Reviews with content warning for Lesbophobia - In the Dream House

Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

199 reviews

carmentxx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

my second reread of this book and it is just impossible to not sit and reflect on the world in tears. machado is just so incredibly talented, you feel her excruciating pain, her debasement, humiliation, the unflinching trauma of a hidden domestic abuse. in the dream house is so good because machado provides a hidden archived memory. she provides us as much of the archived memory and invited us to think about how much is hidden- in this way, a form of un-memory- we are aware of how much memory is missing because we cannot even comprehend the extent of the memory. machado’s memoir is genre breaking, a historical and literary feat because she shows us the potential of how much is missing. there is so much missing.

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coffeedumps's review

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dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Such an important book for the queer literary canon. Intermingles memoir with history which breaks up the sorta poetic style of writing very nicely. I’m knocking down half a star bc I didn’t like the narrator sorry it was literally the author but like jdhdhhd

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megnut's review

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dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.25

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mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

This was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.

The thing that sets this book apart is the way it was written. The tone feels like poetry while equally being digestible and readable. The switch between first and second person was such an interesting way to tell a story. The "I" was disconnected from the "you" but still told told a cohesive account of Machado's story. The you chapters invited the reader in to examine the parts of their reality that they are disconnected from too.

This perspective on domestic abuse intersected with queer culture intersected with fat culture and with religious trauma is engaging and terrible and inspiring.

A wonderful read.

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readwithev's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Loved this! It was insightful, reflective, and emotionally cutting. Machado utilizes second person to so well, i felt uncomfortable and affronted in many scenes. It is painful and fair warning this book is triggering.

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moonlitemuseum's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

Dark, sad, and beautifully told.

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yourbookishbff's review

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

In the Dream House felt so reminiscent to me of Children of the Land, in that both memoirs are non-linear and episodic, weaving truth abstractly to allow for a retelling of significant trauma. The use of horror devices - and the eery symbolism of the dream house - underscore the constant suspense and fear Machado experienced within an abusive relationship with her female partner. Her narrative creates new space for accounting trauma within queer relationships, and she incorporates historical discussions of intimate partner abuse in queer relationships and research into its prevalence.

This narrative structure also helps the reader understand the slow boil of abuse and sheds light on the ways people wield power within relationships. It is a heart wrenching examination of the isolation, emotional manipulation, bullying and gaslighting of emotional abuse in particular. I also really appreciated the reflections on language and pop culture (the origin story of the term gaslighting was new to me and fascinating).

This is a horrifying and beautifully written memoir that will resonate with those who appreciate nonlinear reflections. I particularly loved the use of second person to address her younger self, and the simultaneous distance and intimacy this created for her as she examines this part of her life.

I would also note that the audiobook is narrated by Machado and I highly recommend this format.

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