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A review by theocbookgirl
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Incredible writing. This is someone who is a WRITER - the language and metaphors and symbolism she uses to describe such intimate and cruel abuse absolutely knocked me over. This memoir shows a raw and graphic look at an abusive relationship and also acknowledges and discusses how little the subject of queer domestic violence is talked about.
“Did you say that? Really? You can’t remember saying that or even thinking it, and yet she is letting you know that it was said, and you definitely meant it that way.”
Gaslighting and mental mindfuckery are the worst kind of manipulation. My blood was boiling through many parts. I’m so relieved she was able to leave and to share her story.
“A reminder, perhaps, that abusers do not need to be, and rarely are, cackling maniacs. They just need to want something, and not care how they get it.”
From an interview: Are you still working through what happened, or did writing the book give you a sort of closure?
I don’t think that the purpose of writing a book like this is closure. I wanted to write a beautiful piece of art about something that happened to me. I think my own relationship with the material is unfinished, as so much of our lives are.
“Did you say that? Really? You can’t remember saying that or even thinking it, and yet she is letting you know that it was said, and you definitely meant it that way.”
Gaslighting and mental mindfuckery are the worst kind of manipulation. My blood was boiling through many parts. I’m so relieved she was able to leave and to share her story.
“A reminder, perhaps, that abusers do not need to be, and rarely are, cackling maniacs. They just need to want something, and not care how they get it.”
From an interview: Are you still working through what happened, or did writing the book give you a sort of closure?
I don’t think that the purpose of writing a book like this is closure. I wanted to write a beautiful piece of art about something that happened to me. I think my own relationship with the material is unfinished, as so much of our lives are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting