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A review by doomkittiekhan
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
5.0
What is a 'dream house'?
Something we are taught to want since childhood. Something that we feel we must forge and create, struggle and sweat to bring into existence. It is what will give our lives meaning. A manifestation of our deepest desires fulfilled. Customizable. Individual. Our own.
But what if the 'dream house' turns out to be a lie? What if what we thought we wanted, believed that we should want, was not actually what we wanted or needed at all? What if, once built, the dream house became a prison?
'In the Dream House' by Carmen Maria Machado reveals her experience in an abusive same-sex relationship during her MFA program. Through short chapters that play on literary tropes - "The Dream House as Horror Movie", "The Dream House as Magical Realism", "The Dream House as Metaphor", etc..., Machado details all the instances, the events, the nothings, the big things that make up a shared life. The reader feels somewhat like a doll being moved or placed through the dream house by Machado acting as benevolent child overlord/guide/realtor/paranormal investigator/storyteller.
The morphing nature of the chapters and their genres explore Machado's deeply psychologically abusive relationship with her ex. Under the surface of the stories, the reader is granted access to an academic look at female queerness in pop culture and consequently must explore the memoir as social commentary. 'In the Dream House' fills a gap in the literature. As Machado lays bare, she didn't realize that same-sex relationships *could* be abusive. Why would someone like you...hurt you? From this vulnerable place, Machado examines her relationship and blueprints her experience so that she may then reach out to and teach others who are perhaps also naive.
Machado also confronts our perception of queerness as it relates to whose stories are told. Stating that women that look like her are often overwritten and ignored. Their pain viewed as imaginary. Their skin perceived as tougher. This colonialist and sexist falsehood is stripped away and will leave the reader realizing that they are here to listen. To hold space for Machado's words.
"In the Dream House" is not an easy book to read. It is deeply uncomfortable with the looming presence of the corrupted dream house and the abusive ex merging into one terrifying entity. Combined with the additional ugliness of racism, predatory sexual behaviors, and the mythologizing that those in threatening situations are prone to, Machado weaves a story that is as heartbreaking as it is powerful. This is a game changer and you need to read it.
Special note - I listened to the audiobook of this title and it was read by the author. I highly recommend the experience.
Something we are taught to want since childhood. Something that we feel we must forge and create, struggle and sweat to bring into existence. It is what will give our lives meaning. A manifestation of our deepest desires fulfilled. Customizable. Individual. Our own.
But what if the 'dream house' turns out to be a lie? What if what we thought we wanted, believed that we should want, was not actually what we wanted or needed at all? What if, once built, the dream house became a prison?
'In the Dream House' by Carmen Maria Machado reveals her experience in an abusive same-sex relationship during her MFA program. Through short chapters that play on literary tropes - "The Dream House as Horror Movie", "The Dream House as Magical Realism", "The Dream House as Metaphor", etc..., Machado details all the instances, the events, the nothings, the big things that make up a shared life. The reader feels somewhat like a doll being moved or placed through the dream house by Machado acting as benevolent child overlord/guide/realtor/paranormal investigator/storyteller.
The morphing nature of the chapters and their genres explore Machado's deeply psychologically abusive relationship with her ex. Under the surface of the stories, the reader is granted access to an academic look at female queerness in pop culture and consequently must explore the memoir as social commentary. 'In the Dream House' fills a gap in the literature. As Machado lays bare, she didn't realize that same-sex relationships *could* be abusive. Why would someone like you...hurt you? From this vulnerable place, Machado examines her relationship and blueprints her experience so that she may then reach out to and teach others who are perhaps also naive.
Machado also confronts our perception of queerness as it relates to whose stories are told. Stating that women that look like her are often overwritten and ignored. Their pain viewed as imaginary. Their skin perceived as tougher. This colonialist and sexist falsehood is stripped away and will leave the reader realizing that they are here to listen. To hold space for Machado's words.
"In the Dream House" is not an easy book to read. It is deeply uncomfortable with the looming presence of the corrupted dream house and the abusive ex merging into one terrifying entity. Combined with the additional ugliness of racism, predatory sexual behaviors, and the mythologizing that those in threatening situations are prone to, Machado weaves a story that is as heartbreaking as it is powerful. This is a game changer and you need to read it.
Special note - I listened to the audiobook of this title and it was read by the author. I highly recommend the experience.