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sophiafroehlich's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
In the dream house is one of those genre defying works that comes out of nowhere to wake me up to the possibilities of form in literature. Part memoir, part essay, part horror novel, part poetry, all its fragments come together to tell a story which is better for its unique structure.
Carmen Maria Machado examines the course of her abusive relationship from every angle - intellectual, symbolic, visceral, canonical, legal, historical, emotional, and so many more - each with a piercing lushness of language. In the process she unpacks the taboo of abuse within queer relationships and traces its history to understand the landscape of what she deems “the curse of the queer woman - a eternal liminality.”
Each fragment is very short and usually has a completely different approach than the last, so the book is constantly refreshing itself. If you prefer linear, plot heavy books then this might not be your cup of tea. I would also definitely check out the content warnings.
Carmen Maria Machado examines the course of her abusive relationship from every angle - intellectual, symbolic, visceral, canonical, legal, historical, emotional, and so many more - each with a piercing lushness of language. In the process she unpacks the taboo of abuse within queer relationships and traces its history to understand the landscape of what she deems “the curse of the queer woman - a eternal liminality.”
Each fragment is very short and usually has a completely different approach than the last, so the book is constantly refreshing itself. If you prefer linear, plot heavy books then this might not be your cup of tea. I would also definitely check out the content warnings.
jadaadira's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
matttruss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Truly phenomenal, a literary masterpiece. The subject of domestic abuse, verbal, mental, physical, is a subject matter that is difficult to write about, difficult to read about, and just all around difficult. Despite that, I found myself unable to stop turning the pages of this book. Not out of morbid curiosity, but out of Machado's clever and engaging writing. The metaphors abound, the mix of research with personal stories, the incredibly smart use of page space, word usage, and even footnotes blew me away at every turn. An important book for everyone to read, but especially for those who find or have found themselves caught in a pattern of abuse or have ever loved someone who has. The wounds are rarely on the outside.
Reviewing a memoir always feels wrong. These aren't an author's choices in a work of fiction, this is an author's true story. That said, this is an easy five stars for me given the writing that just drew me in constantly despite a difficult subject.
Reviewing a memoir always feels wrong. These aren't an author's choices in a work of fiction, this is an author's true story. That said, this is an easy five stars for me given the writing that just drew me in constantly despite a difficult subject.
readbybetty_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0