I love how much you love this book, and it makes me excited to give this a try even though I didn't completely resonate with Gods of Jade and shadow. PS: I adore how well-spoken you are 😻
I loved this book! It's one of my favorites of the year, and has reignited my interest in the gothic novel. You make some fantastic points about the narrative that I overlooked. Great review!
I finished reading Mexican Gothic in august, and I really enjoyed it as well. I've seen a lot of negative reviews claiming it was too slow. I agree that it was extremely slow paced, but I think it benefited from that overall. You really got to care for the characters, and then the last third just sold me completely.
Excellent review! I totally agree about the amount of growth for Noemi and Francis. We're about 30% in to me reading Mexican Gothic out loud to Sush, and it's fun to hear him theorize about what's actually going on. 😊 And Moreno-Garcia is definitely on my autobuy list as well! I just finished buddy reading The Beautiful Ones with Cynthia @ BookWhimsey (although this was my least favorite so far), and I bought copies of Signal to Noise and Prime Meridian, which I'm really looking forward to.
I had so much fun guessing what was happening...I hope Sush is too! By the time mushrooms were mentioned more than once and then the "universal veil" I was googling things like mad :-D I really enjoyed the characters in The Beautiful Ones but less so the plot.
I was on the fence to read Mexican Gothic and wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. Your review of this novel has changed my thinking and now I want to read it!! Thank you Rachel!
Great review. I would like to ask the reviewer one question? Why she has not mentioned about Rebecca? Both Manfely house of Rebecca and Highplace mansion of Mexican Gothic certain similarities. The characters Mrs Florence of Mexican Gothic and Mrs Danvers resemble each other. But of course Rebecca is a psychological thriller.
Great review of a great book. Full essays could be done on any of a number of themes, like sexism, racism, colonialism, etc. and how they are all deftly woven into the story.
Amazing review as always Rachel. Your comment on the women's social issues over-riding the body horror to be a interesting point and significant knowing your preferences.
I've been meaning to read this one! I'm currently reading Gods of Jade and Shadow by her and really enjoying it so far. Good to hear that you liked this one 😊
I have a feeling that people who like Gods of Jade and Shadow will also like Mexican Gothic... I think there is something similar between Casiopeia and Noemi that I can't quite put my finger on.
Just finished this book earlier today and was on the hunt for reviews as stumbled on this one!!! Loved this. Although I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow, I can see how it’s crafted deliberately that way to culminate in such a gruesome, satisfying final act!! As you’ve mentioned there’s a lot to say about the themes at work under the surface, but I especially appreciated the take of the “new evil” (don’t wanna accidentally spoil for anyone) is just not only a product of the horrors of white supremacy past but is in many ways much more sinister. It’s late so idk how to put it lol but yeah very chilling!!!! Thanks for this review!!! Subscribed :))
That's one I haven't read - mostly because I could care less about vampires, haha. But I've heard good things about it so will probably try it sometime.
Hope it's okay if I post as I watch. And drink. Mist, sinister, grave... Kala, your word choices are already evocative. As vivid as streaks of muave paint flung on Roman columns or somethin' lol 3:30 I'm an Anglophile who isn't British or Caucasian (I'm part Hispanic or something *snaps lightly*) but immediately I'm loving the culture duality. I sense class tensions 6:20 My soul cried out at yellow wallpaper. I'm about 9 mins deep. And... the word Beau made me laugh and wanna say: call him Novio jk that word makes me cringe in Spanish. Your narration is relatable. 9:49 Your comment about how a traumatic experience won't magically transform a character into a butterfly felt wise. I trust this book reviewer, y'all. 10:48. Yes. It does makes sense that being able to guess the ending is a satisfying experience for the reader. Predictable endings is a rule in some schools of fiction writing. Now I'm wondering...what kind of...mental synapses form in the reader's mind during a satisfying ending and do they release serotonin or something? Good book endings are like an itch scratched. Me, personally, in a satisfying book ending, I get happy brain tingles. Or the "yep that's life" cries. Or the slow-motion "I'm marching to the beat of a new life perspective" stroll. 12:29 I feel better for having watched this vid TY
A shoot, I should have called him "novio" not beau, that would have been perfect. Ah well. (Sorry, most of my Spanish has left me... I can read basic stuff but my brain just does not come up with vocabulary on its own anymore.) "Happy brain tingles" is a good phrase, I totally know that feeling!
I just finished this book and you so eloquently put my thoughts into cohesive words.
Great review Rachel. You can tell you really thought deeply about this book and it shows in the review.
I love how much you love this book, and it makes me excited to give this a try even though I didn't completely resonate with Gods of Jade and shadow.
PS: I adore how well-spoken you are 😻
Aw, thank you 😊
Wow, that was a great review. Thank you for this video. I also liked this book just finished reading it.
