A review by nadia
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This is such a unique, creative, intense memoir. Carmen Maria Machado uses a wide range of narrative tropes, concepts, and structures (there's one that if you've not read much about this book you won't see coming — so ingenious and powerful!) to recount her experience of domestic abuse at the hands of an ex-girlfriend, and also explore the neglected topic of abuse in queer relationships. It's a fascinating and informative insight into a heavy topic. Some of the chapters read like short critical essays, exploring works of fiction, film, TV, and other pop culture media, in relation to the subject matter. I wasn't expecting to learn so much outside of Machado's personal story but the book is all the more richer for these extra dimensions. I really recommend In The Dream House to broaden your reading horizons.