Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

90 reviews

leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.0

I'm not really sure how to write this review. On the one hand, I don't feel right in giving a lower rating to a memoir because I didn't love reading the writing style; on the other hand, I thought the writing style was kind of brilliant. Overall, I believe that Machado was incredibly brave for writing this memoir, as any victim of abuse typically deals with trauma, and that can be so difficult to put into words of any format. The fact that she is in a WLW relationship makes her abuse that much less common to read about, as many people don't even believe that abuse can occur within same-sex relationships [although it absolutely can, and does, occur]. The existence of this book is so necessary, and brings to light an important topic in our society, whether or not you identify as part of the LGBTQIAP+ community. The style of writing won't be for everyone, and there are many difficult topics within the book (which shouldn't be surprising, given what the book is about), but if you can get through those two main aspects, this is a solid read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Infertility, Rape, and Car accident

Additional TW/CW: brief Harry Potter reference, divorce, psychological abuse, trauma

annuich's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

tabitha_isabelle's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

milkybootscomix's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Minor: Biphobia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

olivemyheart's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful sad fast-paced

5.0

This book was absolutely heartbreaking and necessary. As Machado claims, queer people are people, and that means we can have every experience people have--which encompasses abusive relationships. Furthermore, her ability to understand and convey her own emotions shows maturity and introspection that is truly admirable. At first I anticipated not liking the speculative writing style, but it was very well done and effective for conveying her experience. Here are a few moments that I found incredibly profound (CW for discussion of domestic violence)
Her wishing her girlfriend had been a man so that people would believe her, so her experience wouldn't give the queer community bad rep
Her wishing her girlfriend had just hit her so she would have some concrete evidence
Her discussions of queer history and intersectionality, which showed the depth of research and thought she put into this book
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I'm very glad to hear Machado is in a happier place now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Murder

bradypus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use and Dementia

queerbiblioboy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

leahrosereads's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Dream House as Reality.  

You tried to tell your story to people who didn't know how to listen.  You made a fool of yourself, in more ways than one.  I thought you died, but writing this, I'm not sure you did.

In the Dream House is a memoir showing domestic abuse in a queer relationship.  The author describes her trauma in poetic prose that is so freaking haunting.  Every aspect of her story resonated so deeply with me, and there's a reminder here that being queer doesn't make you good or bad.  It just makes you queer, and you're able to fall for the same mistakes that anyone else could - include falling in love with a monster and staying in an abusive relationship.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, and Drug use

jamieruwen's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

I can’t really describe how this book touched me. I experienced recognition, terror, sympathy, but most of all, this book’s style was really refreshing and impressive. I am definitely going to try Carmen Maria Machado’s other work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Drug use

catsy2022's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Rating: A

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse