This starts out slow, but I was interested in what was going on the whole time. I really loved Our main character she made me laugh. Also there’s a romance which obviously isn’t the main plot but I’m a sucker for it. I also like some of the topics/themes discussed in this as well. I wasn’t scared or grossed out tbh but I still enjoyed this. 

In a decadent, decaying manor, high above the rural town of El Triunfo, lives a strange English family. The year is 1950 and the mines the Doyles came to exploit have been in disrepair for decades, but still, the standoffish brood remains isolated a top the hill. Noemí Taboada, a socialite from Mexico City, is an unwelcome visitor. Having received a chilling letter from her cousin Catalina, who recently married into the Doyle family, Noemí arrives at High Place concerned for her wellbeing. The Doyles claim that Catalina is ill with tuberculosis and experiencing feverish delusions, but they are suspiciously controlling and prevent Noemí from spending more than a few minutes with Catalina at a time. As the days drag on, Noemí clashes with the family and feels increasingly powerless to help her cousin. When she starts having disturbing visions of her own, Noemí becomes even more desperate to sort things out and depart. But things get a whole lot weirder before the dark reality of Catalina’s illness and the house’s horrific secrets are finally revealed.

Mexican Gothic combines Latin American magic realism and historical suspense with mystery, horror, and a hint of romance. The narrative is told in third person. The beginning mostly details the dreary aspects of life at High Place. But then a series of abnormal events occur, and bizarre supernatural circumstances ultimately bring the story to a head.

This book is full of beautifully crafted depictions of unsettling things that freaked me out to the point of sleeping with the lights on. It might not be the best read for those who prefer a faster paced novel, but the writing is so atmospheric that I personally found even the instances of monotony engrossing. I did not so enjoy the most grotesque horrors, but I’m a wimp and I get sleep paralysis so I’m surprised I even picked this story up… still, no regrets.

Although most of the cast is unlikeable, I was rather fond of the main character. Capable, clever, outspoken, and flirty, Noemí is a strong heroine, but not in a stereotypical way. People underestimate her, but she challenges the standards that say to be feminine is to be weak and that a woman who fancies fashion and fun is just silly or slutty or shallow. As the author has pointed out, we don’t see many Mexican characters portrayed as anything other than maids and laborers in spite of the different socio-economic classes that exist. But Noemí comes from a degree of privilege, and her position also helps embolden her in dealing with the Doyles.

At the start, it seems like the Doyles all have relatively flat personalities. But what lies beneath the family’s austere demeanor is a sadistic ruthlessness. Shy, kind Francis is the only one with any redeemable qualities. Despite being raised up in a household of white supremacists with misplaced humanity, he does not see the world their way or behave like the rest of them. He stays passive far too long, but abuse is all he’s ever known, and it’s important to recognize how hard such things can be to escape.

In terms of messaging, Mexican Gothic contrasts the use of old gothic tropes with a modern discourse on the state of the world, broaching issues like colonialism, racism, and eugenics. The setting makes use of a less referenced part of Mexico's history. And while examining the limits of a woman’s autonomy in 1950s Mexico, the narrative also touches upon the violations women have faced across the world for millennia. I just wish it didn’t depend on repeated descriptions of sexual harassment and assault to get its point across. Certain parts felt a bit excessive to me and I’m not sure all of the graphic content was necessary.

The only other thing I wish was different is the exploration of Catalina’s character. I would’ve liked her to play a bigger role in the story, seeing as she was the whole reason Noemi ended up at High Place.

I am not someone to typically reads books in the horror genre, however, I do love gothic literature and decided to dip a toe this spooky season with Mexican Gothic.

Overall I very much enjoyed reading this book. This book hits all the right notes for a gothic novel with an eerie house full of secrets, an old money family that isn't quite right, and a bright and go getting outsider willing to do what it takes to save her cousin from a terrible fate.
I thought the atmosphere that was built throughout the novel was beautiful and haunting. It kept me reading and captivated me from start to finish.
I loved Noemí as a main character. She was intelligent, loyal, and brave in the face of true horror and her perspective was delightful and easy to step into.

