PREFACE: I devoured this book. It was FREAKING WEIRD BUT WONDERFUL! Still creeped out to this day and get the heebie jeebies thinking about it.

SECOND PREFACE: this is my first book club kit and I am writing this as in real-time as I read this.

-WHAT?!?! THERE ARE CURATED PLAYLISTS FOR THESE THINGS?! I do think that should be advertised or marketed, I think a lot of readers would be more apt to download/use the kit if they knew about this FLIPPING COOL FEATURE! (not me stopping here and listening to each one, not at all ;-))

Enjoying the tidbits on the geographical location, and the discussion on Gothic novels and how they've changed.

Ehhh...I feel that the cut-out is a juvenile addition to this and I'm cringing- what is the purpose of this? What would've been more exciting and beneficial would be to showcase old photos with women wearing the outfits such as the Kickpleat skirt/sweater, the nightgown- it would've given this more of the gothic vibes that ARE what Mexican Gothic is all about. There were better ways to spice up a book club kit to elaborate on the history and look of 1950's dress.....especially since this is an actual kit for a book club- I would imagine a lot of the members may look at you with two heads if you ask them to make a cut-out doll...sigh. Disappointed.

I would've rated this at at 5/5, but the ending wasn't something I felt was appropriate for a novel marketed as Adult fiction.

I really liked the book very much, it is certainly a different story and set in a part of the world whose culture is little represented in fantasy books. I loved Noemì and the way she related to the other characters, but I admit that I almost preferred the antagonist, was described beautifully and temperamentally credible. the ending is nice, predictable? a little, but still in line with the story.

Having read Mexican Gothic just over a year ago, and actually for a book club, I was interested to see what a guide like this one could have brought to our experience. First off, I enjoyed reflecting back on the characters and setting. There is a lot to enjoy in Moreno-Garcia’s world-building, and the main character, Noemi, was a delight to reconnect with. That being said, much of this content felt cobbled-together from pieces I found elsewhere (and much of it on goodreads), though the playlist was a nice bonus, and I thought the inclusion of the paper dolls was smart and they looked very slick. I would have enjoyed getting more information with the playlist, however; do certain songs correspond with specific characters, scenes, or moods present in the novel? The essay on the development of “gothic” storylines was also interesting, and the list of questions to lead discussions was a good start. In these as in other parts of the guide, however, I was possibly a little underwhelmed. My book club’s discussion was a bit more spoilery than the provided list engenders, and focused much more on the intersection of horror, colonialism, and eugenics. Possibly these topics were too fraught for such a short booklet to delve into? My thanks to Penguin Random House Library Resources and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for a copy of this e-arc to review.

“There’re people in the walls. There’s people and there’re voices. I see them sometimes, the people in the walls. They’re dead.”

After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find, for there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. Mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world, she may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

Set in glamorous 1950s Mexico this gothic suspense novel was dark, twisted and so good.
It’s a slow burn, and the author slowly starts to set the atmosphere, for me that worked perfectly and I couldn’t put the book down!
This is my first book from this author and it won’t be my last.

http://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeepleasemx

"Mexican Gothic" is my number one recommendation when someone asks me for book recommendations. This story is haunting, beautiful, bizarre and full of many twists. Perfect for anyone interested in spooky stories, historical fiction, fantasy, and great storytelling.

I've hosted a book club using this book and got other book clubs to read this novel. I wish I had known about this book club kit sooner to use as a resource. Would definitely recommend getting a group together to read this story and pair it with this resource.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review to copy!

This is a review for “Book Club Kit: Mexican Gothic”.

This is the first official book kit I read, a good experience overall, helped by the fact I just recently finished Mexican Gothic.

The discussion questions are thought provoking, both specific and broad enough to allow readers to give their own Unique answers and interpretations.m while still managing to stay relevant to the specific topic.
I think it could serve as a great guide for a book club discussion or just a body-read of a small group of reader.

It was so interesting reading the author tell about the real life inspiration for the setting of “Mexican Gothic”. In a scenes it’s not hard to imagine such a place exists, but at the same time I’m baffled that’s reality.
Since the novel managed to completely transform me into the setting, with a vivid but otherworldly atmosphere, I’m so intrigued to see if the real place is close to the novel’s discretions and my imagination.

I’m not against having a small history lesson with my lesion reading, but I wished I’d know about the real history while or shortly after reading the novel. The audiobook didn’t include such extras, and I don’t know if idoes on the print version.

