A review by kirsten0929
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

4.0

[2019] In this memoir, Machado addresses the “archival silence” around domestic violence in same-sex relationships through her own experience. Making this issue visible will, one hopes, allow for it to be addressed in the same way as other abuse cases, not hidden away, perpetuating the stereotype that same-sex relationships are somehow more “utopian” than any other. The writing is beautiful but does not in any way undermine or mask the message of cruelty and emotional/psychological abuse that took place in her relationship. Rather, I think the contrast enhances it. I feel like I can feel her struggling to express to the reader how she found her self caught up in this abusive relationship and unable to leave. Written in the form of passages as short as a couple of lines and generally no more than a couple of pages. I like the format, as I tend to think in bullet points and would probably write my own memoir in this style, but part of me does feel like it’s cheating a little, getting to skip all those pesky connections and transitions. Still, in this case she rocks it.