Full size book cover of In the Dream House}

In the Dream House

Carmen Maria Machado

4.41(142818 readers)
In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's engrossing and wildly innovative account of a relationship gone bad. Tracing the full arc of a harrowing experience with a charismatic but volatile woman, this is a bold dissection of the mechanisms and cultural representations of psychological abuse.

Each chapter views the relationship through a different lens, as Machado holds events up to the light and examines them from distinct angles. She casts a critical eye over legal proceedings, fairy tales, Star Trek and Disney villains, as well as iconic works of film and fiction, infusing all with her characteristic wit, playfulness and openness to enquiry. The result is a powerful book that explodes our ideas about what a memoir can do and be.

Publisher

Serpent's Tail

Publication Date

10/1/2020

ISBN

9781788162258

Pages

283

Categories

Literature

Questions & Answers

How does the concept of the "Dream House" serve as a metaphor for the complexities and dangers within intimate relationships, particularly those involving domestic abuse and queerness?

In what ways does Machado utilize various literary genres and forms, such as the picaresque, the folktale, and the self-help book, to explore the experiences of domestic abuse within queer relationships?

How does the book challenge the traditional narratives of domestic abuse, particularly those that focus on physical violence, by highlighting emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse?

What role does the author's personal narrative play in contributing to the broader conversation about domestic abuse within queer communities, and how does it contribute to the understanding of the "violence of the archive"?

How does the book address the challenges faced by survivors of domestic abuse in seeking justice and recognition within the legal and societal systems, and what implications does this have for the future of addressing abuse within queer relationships?

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