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lynnannwalsh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Racism
xiggy'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: Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Body horror, Sexual content, Gore, Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
lex_l'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Incest
kelly_e'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? No
3.0
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Gothic Horror
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: June 30, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Edgy • Atmospheric • Creative
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When her father receives a frantic letter from his niece begging someone to save her, he enlists Noemi's help, sending her to High Place in the Mexican countryside. Trading her glamourous lifestyle for amateur sleuthing, Noemi doesn't know what to expect when she arrives. She certainly isn't afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Of course, I'd seen and heard all of the hype surrounding Mexican Gothic when it was originally published a few years ago. Honestly, I had no interest in picking it up until it landed on the 2023 Canada Reads shortlist. Even then, I was hesitant as it's not a genre I gravitate towards. In my opinion, it was a rather odd pick for the shortlist. Nonetheless one of my reading goals each year is to read all five contenders ahead of the debates, so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised until I got about two-thirds of the way through and it took such a disturbing turn and lost me.
What I like:
• the writing. The writing is phenomenal. So engrossing. So cinematic. So mysterious. So atmospheric.
• the house. The house is its own character and I cannot recall ever reading one quite like this. In addition, the historic setting helped create an unsettling feeling that something wasn't quite right.
• the beginning. Through the first 50%, I was pleasantly surprised and entertained by the narrative. There was more tension and mystery building that anything else.
• the audio. The audio is very well done, and adds an extra layer to the atmosphere.
What I didn't like:
• the second half. The plot started getting weirder and weirder (when it didn't need to). There was significantly more gore and grotesque subject matter. And the story lost me at this point. I don't even think it needed to go the places it when in order to be successful. In fact, I think it would have been better if it hadn't gone that route at all.
• the pacing. The pacing felt extremely slow to begin with (which I was fine with), and yet somehow when I got to the strange twist it felt like it came out of nowhere and the pacing shifted gears to the point it felt rushed.
• the twist. Ugh. It felt unnecessary. And some of the scenes where incredibly unsettling to the point I don't even think they served the story at all. It left me with an icky feeling (which is probably the point), but I read to enjoy myself and it just wasn't enjoyable at all.
Overall, Mexican Gothic is an incredibly creative and disturbing story set in an old house and filled with family secrets. There are certainly some underlying social commentaries on racism and colonialism, but I didn't necessarily find the novel overly thought-provoking or perspective shifting in that regard. In fact, I think it went places it didn't need to go simply to add shock value. It's quite clear I am not the intended audience,, but if gothic horror is your thing than you'll probably love this book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like secluded settings
• fans of haunted houses
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"After all, nothing in this place was what it seemed."
"The future, she thought, could no be predicted, and the shape of things could not be divined."
Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Torture, Confinement, Child death, Misogyny, Gore, Toxic relationship, Death, Body horror, Xenophobia, Rape, Child abuse, Murder, Racism, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Infertility, Cannibalism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Colonisation, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit
staticbananas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
teal_bird'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
3.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Drug use, Physical abuse, Body horror, Incest, Sexual content, and Vomit
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Misogyny, Body horror, and Emotional abuse
There is a lot in this book. It’s been a while but I read this for a class and my teacher gave no warnings. It’s a good book but my goodness there is a lot in it that I still don’t know if it was worth it to read.alicrafty's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Body horror, Colonisation, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Murder, Rape, Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
ixris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content, Child death, Gore, Sexual violence, Death, Colonisation, Sexual content, Violence, Body horror, and Chronic illness
Freaking GREAT modern gothic. Definitely gonna reread this thing.goodolnicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Incest, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Cursing
badmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The story is engaging most of tge way & written with soaring, sumptuous imagery at the start but unfortunately unravels once the secrets are revealed - the language ultimately feels more melodramatic soap opera than true, rich gothic.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Confinement, Grief, Classism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Gore, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Sexual content, Car accident, and Medical trauma