Some spoilers on my thoughts about the horror elements of this story and what the most horrifying element was for me.

I thought the device of the mycelium as the vehicle for the horror of the house and its family was clever and interesting. I had a feeling early on, with the foreshadowing of Francis' love of mushrooms, that the mold was going to be what was causing people in the house to have hallucinations.
I think for me though the true horror that turned my stomach laced through the entire novel was the power the men held over women. Stripping away the body horror and the magical mushrooms you are left with a reality all too many women know. Men who take what they want and care not for the people they step on and break in the process. The constant threat of sexual violence that Noemí was under the entire time had my stomach turning and me cringing. Not to mention the Doyle women who were all used and abused to the point of their children being eaten and their bodies being used as mulch to create more mushrooms for the men to exploit. This element of the story was, for me, the most horrifying and unsettling.

For me, a major factor whether I like a scary story is in the ending. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of this book. It left me very satisfied and if you like gothic literature (and make sure to check the content warning since this is a horror) I recommend you give this book a try.

The writing in this was beautiful and the setting and characters well-drawn. I thought I’d try something spooky around Halloween, and while the ghost and haunted elements were quite engaging, I found the sexual violence, or more accurately the threat of it, incredibly disturbing and at several points considered setting the book aside. I was curious enough to finish, but I found this further into real life terror rather than otherworldly horror and would not have chosen it had I known it was intense in that way.

Never in my life have I been  more grateful that a book doesn't have pictures.

What this book is:
Atmospheric. This book gives an excellent gothic atmosphere. Enjoyable characters. Not all of the characters are complex, but the experience of peeling back the layers on the characters is really fun. Whimsey. It's hard to describe this without spoilers, but this book employs a lovely balance between grounding in reality and high concept whimsy. These whimsical elements also tie in wonderfully thematically to the plot and themes. Themes. This book's atmosphere isn't just aesthetic but is also entangled with its themes. This book has a lot of interesting themes that will keep you thinking.

What this book isn't:
Mexican. Despite the title, setting, and main character all being Mexican don't expect any Mexican culture. I picked this up after reading a book with Mexican leads and gaining an appreciation for learning about Mexican culture in a fictional setting. But the majority of characters in this book are white and the POC behave exactly like the white characters. The only Mexican culture here is an exploration of colonialism and eugenics from the white male perspective. Also, the main character is very passive. She's set up being headstrong and canny, though her personality is consistent and enjoyable she's a lot more passive than the setup would suggest. This is because unlike most modern novels this book is plot-driven instead of character-driven. Though the characters act according to their personalities and motivations, they don't actively drive the plot but rather unwrap the mystery. This gives the book a slow pace which actually works for the benefit of:

Conclusion:
This isn't my usual book because of its slow pace and plot-driven style. When I first read it I wasn't sure if I'd finish it because I thought it wasn't for me but the mysterious gothic atmosphere had me feeling like there was always something crawling just beneath the surface and I'm glad I kept reading [even if it was just for the dank gothic vibes] because this is now a got to reread for me. The reveals, whimsical twists, and masterfully hidden themes and subtext woven into the atmosphere make this novel even more enjoyable on a reread. Once the secrets were unveiled it only left me more excited to go back and read it all over again. I would highly recommend for someone who likes a good mystery, enjoys a melancholy gothic atmosphere, and loves a bit of whimsey.

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. 

REVIEW: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia

So this book has been all over #bookstagram since it’s release in July and has received a lot of mixed reviews. I personally loved it and finished in less than a day. Personally, I didn’t find this book to be outright scary, more haunting and suspenseful. In some ways it reminded me of Rebecca. It contains otherworldly elements and is very atmospheric and richly detailed. 

I would generally agree that this is a slow burn. Most of the action takes place in the last 50-100 pages of the book. That being said, I found the authors writing intriguing and suspenseful. All in all, I thought Mexican gothic was the perfect October read. I can’t wait to see what they do with the Hulu series