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A review by thewordsdevourer
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
in the dream house is a singular memoir, one w/ a unique - even ingenious - structure that masterfully distills the volatile and oscillating emotions, particularly tense fear, of the abused.
machado recounts and examines her personal experience of an abusive relationship through the lens of various artistic genres, objects, things, ideas, lending each chapter an eerie, tense, sometimes detached feeling. the aforementioned is also framed against the larger historical backdrop of overlooked and non-mainstream subject of abuse in queer and lesbian relationships, and i learned a lot from the existing canon that's included in the book.
overall, a distinctive memoir on an oft under-discussed experience that's also able to critically discuss larger historical and social contexts.
machado recounts and examines her personal experience of an abusive relationship through the lens of various artistic genres, objects, things, ideas, lending each chapter an eerie, tense, sometimes detached feeling. the aforementioned is also framed against the larger historical backdrop of overlooked and non-mainstream subject of abuse in queer and lesbian relationships, and i learned a lot from the existing canon that's included in the book.
overall, a distinctive memoir on an oft under-discussed experience that's also able to critically discuss larger historical and social contexts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Cursing
Moderate: Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Infertility, Animal death, Infidelity, and Vomit