In the Dream House Review

Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir, In the Dream House, is one of the most powerful books of 2019.  Despite the dark narrative, Machado’s writing can only be described as beautiful and riveting.  She manages to grip the reader in with complete ease. The chapters include incredible diversity while also not veering far from the topic. I think one of the most interesting parts of the book was Machado’s decision to write it in a second person view. This makes it seem as though the readers themselves are the ones experiencing what she did. By the time I’d reached the end of the memoir, I felt as though I knew Machado, and that I could somehow understand what she went through.  

The book depicts a relationship gone haywire. Carmen was still young when she met her partner, who is never mentioned by name, despite being one of the most crucial characters of the entire book. She is only ever referenced by “she” or “her.” This adds a mysterious factor to account. In the first few pages, Machado is madly in love. The relationship is seemingly flawless. Then comes the spiral downwards.

As Machado’s relationship plunges into misery, the writing becomes more and more intense, describing her declining psychological state, which all appears to be caused by her partner. She depicts every misfortune after misfortune brilliantly, to say the very least. The gaslighting, the tantrums, and jealousy are all recounted as clever metaphors or short stories of pop-culture moments. It almost seems like she’s writing all of the things she conjured up in her mind to make sense of the events occurring all too fast. 

Carmen Maria Machado is a perfect example of  a strong woman navigating through life. The emotions she experienced radiate through the pages. Her way of telling her story through every literature is simply unmatched.