Scan barcode
A review by chemistreadingonthejob
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Dream House as Deeply Moving, Insightful, and Beautifully Written
In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's powerful memoir detailing her experience with queer domestic abuse. Carmen talks about the emotional abuse, gaslighting, and sometimes physical abuse she suffered at the hands of someone most people don't expect. She addresses misconceptions about queer abuse and how she coped with the trauma. The book frequently switches between first person and referring to her past self as You. It feels like she is breaking the 4th wall, and it puts readers directly in her shoes. In the Dream House has a broken structure that jumps from one memory to next every chapter. The chapters are titled and themed as literary genres, tropes, or conventions. For example, Dream House as World Building, Dream House as Noir, Dream House as Romance Novel, Dream House as Unreliable Narrator. Each chapter has its own significance but is part of a larger picture.
This experimental structuring of the book was fascinating and impactful. I found myself in deep thought wondering about the symbolism of Dream House and hidden meanings behind every chapter. It is complex and thought provoking. She refers to her abuser as "the woman in the dream house," and this feels right. Carmen is exceptional at "putting language to something for which you have no language". She has a beautiful way of writing that resonates.
"I speak into the silence. I toss the stone of my story into a vast crevice; measure the emptiness by its small sound."
At first, I found the audiobook read by her odd because she has a deep breathless way of speaking that feels spooky. I would get goosebumps. However, this made the memoir feel ominous and slightly menacing. It was a perfect fit for the atmosphere. It felt almost like a thriller. I don't normally reread books, but I would for this one. This memoir changed the way I look at literary conventions and queer violence. I would recommend this to anybody interested in unique memoirs or looking for inspiration.
Dream House as Five Star Review.
In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's powerful memoir detailing her experience with queer domestic abuse. Carmen talks about the emotional abuse, gaslighting, and sometimes physical abuse she suffered at the hands of someone most people don't expect. She addresses misconceptions about queer abuse and how she coped with the trauma. The book frequently switches between first person and referring to her past self as You. It feels like she is breaking the 4th wall, and it puts readers directly in her shoes. In the Dream House has a broken structure that jumps from one memory to next every chapter. The chapters are titled and themed as literary genres, tropes, or conventions. For example, Dream House as World Building, Dream House as Noir, Dream House as Romance Novel, Dream House as Unreliable Narrator. Each chapter has its own significance but is part of a larger picture.
This experimental structuring of the book was fascinating and impactful. I found myself in deep thought wondering about the symbolism of Dream House and hidden meanings behind every chapter. It is complex and thought provoking. She refers to her abuser as "the woman in the dream house," and this feels right. Carmen is exceptional at "putting language to something for which you have no language". She has a beautiful way of writing that resonates.
"I speak into the silence. I toss the stone of my story into a vast crevice; measure the emptiness by its small sound."
At first, I found the audiobook read by her odd because she has a deep breathless way of speaking that feels spooky. I would get goosebumps. However, this made the memoir feel ominous and slightly menacing. It was a perfect fit for the atmosphere. It felt almost like a thriller. I don't normally reread books, but I would for this one. This memoir changed the way I look at literary conventions and queer violence. I would recommend this to anybody interested in unique memoirs or looking for inspiration.
Dream House as Five Star Review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting