After extricating herself from a psychologically abusive relationship that lasted over a year, Carmen Maria Machado went in search of the kind of book we talk about a lot on this podcast: one that would help her process what she had experienced. But instead of finding a sea of options, as there would be for the loss of a parent, joining a new community, or raising a child as a single parent, she found nothing that would help her deal with the destructive whirlwind that had cut a path through her life. So Machado did what so many queer women before her have done: she carved out a space to tell the untold story of abuse in lesbian relationships. The result, In the Dream House, is a highly experimental memoir that pulls elements of horror, psychological thriller, academic study, and even folklore together to reveal a deep, devastating, and surprisingly funny story of the relationship’s rise and fall.

In this episode, we’re attempting to pull apart the many, many aspects of In the Dream House that make it so unique and creative, especially Machado’s monumental ability to design a unique memoir and the essential need to document untold stories, particularly those in the queer community.