Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

93 reviews

ratrug's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It was very very good but also very very hard to read. 
It definitely captured a lot of the feeling that the event permeates your whole life afterwards. 

I sort of wish it further explored Taylor and Vanessa - maybe lingered a little longer on the conversation about how different experiences may or may not be ‘worse’ than each other. 
Never felt more of a woman 

Overall a very good book. I can see myself rereading it but definitely not for a long time. Don’t underestimate how hard it is to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

woolfinbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Animal death, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit and Abandonment

There is student/teacher sexual abuse that is challenged in different ways throughout the book. A major part of the plot is seeing the sexual abuse develop, the victim romanticizing what happened, refusing to hold her abuser accountable due to gaslighting, and not wanting to come to turns with what happened.

fir3opal's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Death

Moderate: Suicide

zids's review against another edition

5.0

Fuck my life. This was one of the most upsetting things I've ever read. I really really enjoyed it. I'm very very thankful to read about a character like Vanessa, who is not and never becomes the 'perfect victim.'
It made my heart race, it made me groan in pain. Loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

literaryscouser's review against another edition

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

4.0

This book is so beautifully dark. The narrative jumps between different parts of Vanessa life, but is done in such a way that is helps you understand why she thinks a certain way. It's just...breaktaking as a narrative. As a plot, was uncomfortable, as I believe it's meant to be. The adverse reaction to this story I would say in normal, but once you get used to the topic it goes to another layer. I will say as a teacher....this made me feel uncomfortable for different reasons, and one of the reason it's took me longer than it should is because I felt like I shouldn't take it to work so I could only read in the evenings. But, regardless a wonderful book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming, Vomit, and Death

gracezackula's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

amsswim's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I think a lot of people could benefit from reading this (not to get political, ahem) , but I'm afraid they would only see what they want to see in Vanessa's character and take her for exactly what she says they will in the book. I thought this book had not only an important story to tell, but it was told incredibly well. The time jumps of Vanessa's high school experience to her "modern day", #MeToo era day-to-day gave the reader a large perspective of the stages of trauma and stages of abuse. 

As a someone who has experienced different kinds of abuse and trauma, I very much related with many themes. I would recommend looking through warnings and triggers contained here if you'd like to read, some themes may be upsetting for other survivors of similar experiences. I recommend to all however. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Abandonment, Sexual content, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Classism, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Bullying, and Infidelity

Minor: Classism, Blood, Body shaming, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use

jennymaarika's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Child abuse, and Misogyny

mme_carton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit