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A review by nostoat
My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen
5.0
This is an incredible modern example of the Gothic, complete with questions of sanity, obsession, love, and desire. What is love? Is it pain? Must it only be pain? When you've been through what these women have, can it be anything but sharply edged, with bloody teeth?
I was a bit apprehensive to read this book, as I have strong feelings about madness in narrative, as well as triggers around unreality. However van Veen handles it with such a deft hand. While some readers might still find it difficult or triggering to read (there are doctor's notes sprinkled throughout that, while deeply compassionate, might still be difficult), I didn't.
I was a bit apprehensive to read this book, as I have strong feelings about madness in narrative, as well as triggers around unreality. However van Veen handles it with such a deft hand. While some readers might still find it difficult or triggering to read (there are doctor's notes sprinkled throughout that, while deeply compassionate, might still be difficult), I didn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Terminal illness, Self harm, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Incest and Sexual assault
Roos is intentionally starved by her mother throughout the beginning of the book.