Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

1591 reviews

wowoella's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

A lovely, difficult, and at times obnoxious memoir. 

I listened to the audiobook, and one thing that I found difficult is the way that Machado cannot help but (literally) speak in breathy metaphors. While I think there is beauty and power in writing this way, I do question using this method to talk about something as serious as abuse. That being said, that’s a preference of mine. 

At the end of the day, it’s worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

sandoichi's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

2.75

An important story however the format of short chapters alternating between the author’s personal experiences and precedents/research in the world didn’t work for me as it brought me in and out of the story too quickly before my brain and emotions could get a chance to register. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

cheerstochels's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Car accident, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

finnthehuman217's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Carmen María Machado is incredible and her writing speaks for itself but her voice in the queer world being a survivor of DV, I am so proud of her getting out but also being brave enough to tell her story. It’s fucked up that this happens at all but the people who are bringing it to light are amazing for making this issue visible. The first time I heard about this book I put it off because it is jarring and I recognize those moments of anger from a childhood of a parent with a short fuse and bipolar. I hope the woman from the dream house got help because she seems very unstable and it makes me want to cry my eyes out thinking about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

sazerac's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence

clarakharrington's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

krmreads2024's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia

e11en's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

maritareads's review against another edition

I felt like I had to finish it rather than wanting to finish it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism and Lesbophobia

Minor: Cancer

maybreads's review against another edition

challenging tense

5.0

I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready for something more experimental in style and willing to ponder abuse between women as a topic.
Machado makes a point of interweaving her experiences with the greater literary world overall. It's impressive to see her utilizing tropes, genres and narratives to make a point about archives and what gets to be in them. I genuinley want to read secondary literature on this. You feel for the person she was when she was in that relationship. The narration is a mix of first person singular and second person singular (The you being Machado when she was going through the events of the text). Which is unique and connects the reader to the you in a way that I hadn't read before. It's touching and tense. It's amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Infidelity and Violence