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A review by halieghkai
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4.0
Mexican Gothic is a classic gothic horror set in the glamorous 1950s. It was a slow-burn read with a blood-boiling twist. If it wasn't for the foreshadows, I don't think I would've finished this book, but here we are, finished and amused!
I consider the genre a Domestic Thriller than a Horror due to the atmosphere. The uncomfortable dialogues about Eugenics and the sheer audacity of colonizers infuriated me (kudos to the author!) The extent one will go to take what they want in this story will have your skin itching, side-eyeing the stain on your wall, and smoking cigarettes (optional).
We follow our protagonist, Noemí, an indomitable socialite as her worldview flipped upside down the moment her father received a letter from her newly wedded cousin begging for help.
Being a woman in that era (as you'd expect) was very restrictive, and Noemí had ambitions, one of which she wanted to attend University. Her father presented an ultimatum—the only way she'll be able to attend university is if she agrees to visit her cousin Catalina in High Place— the place where the story begins or ends.
I can't believe that I'm saying this but, I enjoyed this book! Sure, my patience was tested in the first half of the book due to the slow pacing, but I appreciated how the author sprinkled little hints and elements enough to fuel my curiosity, and that's what makes a slow burn worth the burn in my opinion.
There were history lessons in this book as well, referencing Mexico's Independence that tied in so cleverly with the plot. But with praise, I must also warn that this book has triggers that involve SA (Nothing too graphic but the first encounter will be Chapter 12.)
Reading between the lines, you'll notice that this book is an Exploration of Womanhood through the Marginalized. The pain women endured through our bloodlines connects us in more ways than one, and the root cause, of course, is the patriarchy. It begs the question, how will we release this pain?
My Critiques:
The book ended too abruptly for me. It felt as though the last chapter ended on a breath that never exhaled. I wish an epilogue was added to know what happened in the aftermath—like, did Noemí attend university? If anything, I'm hopeful that the upcoming Hulu series adaptation will provide some clarity which I'm really excited about!
I consider the genre a Domestic Thriller than a Horror due to the atmosphere. The uncomfortable dialogues about Eugenics and the sheer audacity of colonizers infuriated me (kudos to the author!) The extent one will go to take what they want in this story will have your skin itching, side-eyeing the stain on your wall, and smoking cigarettes (optional).
We follow our protagonist, Noemí, an indomitable socialite as her worldview flipped upside down the moment her father received a letter from her newly wedded cousin begging for help.
Being a woman in that era (as you'd expect) was very restrictive, and Noemí had ambitions, one of which she wanted to attend University. Her father presented an ultimatum—the only way she'll be able to attend university is if she agrees to visit her cousin Catalina in High Place— the place where the story begins or ends.
I can't believe that I'm saying this but, I enjoyed this book! Sure, my patience was tested in the first half of the book due to the slow pacing, but I appreciated how the author sprinkled little hints and elements enough to fuel my curiosity, and that's what makes a slow burn worth the burn in my opinion.
There were history lessons in this book as well, referencing Mexico's Independence that tied in so cleverly with the plot. But with praise, I must also warn that this book has triggers that involve SA (Nothing too graphic but the first encounter will be Chapter 12.)
Reading between the lines, you'll notice that this book is an Exploration of Womanhood through the Marginalized. The pain women endured through our bloodlines connects us in more ways than one, and the root cause, of course, is the patriarchy. It begs the question, how will we release this pain?
My Critiques:
The book ended too abruptly for me. It felt as though the last chapter ended on a breath that never exhaled. I wish an epilogue was added to know what happened in the aftermath—like, did Noemí attend university? If anything, I'm hopeful that the upcoming Hulu series adaptation will provide some clarity which I'm really excited about!