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A review by sophiafroehlich
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
In the dream house is one of those genre defying works that comes out of nowhere to wake me up to the possibilities of form in literature. Part memoir, part essay, part horror novel, part poetry, all its fragments come together to tell a story which is better for its unique structure.
Carmen Maria Machado examines the course of her abusive relationship from every angle - intellectual, symbolic, visceral, canonical, legal, historical, emotional, and so many more - each with a piercing lushness of language. In the process she unpacks the taboo of abuse within queer relationships and traces its history to understand the landscape of what she deems “the curse of the queer woman - a eternal liminality.”
Each fragment is very short and usually has a completely different approach than the last, so the book is constantly refreshing itself. If you prefer linear, plot heavy books then this might not be your cup of tea. I would also definitely check out the content warnings.
Carmen Maria Machado examines the course of her abusive relationship from every angle - intellectual, symbolic, visceral, canonical, legal, historical, emotional, and so many more - each with a piercing lushness of language. In the process she unpacks the taboo of abuse within queer relationships and traces its history to understand the landscape of what she deems “the curse of the queer woman - a eternal liminality.”
Each fragment is very short and usually has a completely different approach than the last, so the book is constantly refreshing itself. If you prefer linear, plot heavy books then this might not be your cup of tea. I would also definitely check out the content warnings.