Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Meksikos gotika by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

378 reviews

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

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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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lizzie24601's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Very much its genre, so I feel like it'll be a hit or miss depending on how much you like gothic horror. Like most stories in this genre, the pace really picks up after the Big Reveal. Noemi is a very fun protagonist and Virgil and Howard are very creepy villains. It was cool to see gothic horror set somewhere outside, like, Victorian England. Definitely recommended for a fun, chilling October read.

If you like the body horror part of this, I recommend also reading Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon!

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romie_chat's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

October 2023

yeah, still adored it. and I still think the last paragraph is one of the best I've ever read, and I'll keep o rereading it every once in a while when I need a bit of hope.

October 2020

I know this book isn't for everybody, because it's slow and very descriptive, but to me, these things added to the uncomfortable atmosphere and made me love this book even more. it's an incredible book that talks about eugenics and, in a way, white supremacy as well as colonialism. it's brutal, it's horrific, but it's also hopeful. I simply adored it.

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ravenpuff's review against another edition

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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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mari1532's review against another edition

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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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atalea's review against another edition

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

3.5


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zombie_loves_books's review against another edition

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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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justinecm's review against another edition

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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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kathburke's review against another edition

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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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lizkoroskenyi's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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