Mexican Gothic : Book review

 







Book review

Title: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno Garcia
Genre: Horror

Mexican Gothic is a dark, brilliant and captivating read that transports the readers to the 1950s Mexico  where dark secrets lurk and sends a chill down your spine. 

We have our protagonist- Noemi Taboada who heads to High palace, a house in the Mexican countryside, after receiving a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina. She soon leaves her life of being a glamorous socialite to attend to her cousin’s troubles. Naomi is smart and confident who is not afraid of anyone, including her hostile hosts- her cousin’s wily husband or his patriarchal father. Besides her cousin’s deteriorating health, Noemi discovers bizarre images, dark secrets hidden beneath the walls of High palace, falls prey to sleepwalking and strange dreams. Noemi’s only ally in this dark house is the family’s youngest son. What ensues is an atmospheric and eerie plot turns out into grotesque, deadly and dark adventures. 

One of the strong aspects of the book is the characterization of Noemi. While she thrives in cocktail parties, she comes across as someone who is tough, gritty, smart and harbors ambitions to pursue her Masters at the University. Her unlikely rescue expedition in the most hostile circumstances makes her admirable. In line with her characterization, the author highlights the plight of women- how they are exploited from asserting their rights, lending to the theme of sexism. 

The language also lends to the gothic element of the plot-right from the author’s descriptions of the characters or High place itself. It feels like a mash up of Jane Eyre, Rebecca and The Turn of the screw to an extent. The plot unfolds gradually taking the readers into a rather dark place with shocking secrets. The setting appears claustrophobic in both a literal and metaphorical sense. High place seems to be a house that binds the characters under its clutches and the social setting seems to depict how women are suppressed from voicing their views. 

Mexican Gothic is no doubt creepy. Nevertheless it’s absorbing, haunting and entices you into its sinister world. 
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