Adding the Doyle family seal and pattern was a nice touch I appreciate as a visual learner.

The section title: “how gothic romances became domestic Noirs” was so interesting to someone who’s not well versed in the subject. Ultimately the author took a well known and explored genre and twisted it into a modern yet very appropriate narrative. Such creatively is always welcome.

Mexican Gothic was a thrilling novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book is wrought with compelling characters, a rich 1950's setting, and a gothic romance that will delight all readers of the genre. The ending was satisfying. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because on a few occasions I found the chapters a little long. I would recommend!

I read Mexican Gothic with my book club in November and we would have loved to have this kit when discussing the book! This is a great way to help keep the conversation going, it also includes an interview with the author and cute little paper dolls! Would love to use more of these book club kits in the future!

Even though, I haven't read the Mexican Gothic book yet, this book club kit looks like it would be nice to have when I do. The playlist is something I can see myself using. And the dressing up the paper doll is a unique touch to this book kit.

A fun and helpful partner to have while reading the book. The questions are good enough to spark conversation, but so painfully simple and the activities in the back are cute! I was a little surprised to find paper dolls, but they're a cute touch.

This is a really cool reading guide! I really enjoyed getting the additional background info from the author on the history of this book and where she was coming from. I also love a bookish playlist!!

i didn't see that this was a book club kit when downloading. i expected to be able to read the book and that's why i didn't read through this kit.

Ocala Book Club read this book for it's March 2022 selection. I downloaded this from the "read now" section of NG to see if it was helpful for the attendees of the book club meeting. There are discussion questions, an interview with the author, and some cut outs you can print and use at a book club discussion. Useful Book Club kit.

A good resource for Mexican Gothic. Really adds to the enjoyment of the novel. Allows the reader to understand the historical context and references used. Allows for deeper reading of the text.

I love this! There are some great ideas such as the playlist, questions, and paper dolls to engage people during a book club meeting.

This book club kit is the perfect companion to a spooky book club read of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The kit includes a letter from the author, discussion questions, a really diverse and fun playlist, some background on the author's creation of characters, and a background of gothic novels as a genre. It also has a paper doll with several outfits, which I have never seen in a book club kit before, but I am a big fan of!

The book is not included with the Book Club Kit, but I will take a moment to mention that I loved it both times I read it and I’m particularly excited to dig deeper with this kit.

Included in the kit are short essays from the author, discussion questions, a playlist to listen to while digging in on the book club discussion topics, and a fun surprise, paper dolls.

I found the essays really interesting, but I am the type who would read Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s grocery list if she let me. She talks about the real ghost town which inspired the gothic setting of the novel, and a little about the history of the gothic genre. I personally love the revitalized gothic novels that have come out lately, and a lot of that is because of Mexican Gothic.

The discussion questions are thought provoking but safe for conversations in mixed company. I think it’s an art form how one novel could revitalize gothic romance and also comment on the effect of colonization. A masterpiece.

The playlist is not what I was expecting. It’s funky. Very electric. And not what I was playing when I was reading. I would have liked to see more 1950s inspired music or original “easy listening” from Mexico in that period. Still, a great playlist, and worth a listen. Definitely, my next reread will take an entirely different tone.

My reread of Mexican Gothic made me familiar with the setting and I tried my best to play it out like a movie in my mind. The wardrobe was very romantic to me, and I could visualize the characters shrouded in fog on High Place. The paper dolls (a very 1950s children’s toy) do not disappoint in helping to visualize what the stunning wardrobe Noemí wears really would have looked like.

I’m the first one in line for popcorn when they made a film adaption.

Going into this, I was expecting the haunted house and the body horror. While reading, none of my predictions came true which made my reading experience that much more enjoyable because it wasn't predictable... at least for me. My guess was vampires because the author has written a vampire story before and figured that she would go the same route. I did have a jump scare thanks to my husband. I was reading a really disgusting part and he bumped into my chair and I gave a little shriek.

We follow our main character Noemi as she is summoned by her father who gets a letter from her cousin Catalina that is very weird. Catalina claims that she is hearing things in the walls and basically losing her mind at her husband's family estate

I really like this idea for a book club! The questions are good discussion topics and the paper dolls are a fun activity!

This includes some of the coolest ideas for book clubs. From paper dolls to discussion questions, to additional information about the setting and family lore. An ESSENTIAL addition to a book club reading this book!