This was an intense, fascinating book with incredibly vivid and beautiful description and imagery. The author did an amazing job fleshing out the characters, and I absolutely adore Naomi, the main character and I was rooting for her the whole time. Themes of the impact of abuse and colonialism are woven throughout this tense story. I couldn’t put the book down and was listening to it at all opportunities. It’s wonderful and creepy from the beginning to the end. 

 

After saying for months I was going to read it, I finally read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, published by Del Ray books. This was a book of the month choice for me last year–so long ago I couldn’t even tell you which month! But I finally read it and I’m mad at myself for putting it off for so long!

Mexican Gothic is a gothic horror set in 1950 Mexico, where Noemi recieves a frantic letter from her cousin who believes her new husband’s family is trying to poison her. Noemi goes to the house to figure out what’s going on, only to find there are more secrets than she initially realized and there’s something odd about the house.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was loosely reminiscent of gothic stories like The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins and Gilman and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The writing style was descriptive and truly set me in the place, that creepy, creaky, moldy house. I liked how the horror slowly built in tension until the climax, using disgruntled relatives, nightmares, and family secrets to aid in its mood. The motifs were clever–mushrooms, the ouroboros, and the use of dreams all playing a role.

There wasn’t much I didn’t like. While much of the characters are meant to be unlikable, I still felt a strong resonance with the protagonist (and a strong distrust of all other characters, which I think built the story). I suppose there were scenes I think didn’t matter as much and could have been cut out–the beginning, for example, might have been cut shorter, though it did help me as a reader get to know the main character’s personality a bit more. I also really could have done without as many scenes that hinted or nearly led to sexual assault (trigger warning for the book! that and some body horror, which I don’t mind as much!). I think things can be horrifying without having to add SA scenes and there can still be a theme of feminism versus sexism without those scenes, too.

But speaking of which, there were some powerful themes in the book! There were themes of female empowerment, shown in the main character’s sassiness, fighting the expectation of submissiveness. Plus, her cousin may have been a damsel in distress, but towards the end had found her own empowerment. Another theme was about eugenics with the Darwinian ideal, which was the whole idea behind the horrors of the novel (and the basis for the other horrors found throughout the book, and seen in minor ways like racist comments or colonialism from the family).

I’m afraid if I type more, I’ll reveal some spoilers. So I’ll leave with this: I loved this book! I’ve been debating between four and five stars, but I think it’s a five star read in the end! Highly recommend. 

Title: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Gothic Horror
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: June 30, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Edgy • Atmospheric • Creative

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When her father receives a frantic letter from his niece begging someone to save her, he enlists Noemi's help, sending her to High Place in the Mexican countryside. Trading her glamourous lifestyle for amateur sleuthing, Noemi doesn't know what to expect when she arrives. She certainly isn't afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Of course, I'd seen and heard all of the hype surrounding Mexican Gothic when it was originally published a few years ago. Honestly, I had no interest in picking it up until it landed on the 2023 Canada Reads shortlist. Even then, I was hesitant as it's not a genre I gravitate towards. In my opinion, it was a rather odd pick for the shortlist. Nonetheless one of my reading goals each year is to read all five contenders ahead of the debates, so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised until I got about two-thirds of the way through and it took such a disturbing turn and lost me.

What I like:
• the writing. The writing is phenomenal. So engrossing. So cinematic. So mysterious. So atmospheric.
• the house. The house is its own character and I cannot recall ever reading one quite like this. In addition, the historic setting helped create an unsettling feeling that something wasn't quite right.
• the beginning. Through the first 50%, I was pleasantly surprised and entertained by the narrative. There was more tension and mystery building that anything else.
• the audio. The audio is very well done, and adds an extra layer to the atmosphere.

What I didn't like:
• the second half. The plot started getting weirder and weirder (when it didn't need to). There was significantly more gore and grotesque subject matter. And the story lost me at this point. I don't even think it needed to go the places it when in order to be successful. In fact, I think it would have been better if it hadn't gone that route at all.
• the pacing. The pacing felt extremely slow to begin with (which I was fine with), and yet somehow when I got to the strange twist it felt like it came out of nowhere and the pacing shifted gears to the point it felt rushed.
• the twist. Ugh. It felt unnecessary. And some of the scenes where incredibly unsettling to the point I don't even think they served the story at all. It left me with an icky feeling (which is probably the point), but I read to enjoy myself and it just wasn't enjoyable at all.

Overall, Mexican Gothic is an incredibly creative and disturbing story set in an old house and filled with family secrets. There are certainly some underlying social commentaries on racism and colonialism, but I didn't necessarily find the novel overly thought-provoking or perspective shifting in that regard. In fact, I think it went places it didn't need to go simply to add shock value. It's quite clear I am not the intended audience,, but if gothic horror is your thing than you'll probably love this book.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like secluded settings
• fans of haunted houses

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"After all, nothing in this place was what it seemed."

"The future, she thought, could no be predicted, and the shape of things could not be divined." 

Mexican Gothic slowly lulls you into its setting and then rapidly drops you into a fever dream. Though I normally am not a fan of the way that fever dream like books make me feel as a reader, this one really worked for me. Creepy and inspired by historical realities- I look forward to reading more from this author. 

4⭐️