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kateharsh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
abzhozay's review against another edition
4.0
This was beautifully written told in an allegory about an abusive relationship. It was written with such heartbreak and it felt so hauntingly beautiful. I can't imagine being in an abusive relationship. My heart goes out to Carmen. Also, this was an interesting discussion about taking sexual assault seriously, even in queer relationships. Seeing queers as equals, the good and the bad. Anyone is capable of anything. It was a hard read for sure, but I'm glad I was able to experience the writing of Carmen Maria Machado.
thedragonwolf's review against another edition
5.0
I had heard so much about this and it is one of my required readings for a class (still haven't discussed it in class, I read ahead). I typically don't read much CNF, especially not long form one like this, but I was always intrigues about the craft of this because people always mention it.
And I get it now. This memoir is crafter in such a way that it is easy to imagine it as a piece of fiction, multiple times I would question what was happening in the book and I had to remind myself that this was real life, this are Machado's experiences. The research that is included was very interesting and a topic that I hadn't thought about, which is so the point. Domestic Abuse in Queer relationships is a topic that has been not erased from history because it was never written down, but it has been undocumented.
On a craft level-- and I think this is something that I will talk about in class-- this is very meta. Each section explores an element of the literary cannon and if often (in the present sections) it questions the lack of presence of representation of queer abuse in said canon. Machado's writing is so palpable, I had to put the book down at some points because it is painful to see the narrative develop and how the relationship became abusive.
And I get it now. This memoir is crafter in such a way that it is easy to imagine it as a piece of fiction, multiple times I would question what was happening in the book and I had to remind myself that this was real life, this are Machado's experiences. The research that is included was very interesting and a topic that I hadn't thought about, which is so the point. Domestic Abuse in Queer relationships is a topic that has been not erased from history because it was never written down, but it has been undocumented.
On a craft level-- and I think this is something that I will talk about in class-- this is very meta. Each section explores an element of the literary cannon and if often (in the present sections) it questions the lack of presence of representation of queer abuse in said canon. Machado's writing is so palpable, I had to put the book down at some points because it is painful to see the narrative develop and how the relationship became abusive.
galley_hag's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of those rare books where I had to tell myself “slow down, savor it, you’ll never be able to read this for the first time again.” And much like with Machado’s first book, I was powerless to do so. In the Dream House explores the reality of domestic abuse by casting instances of a relationship as different genres and tropes. Machado brings you into the “Dream House” with her so effectively that part of you now lives there too. But it’s okay because you have her words to help you out.
noga's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
4.0
took me 20-30 pages to really get into it but i ended up really liking it
sophiebmelville's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
allofeternity's review against another edition
5.0
If its any indicator as to my experience with this book, its 3 am and i have an 8 am coding class.
This book was simultaneously nerve shattering and comforting for a range of reasons, one of them being my struggles wirh my identity over the past year or so. The story Carmen so brutally portrays is so raw and powerful that even though I know she got her happy ending, my heart aches for her.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story Carmen, I know it has affected me and will continue to affect others in countless profound ways.
This book was simultaneously nerve shattering and comforting for a range of reasons, one of them being my struggles wirh my identity over the past year or so. The story Carmen so brutally portrays is so raw and powerful that even though I know she got her happy ending, my heart aches for her.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story Carmen, I know it has affected me and will continue to affect others in countless profound ways.
chaotic17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0