Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - My Dark Vanessa

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

344 reviews

david_slack110507's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I had to space out listening to this audiobook as it is not really something that you can easily consume given the content and topic matters that it expertly focuses on and tackles. The book follows the relationship between 15-year-old student Vanessa and her much older English teacher Jacob Strane in 2000. The book follows their initial hidden relationship as well as how it evolves as the two get older to the point that in 2017, the second timeline, we see where the two are following multiple previous students of Strane coming out against him with allegations of sexual abuse, grooming and being inappropriate with them, against the backdrop of the MeToo movement. The topics that the book deals with are very heavy and can be quite triggering to some but it's never done in an exploitative way or without care.

Vanessa is such an interesting character because she goes against the typical depiction of a victim being that she is not squeaky clean or 'good' and aware of what has been done to her but instead she isn't an incredible person, often being quite rude to those around her as a result of what has happened to her as well as also being adamant that what she and Strane had was "love" rather than acknowledging the grooming and abuse that took place and I think portraying Vanessa this way made her avoid becoming a cliche of a character that is only defined by their trauma or what has happened to them. It really is tough to see Vanessa first be so obviously taken advantage of and manipulated, through our viewpoint, and then continue to go through life seeing the relationship as loving to the point of putting down other women with similar stories as well as the women that come out against Strane over what he did to them. I really liked how the book also tackled some questions about the treatment of victims such as them being defined by what happened to them and nothing more as well as also this expectation that they should come forward about what has happened to them as soon as they can to help the cause or the movement and I think it allows the reader to take their own stance on whether or not they agree with how victims are treated in the media and by others when their trauma is made public.

Strane is a truly despicable character and I hated him and this hate didn't just come about because he is a groomer as that would elicit hate from me already but the way that Kate Elizabeth Russell writes him is incredibly well done as he is even more hateable due to how manipulative he is and how unapologetic he is in his actions and what he has done, even going so far as to blame Vanessa for making him fall in love with her, a teen with no actual power (even lacking the power to consent at times during the book), as if it isn't his own fault. The continued hold he had over Vanessa to the point that she even wanted to try and replicate what their relationship was like with her professor later on in her life shows just how much he messed her up and I'm so glad that the book didn't try and be sympathetic to him because he doesn't deserve any. The book allows him to be complex such as him being emotional and open to Vanessa almost like a normal relationship as well as being aware of what he is doing without ever portraying him as someone who is good but has just done a bad thing. The resolution to his character and the investigation into his allegations being unresolved was very fitting for how many victims don't end up getting any resolution or any justice even with Strane's suicide in the face of these allegations, there lacks a feeling of comeuppance over what he has done.

I really liked the topics and themes that this book deals with and with listening to this as an audiobook, Grace Gummer did an excellent job at bringing to life Vanessa as well as all the other characters and I didn't have any faults with her performances or really the book as a whole other than it sort of being a book you can only read once due to how heavy and disturbing it can be and the lack of a big revelation may disappoint some people but it feels true to life. I found myself researching more into the process that Russell wrote this book including responses to the backlash/polarising opinions that have come about due to its publication as well as the additional chapter in the audiobook featuring an interview between Russell and Gummer as well as the book's editor about the book and I found them all really interesting.

Content Warnings

oeczone's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

maddy_porter's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i cried and cried. this book really touched my heart

Content Warnings

tarantulagirl's review

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

missallypants's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

red_headed_book_slut's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

emptzuu's review against another edition

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This book left me deeply unsettled. I was expecting a nuanced exploration of overcoming trauma, but instead found myself repelled by the protagonist, Vanessa. From the outset, her character felt more like a caricature than a fully developed individual. Her actions and dialogue seemed to serve the author's message rather than arising naturally from her character. The supporting cast also fell flat, leaving Vanessa as the sole focus, but without any depth or complexity to hold onto.

Vanessa herself is a frustrating blend of selfishness, narcissism, and inconsistency. It's unclear whether her unreliability is intentional or a result of poor characterization. Her behavior, dialogue, and emotions often seem at odds, leaving me questioning whether the author truly understood her own creation.

While flawed characters can be compelling, Vanessa's passivity and lack of development make it difficult to engage with her journey. Without a believable backstory or clear motivations, her actions come across as arbitrary and frustrating rather than sympathetic or relatable. If the author had provided a believable backstory to contextualize Vanessa's behavior before the events with the teacher, the story might have been more engaging. Her age shouldn't excuse her lack of depth or understanding.

This critique extends to every character in the book. The tired trope of "I'm so special and different from everyone, but also the best at everything, yet somehow overlooked by all" was painfully cliché. It might have been believable a decade ago in middle school, but in reality, nobody behaves like that. The notion that someone consistently commands the attention of every room they enter without any plausible reason is simply unrealistic. Such exaggerated portrayals detract from the authenticity of the narrative and disrupt the reader's immersion in the story.

I don't believe that any of Vanessa's experiences were her responsibility, nor do I think her choice of staying silent on the matter was a fault of hers given the obvious trauma the relationship must have dealt. But just because someone is a victim of a predatory relationship does not mean they can't be likable as a person. Vanessa is someone I can't relate to on any level.

Regarding the handling of sensitive themes, I strongly believe that the author's insertion of graphic content was unnecessary and could potentially traumatize readers. While I understand the importance of depicting trauma realistically, I found it distressing to be inside the mind of a character who seemed to revel in experiences I found repulsive.

The author has admitted that, at age 16 when she started writing this novel, she viewed her story through a romantic lens, influenced by narratives that glorified relationships between older men and younger women. She also admits that she has read Lolita. It wasn't until exposure to discussions about sexual trauma on platforms like Tumblr that she recognized the abusive nature of such dynamics. Given the author's acknowledgment of being inspired by Lolita, a novel she once perceived as romantic, it becomes evident that her personal experiences with sexual abuse and literary influences heavily shaped the narrative. This revelation about her mindset during the book's creation led me to question the author's intentions and respect for her work.

Content Warnings