Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

83 reviews

octopus_farmer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I liked the twist of the book even more than the tropes (which the author seems to use with delight in the first part of the novel). I tried to guess what the monstrous was, like our heroine, and failed just as miserably. I think it would easily hold up to a reread, though plenty is explained in the ending. I didn't like some scenes at the end, when
Noemi couldn't tell dreams from reality from the gloom, especially when it involved Virgil,
but it certainly added to the nightmarish charm of the novel. It's very picturesque - it could easily make a good film, but it could also be a very bad film in the wrong hands. Certainly the only book where
mushrooms
matched the same terror I held when I watched
nature documentaries about fungi controlling insects. I also, for one, don't think it is completely gone, given Francis' knowledge of the cousins' conversation when he was asleep.
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biblizo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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cosypuck's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense

4.0

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v171's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Man, I don't know. I just didn't like it. Looking at it as a piece of literature outside of genre, the characters were boring and had poor development. The story wasn't very captivating and was poorly paced. The romance felt forced and unnatural. However my primary disappointment was that, as a horror novel, it was appallingly not scary, horrific, or tense. Every beat felt so formulaic and predictable that I never felt the intensity or urgency of the story. I felt bored throughout the whole story, and at the end I felt just ambivalent about the characters as I did in the beginning. I'm no horror connoisseur because I'm pretty easily scared. But this was a miss all around.
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addieslibrary's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is one of the first, if not the first, horror book that I have read. I did enjoy the horror parts, but unfortunately it was not enough and it was a little too late. About 200-250 pages in it finally started to get creepy and scary. Before that, the novel focused on nightmares and suspicions of creepiness. I understand that the author needs to set the scene and work up the emotions of the character. However, I feel like I got most of the information I needed in the first 100 pages and second 100 pages were just extremely repetitive and unfortunately boring. I found myself skimming through these just so I could get to the part where it all comes together and the expected creepiness comes out. 

With all that being said, I still found this book quite entertaining. I experienced emotions and reactions that I have never felt reading other books. The horror and creepiness of the content is new to me and I can confidently say that I liked it. 
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kylajaynebooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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keen's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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gabibrose's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Mexican Gothic has all the ingredients for an alluring gothic horror; a strong-willed heroine, a spooky house, a reclusive family and a hidden secret. When Noemí Taboada receives an alarming message from her cousin Catalina, stating an impending doom, she sets off to the Mexican countryside to ensure her cousin’s health and safety. Noemí arrives at High Place, the ancestral home of Catalina’s new English in-law’s, and what she finds during her stay incites horrors beyond her imagination. 

Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves insightful historical tidbits of 1950’s Mexico with disturbing imagery that slithers through the mind to paint a nightmarish gallery. Perhaps the story’s most unforgettable moments come from the acutely crafted atmosphere, extending off the page and allowing readers to experience a chilly draft or disorienting fog along with the characters. Moreno-Garcia took care with the construction of our heroine, Noemí, who could have been written off as a frivolous socialite but instead possesses a ferocity and self-awareness that bring her to life. The finale of this novel is not to be overlooked, as it incites some of the most ghoulish and heart racing storytelling I’ve read.
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chelscantdance's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is marvelously atmospheric, for better or for worse. It does a good job of creating that typical Gothic setting, with the creepy house and family. You feel like you're really there when you read it. I really liked the main character's perspective as well. 

My only disappointment with this book is that it wasn't really "Mexican" - it felt like Crimson Peak but plopped in Mexico. It could've really taken place anywhere, I didn't get a sense of the Mexican setting other than the first chapter in Mexico City and the occasional mention of someone speaking Spanish or eating a torta/chilaquiles. I was hoping it would be more of a Mexican-style Gothic tale when it's really just an English one. Regardless, I really enjoyed the story and I don't normally like these kinds of books! Definitely a spooky read. 
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hardy314's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book lives up to the hype. It was a difficult book to read at times but I loved the narrative. The mystery at the core was fascinating and I was always completely invested in the story. The setting of 1950s Mexico was one I had not read about before and helped create the stage for this gothic horror story. A must read!
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