Reviews tagging 'Rape'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

61 reviews

joyful_patatas's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

I had a general idea as to what the memoir was about, but I underestimated just how much abuse, especially towards lesbian relationships get swept under the rug. I really enjoyed reading the author's point of view on the subject and her writing style was also quite unique and not something I was used to when reading a memoir (I mean, having a chose your own adventure part in a memoir was not what I was expecting).

I was quite intrigued at her decision of writing the story of her abusive relationship in the second person, which I had first just thought of it being her trying to put some distance between the author's past self from her current self, but only realized a little later that it could have also been used to have the readers picture themselves in the situation.

It is definitely not a light read, but I would be lying if I said this book didn't make me think. I do recommend this book to fellow queer folks because the subjects tackled in it is problems within our own community and that we need to care enough to fix it, otherwise, no one else will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Homophobia

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

laurenbowes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Vomit

beforeviolets's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

In the Dream House is a profound and thoughtful memoir exploring Carmen Maria Machado’s experience in a queer abusive relationship. The narrative is broken up into short chapters that explore different storytelling perspectives and styles, sprinkled through with thoughtful discussion of abuse, villainy, and queer history, and all while connecting tropes of folklore and symbolism to weave a cautionary fairytale of her own.

This book is the literal definition of poignant. I’m afraid to say too much, like speaking on the book in something so trivial as a review on the internet will pop the bubble of its magic. It feels insulting to try to put my reading experience into a summary of judgments. I could speak for days on its mastery. I can’t wait to read more of the brilliance that is Machado’s writing.

TW: intense discussion and portrayal of toxic relationships and domestic abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), assault, homophobia/lesbophobia, sexism, grooming, panic attacks, eating disorder (mention), alcoholism, abusive parental figures (emotional), vomit , murder (mention), blood (mention)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Vomit

Minor: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Murder, and Blood

marabdelmageed's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Biphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

mallory10100's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

wow this book was amazing. heartbreaking yet quick. i highly recommend. i really liked the unique format. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit

this book really doesn’t feel like non fiction, but it’s a chilling true story and i highly recommend it

theanxiousreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, and Toxic relationship

rachaelallyn's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

jmcordero's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Self harm

Minor: Lesbophobia, Outing, and Medical content

partycoolphysicist's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

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

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

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

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