. 

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Marino-Garcia's writing was fantastic! Not only is her writing beautiful it is vivid and you almost feel as if you are watching a movie rather than reading/hearing words from the page. There were so many instances throughout the book when I felt exactly as Noemí must have at that moment. 

Highly recommend this book! It's one of my new favourite books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Rape, Sexual violence, and Body horror

Moderate: Alcohol

The patriarch of Catalina's new family is a eugenicist.

bespectacledone's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Body horror, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Incest, Cannibalism, and Child death

beeminor's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

A good spooky read. Grotesque at times and wilding enchanting, like a fairy-tale turned fever dream. I love the imagery and symbolism. I love how at times the lines between dream and reality blur. 

 I think Moreno-Garcia’s pacing and delivery of spooks and information as well as plot development are spot on. It’s a great concept which was executed excellently. Besides the outright horror aspects, the scariest thing for me while reading is the controlling, abusive white man dynamic. 

Mexican Gothic is a testament to the rage and suffering of women at the hands of abuse, violence and misogyny. 

It was a near perfect read. Very clever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gun violence, Incest, and Murder

zombie_loves_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love a good gothic novel and this hit the mark in more ways than one. At first it felt like a great homage to the classics. I quickly found myself engrossed in the story and the people. Then in the last 80 pages I had to remind myself to breath. Even though I predicted some things in advance it didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Genocide, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Cannibalism, Child death, Gun violence, and Violence

justinecm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, Death of parent, Gore, Cannibalism, Genocide, Suicide, Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, Torture, Child death, and Gaslighting

kathburke's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Incest, Child abuse, and Gun violence

Minor: Infertility, Suicide, and Vomit