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A review by crybabybea
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Beautiful and experimental, In the Dream House pushes the boundaries of memoir. Because of this, it might not work for everybody, especially if you aren't a fan of overly poetic writing. The majority of the book is written in second-person perspective which may also be off-putting to some people, but I think in this case it works so well.
Carmen Maria Machado seamlessly blends in other genres, pulling from fairytales, horror, and gothic works to create a haunting and uncomfortable depiction of her experience in an abusive relationship. Because of the more abstract writing, it doesn't go super in-depth into the events that unfold, and Machado doesn't spell out her emotions and internal reflections as obviously as you might be used to from other memoirs. In the Dream House perfectly captures the feeling of a dream-like state. Some chapters felt almost dissociative, like we were silent observers floating above Machado's head but unable to warn her of the danger she was in. It was certainly a unique and gorgeous reading experience, but at times left me feeling disconnected, which is the opposite of what I look for in memoir. At the same time, many chapters were written with such clarity and raw emotion that I couldn't help but feel tightness in my heart and a pit in my stomach.
Admittedly, some of the more metaphorical chapters flew straight over my head, and I didn't really grasp the "Dream House" metaphor until I was a good chunk of the way into the book. I think this book requires careful analysis and deserves a slow reading experience. I read it in tandem (audio + ebook at once) which helped keep my focus and allowed me not to get too lost, but I think reading this on audio alone might be a bit confusing. The chapters give the feeling of demanding reflection, and even as I was reading there were several moments I had to pause, reread, and really try to understand the connections Machado was trying to draw.
I would be remiss to not address the fact that representation of abuse in queer relationships is lacking, which is dangerous for young queer people who may not realize what abuse looks like because their relationships don't mirror the heteronormative ideas and cliches society projects onto us. Especially realistic depictions of emotional/mental abuse that don't involve outright physical trauma (in both hetero and queer relationships alike) are missing in media. This is something that Machado attempts to address by bravely and vulnerably sharing her own story, and I think In the Dream House will go down as a classic and important addition to queer nonfiction.
Carmen Maria Machado seamlessly blends in other genres, pulling from fairytales, horror, and gothic works to create a haunting and uncomfortable depiction of her experience in an abusive relationship. Because of the more abstract writing, it doesn't go super in-depth into the events that unfold, and Machado doesn't spell out her emotions and internal reflections as obviously as you might be used to from other memoirs. In the Dream House perfectly captures the feeling of a dream-like state. Some chapters felt almost dissociative, like we were silent observers floating above Machado's head but unable to warn her of the danger she was in. It was certainly a unique and gorgeous reading experience, but at times left me feeling disconnected, which is the opposite of what I look for in memoir. At the same time, many chapters were written with such clarity and raw emotion that I couldn't help but feel tightness in my heart and a pit in my stomach.
Admittedly, some of the more metaphorical chapters flew straight over my head, and I didn't really grasp the "Dream House" metaphor until I was a good chunk of the way into the book. I think this book requires careful analysis and deserves a slow reading experience. I read it in tandem (audio + ebook at once) which helped keep my focus and allowed me not to get too lost, but I think reading this on audio alone might be a bit confusing. The chapters give the feeling of demanding reflection, and even as I was reading there were several moments I had to pause, reread, and really try to understand the connections Machado was trying to draw.
I would be remiss to not address the fact that representation of abuse in queer relationships is lacking, which is dangerous for young queer people who may not realize what abuse looks like because their relationships don't mirror the heteronormative ideas and cliches society projects onto us. Especially realistic depictions of emotional/mental abuse that don't involve outright physical trauma (in both hetero and queer relationships alike) are missing in media. This is something that Machado attempts to address by bravely and vulnerably sharing her own story, and I think In the Dream House will go down as a classic and important addition to queer nonfiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood