"In the Dream House: A Memoir," by Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado has, in her book “In the Dream House: A Memoir” (Graywolf, 2019), written the powerful, painfully candid, and brave story of her time with a female lover who was wonderful at first but gradually became possessive, cruel, and even violent toward Machado. The story is gripping, immensely difficult to “witness,” and tremendously well written. Machado has given readers a window into the world of domestic violence in the lesbian community, one seldom written about. The stereotype is that women are not (usually) violent, and lesbians are women who love other women and therefore are peaceful and kind. Of course this stereotype is not logical, but it has been the image that many have of lesbian relationships. Machado clearly hopes that by bringing openness to this topic, she will empower others to speak up and to stand up for themselves and for others in this situation. Her dedication, “If you need this book, it is for you,” perhaps says it all. In the course of telling her story, the author describes her time studying creative writing, teaching, and making her way into the literary world. She also tells readers of her background, and includes allusions to various aspects of both literary and popular culture. One interesting aspect of her story is her insights into the world of creative writing programs in the United States. But the main focus is the intense, obsessive, sometimes happy, but increasingly difficult and destructive relationship between the writer and her lover. Although the subject of abuse is difficult to read about, the writing is gripping.