mexican gothic: dark, gloomy, and weird
- paigenherbooks
- Jan 9, 2024
- 5 min read
5/5
Happy New Year everyone!
I hope everyone's year is off to a great start, I know mine is. I've rang in 2024 (love a good even number year), turned 23 (capricorn superiority) and have officially finished my first read of 2024, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I read it in two days and know I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time. Mexican Gothic was a story that was beautifully written, expertly paced and one that did not go where I thought it was going to, it went wildly weirder, and I absolutely loved it. If you're a fan of Gothic Literature, Mexican Gothic fits right in next to Carmilla and other dark heroine novels.
Synopsis: Mexican Gothic is a tale about a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her.
Now, I know that, that synopsis is lackluster, I wanted it to be. I fully 100% believe going into this novel knowing almost nothing is the only way to do it, because boy, do you get taken on the ride of a life time.
Noemi Taboada is the character of the century.
She's witty, intelligent, strong willed, and beautiful, and she knows all of these things. She also knows what she wants & how to get them, and sometimes doesn't know when to "be quiet". After page one I was in love with this charismatic and at times a little shallow woman of 22. She's fiery and sharp which leads to cutthroat dialogue and some laugh out loud moments. Noemi's character was so full of life that reading the story from her point of view was truly a joy, regardless of the things going on. More than once I as snapping my fingers in agreement with her sticking up for herself or others. A character crafted like Noemi, who is sound in her femininity, but knows her worth because of it, not despite it, is something that is inspiring, a breath of fresh air, and someone I truly look up to.
One thing Moreno-Garcia can do is write a likeable, strong, and badass female character.
The rest of the cast of characters were just as intriguing. Crafted with such diligence that I felt as if I was right there in High Place with them, interacting with their odd rules, inappropriate quips, and sightly seductive undertones. Particularly, the relationship between Francis and Noemi was the perfect example of friends to lovers, and I ate it up. Seeing her character "settle down" or be open enough for a young man like Francis (not her type) to get to know her as well and realizing that if she kissed him it would mean a whole lot more than just to kiss someone. I read that and melted. Puddle. Not to mention I love to see a devoted male character. Like yes, please treat her like the educated, beautiful, amazing creature she is. Francis is only ever kind to Noemi and it is so sweet and genuinely such a beautiful sub plot that is woven throughout this gothic horror story.
In connection to the characters, the writing was fantastic. Imagery is something that the author has truly perfected, I felt as if I, again, was right there in High Place, I could see it, smell it, feel it all beneath my fingertips. Moreno-Garcia does a stand up job at creating imagery that is illustrous and impactful yet isn't Tolkien level of describing each blade of grass. The phrases and one-liners in this novel were just as numerous as well, "she found rebellion within her rosary" is something that was perfected placed within the story, a beautiful way of showing not telling about Noemi's character. Notable as well the imagery of mythology, Greek, Roman, and Mexican. Mixing this all together the reader gets one hell of an atmospheric read. As if the mist from the grave-yard is swirling in my room, the temperature dropping, and the creaking of the floor boards can be heard. A truly transformative & teleporting story, Mexican Gothic ensures that you feel, deeply, everything that is occurring throughout the story, even if at times you wish you didn't.
Something else that Mexican Gothic does phenomenally well is the subtle ways it educates its readers on a plethora of different topics. Whether it's the aspects of colonialism, eugenics, blatant sexism and racism or that of fungi and painting, Moreno-Garcia see's to it that none of her readers are left behind. Instead I closed this book and felt educated, which doesn't always happen after reading a fiction novel. I felt as if I was able to first hand see what life was like, not only for women back then, but our hispanic sisters. The way in which Noemi is shown to the readers is inspiring, to see her struggle with her voice in moments when she is shut down by the men around her, or her frustration at not being awarded the same amount of respect due to her sex is something that I think every woman can relate to at some point in their life.
To see how common practices of colonialism isn't an old story that is taught in schools, but something that was very present in the 1950's and even today. The wit and the perfect amount of exposition, Moreno-Garcia is able to not only craft a Gothic literature tale full of monsters, both alive and forgotten, but able to showcase her readers with information that they can carry with them, that they can discuss and hopefully will plant a seed of curiosity.
To continue the learning, however that looks to you, to leave changed.
To be frank, this novel is batshit weird.
I thought I had it all figured out and wow was I wrong. There is no way one could predict the outcome of the horror of High Place and the family that dwells there. Within this weird and haunting tale, the author showcases how the struggle and devotion of women is what brought it on. That on the backs of the "helpless", man has seeded his future and fortune, tossing them away when they are no longer needed. Female rage & agony are two big themes within the story and are woven in a way that can only be described as impactful and heart-wrenching. When the curtain is drawn back and we are looking face to face with the facts of the horror of High Place it is disgusting, and repulsive, saddening, and infuriating. Moreno-Garcia took women's suffrage and held it up to her readers saying "open your eyes, look, look, look" Making us look at it face on and confront the pain that is there. Absolutely beautiful. Tie this with the ribbon of serious weirdness, Mexican Gothic has achieved everything Moreno-Garcia has set out to accomplish.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become a must read author for me, after reading Gods of Jade and Shadow two summers ago (I can't believe that was two years ago...) and now Mexican Gothic, her writing is intoxicating and her stories thrilling. She is a fantastic writer who I can't recommend more to anyone wanting atmospheric writing, Gothic Literature, and stories rooted in history & mythology.
Mexican Gothic has become an instant favorite of mine.
Until next time, happy reading!
xoxo,
paige
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