I loved this book! It's one of my favorites of the year, and has reignited my interest in the gothic novel. You make some fantastic points about the narrative that I overlooked. Great review!
I finished reading Mexican Gothic in august, and I really enjoyed it as well. I've seen a lot of negative reviews claiming it was too slow. I agree that it was extremely slow paced, but I think it benefited from that overall. You really got to care for the characters, and then the last third just sold me completely.
Excellent review! I totally agree about the amount of growth for Noemi and Francis. We're about 30% in to me reading Mexican Gothic out loud to Sush, and it's fun to hear him theorize about what's actually going on. 😊 And Moreno-Garcia is definitely on my autobuy list as well! I just finished buddy reading The Beautiful Ones with Cynthia @ BookWhimsey (although this was my least favorite so far), and I bought copies of Signal to Noise and Prime Meridian, which I'm really looking forward to.
I had so much fun guessing what was happening...I hope Sush is too! By the time mushrooms were mentioned more than once and then the "universal veil" I was googling things like mad :-D I really enjoyed the characters in The Beautiful Ones but less so the plot.
I was on the fence to read Mexican Gothic and wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. Your review of this novel has changed my thinking and now I want to read it!! Thank you Rachel!
I hope you enjoy it! I'm really glad I read it even though I am leery of horror. It's much more than just that.
Great review! Very thought provoking and engaging
I am really looking forward to this novel. Great review!
Great review. I would like to ask the reviewer one question? Why she has not mentioned about Rebecca? Both Manfely house of Rebecca and Highplace mansion of Mexican Gothic certain similarities. The characters Mrs Florence of Mexican Gothic and Mrs Danvers resemble each other. But of course Rebecca is a psychological thriller.
Great review of a great book. Full essays could be done on any of a number of themes, like sexism, racism, colonialism, etc. and how they are all deftly woven into the story.
Amazing review as always Rachel. Your comment on the women's social issues over-riding the body horror to be a interesting point and significant knowing your preferences.
This book is now surely in my TBR.
Cannot wait to read this - seen it swirling around booktube a fair bit lately.
Yes, everyone seems to be reading it right now! I'm glad to see Moreno-Garcia is getting some love on Booktube.
I've been meaning to read this one! I'm currently reading Gods of Jade and Shadow by her and really enjoying it so far. Good to hear that you liked this one 😊
I have a feeling that people who like Gods of Jade and Shadow will also like Mexican Gothic... I think there is something similar between Casiopeia and Noemi that I can't quite put my finger on.
Thanks for sharing!
I have really been wanting to pick this up. I don't read a lot of horror, but it sounds so good.
I'm not a fan of horror in general but I'm really glad I made an exception for Mexican Gothic!
Just finished this book earlier today and was on the hunt for reviews as stumbled on this one!!! Loved this. Although I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow, I can see how it’s crafted deliberately that way to culminate in such a gruesome, satisfying final act!! As you’ve mentioned there’s a lot to say about the themes at work under the surface, but I especially appreciated the take of the “new evil” (don’t wanna accidentally spoil for anyone) is just not only a product of the horrors of white supremacy past but is in many ways much more sinister. It’s late so idk how to put it lol but yeah very chilling!!!! Thanks for this review!!! Subscribed :))
Have you read Moreno -Garcia's "Certain Dark Things" ? What did you think of it?
That's one I haven't read - mostly because I could care less about vampires, haha. But I've heard good things about it so will probably try it sometime.
Hope it's okay if I post as I watch.
And drink.
Mist, sinister, grave... Kala, your word choices are already evocative. As vivid as streaks of muave paint flung on Roman columns or somethin' lol
3:30
I'm an Anglophile who isn't British or Caucasian (I'm part Hispanic or something *snaps lightly*) but immediately I'm loving the culture duality. I sense class tensions
6:20
My soul cried out at yellow wallpaper.
I'm about 9 mins deep. And... the word Beau made me laugh and wanna say: call him Novio jk that word makes me cringe in Spanish. Your narration is relatable.
9:49
Your comment about how a traumatic experience won't magically transform a character into a butterfly felt wise. I trust this book reviewer, y'all.
10:48. Yes. It does makes sense that being able to guess the ending is a satisfying experience for the reader. Predictable endings is a rule in some schools of fiction writing. Now I'm wondering...what kind of...mental synapses form in the reader's mind during a satisfying ending and do they release serotonin or something? Good book endings are like an itch scratched. Me, personally, in a satisfying book ending, I get happy brain tingles. Or the "yep that's life" cries. Or the slow-motion "I'm marching to the beat of a new life perspective" stroll.
12:29 I feel better for having watched this vid TY
A shoot, I should have called him "novio" not beau, that would have been perfect. Ah well. (Sorry, most of my Spanish has left me... I can read basic stuff but my brain just does not come up with vocabulary on its own anymore.) "Happy brain tingles" is a good phrase, I totally know that feeling!
Very good