Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

216 reviews

aimnorth's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book is an important, informative, heart breaking, and poignant look at abuse inside of lesbian relationships. So much of what the author shares is tough to swallow and gives an inside look on what it's like to be stuck in a cycle you can't recognize and then can't find a way to get out of. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia

kell_xavi's review against another edition

3.0

Some sections of this book are witty and brash, concisely metaphoric in ways that tell the reader something important they can hold on to; other sections are slow, pedantic, or they delve into ideas and events that aren’t as revealing as Machado believes. The vignette style makes the writing piecework at times, the dual history of a personal nature and history of lesbian domestic abuse cutting across each other without coming together. The note to Machado’s partner in the acknowledgments, which reads, “I’d do it all again, baby. It brought me you,” was an uncomfortable closure.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

dylan2219's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

I don't feel like I can give this book a star rating, given the intensity and importance of its subject matter and the critical role it plays in adding neglected narratives of queer wlw abuse to the archive, as Machado sets out in her prologue. Nonetheless, this book is a revelation: it's incredibly written, full of brilliant prose, and such a great experiment in structure and form, full of genius moments. Machado inverts the memoir in a way to tell a story that the form has long not given space to, and her immense success and emotional nakedness decries any criticism I'm tired of hearing of memoirs or creative non-fiction in general as somehow self-indulgent and narcissistic. Even if this book wasn't about such a critical topic, its narrative and stylistic genius itself gives it classic status. Brutal, brilliant, often very funny, sui generis.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia

rmperezpadilla's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Murder

Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit

foiblesandfiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I agree with other readers that it is difficult, almost impossible, to rate memoirs.

But I will say that this memoir is really damn beautiful.  I read the audiobook narrated by the author, which is one of my absolutely favorite ways to consume non-fiction literature.  It was haunting and informative and tense.  Highly recommend.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

amberghinii's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Biphobia, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

oliverreeds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

cowboykid's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Murder, and Lesbophobia

katanai's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

i mean. wow. machado's writing is extraordinary, original, and captivating. so many chapters tugged at my heartstrings and i resonated with so many of the feelings machado writes about. i'm definitely going to reread in the future. goodness, what a read. i don't even know what to say... i feel understood. i just. yeah. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content

Minor: Lesbophobia

momalley215's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Lesbophobia