Brad B

How I feel about the book 3 stars; how I thought about the book 4.5 starts. "Catherine House" is somewhere in between (or nowhere near at all) Bardugo's "Ninth House" and Tartt's "Secret History" but more Gothic.
Thomas's genius is apparent in her ability to construct and develop a place, mood, and overall vibe see: spooky and enigmatic. The plot is too slow for the average fan of thrillers and too meandering in the unknown for most but I enjoyed getting lost in the esoteric details.

I am beyond happy that there are more female PoC's sharing their stories for others. There is an importance in these narratives that help others to be seen and it also informs us that our stories need to be told.

Díaz's collection of stories/quasi-essays would have really benefited from a different editor. The non-linear structure kind of hurt the overall arc showing just how far she has ascended from her past. That being said, this collection holds more than the identities it covers (female, queer, addict, mentally ill, daughter, sister, criminal, etc) what it offers is another way we fit into this chaotic mosaic of being a human. It feels comforting and scary all together knowing that there might be someone out there who also understands me.