In the Dream House: A Memoir
by Carmen Maria Machado
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A revolutionary memoir about domestic abuse by the award-winning author of Her Body and Other Parties
In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's engrossing and wildly innovative account of a relationship gone bad, and a bold dissection of the mechanisms and cultural representations of psychological abuse. Tracing the full arc of a harrowing relationship with a charismatic but volatile woman, Machado struggles to make sense of how what happened to her shaped the person she was becoming. And it's that struggle that gives the book its original structure: each chapter is driven by its own narrative trope--the haunted house, erotica, the bildungsroman--through which Machado holds the events up to the light and examines them from different angles. She looks back at her religious adolescence, unpacks the stereotype of lesbian relationships as safe and utopian, and widens the view with essayistic explorations of the history and reality of abuse in queer relationships. Machado's dire narrative is leavened with her characteristic wit, playfulness, and openness to inquiry. She casts a critical eye over legal proceedings, fairy tales, Star Trek, and Disney villains, as well as iconic works of film and fiction. The result is a wrenching, riveting book that explodes our ideas about what a memoir can do and be.Share
Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781644450383
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Carmen Maria Machado
- Publisher
- Graywolf Press
- Published Date
- December 1, 2020
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 272
- Physical Info
- 8.2 in L x 5.4 in W (0.74 lb)
I wish I could give this zero stars. It is mind-boggling that there has been so much hype, praise, and even awards for this pretentious, rambling, incoherent, bizarre, egocentric, questionable, and melodramatic memoir about (alleged) emotional abuse. Since this “narrative” (and I use that word very loosely because there is no coherent narrative) is extremely one-sided, it is obvious that much of the story is left out, with her (alleged) abuser having no way to defend herself nor to explain her side. I finished this book completely unconvinced that any of these events occurred anywhere but in the confused mind of the “writer,” at least not in the form that her (alleged) “recollections” are presented. The “writer” represents herself as a blank slate with no agency nor responsibility in her own life, leaving the reader a navel-gazing portrait of self-absorbed histrionics. I’m not sure whether libel laws would apply in this case, but I’m appalled that any publisher would allow such derogatory, unproven accusations to be made in a thinly-veiled way in which a reader can ascertain the identity of the (alleged) abuser within less than a half hour. This is a ludicrous display in every aspect.
Loved this book!
So I normally hate writing reviews but this was tough to get through. Maybe I just couldn’t keep up with what she was talking about but it was genuinely confusing to read. There were a bunch of “stories” that she was telling which I’m assuming tied into what she was talking about but it made no sense to be. Maybe I just wasn’t a fan of the writing style. I’m not exactly sure but this was hard to get through. ..
Bought because this was the selected book for our book club. None of us liked it. The writing is okay, but the book reads like someone who took a writing class and decided to apply the writing prompts to the same subject. The chapters are short, and the telling of events feel disconnected and disjointed-sometimes random stuff is in there about a book or tv show. It could just as easily been written in third person for the lack of intimate storytelling. Only reason I gave 2 stars is because I still applaud anyone brave enough to put their abuse out there for others to read. Not a book I would recommend or pass on to a friend though. Wish I had saved money on this one.
Carmen Maria Machado is a creative genius. There is no other author like her. I praise and allow you, for sharing your story and the way you've chosen to do so. Keep raising voices, we're stronger together ♀️💪🏼💕
