Reviews with content warning for Stalking - My Dark Vanessa

Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

122 reviews

danielleisreading's review against another edition

I've been thinking about this book a lot (instead of doing my finals I might add) because this book is impossible not to think about once you've read it but probably not in the way Russell wants me to think about this book. Initially I wanted to give this book a solid 4 stars, the writing is good (although nauseating) and even if its dark and sensational perhaps different perspectives on rape culture is probably a good thing. However here is a list of this things that have made me think really hard about if this book is even endorsable.

-The authors favorite book is Lolita. I'm sorry but if that fact alone doesn't make you reconsider so much of this book I would probably be concerned for you.
-The author wrote significant portions of this book at 15. Oh and also she wanted originally to be a love story. With that in mind how much is this book supposed to be an expose on rape culture and not like a glorification of it?? Just thinking about the sex scenes knowing some of them could've been written by a 15 year old who thought this was a love story is just repulsive (not that they weren't already).
-Oh and also can we talk about how many teenagers read this book? Like teenagers her age. I don't even know what to say about that.
-Honestly the whole book in general.

I have a lot more thoughts, but honestly my general thoughts coming out of this book is just disgust which it should be but yeah I'm disgusted. side note: I just put in all the content warnings for this book and I want to throw up all over again, I need to do some serious mediation.

Content Warnings

butlerebecca's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

What a good effin’ book

I’ve picked this up and put it down many times over the past three years and I’m so glad I finished it

Such a nuanced and brutal and compassionately written depiction of abuse — the author did an excellent job of writing Vanessa’s inner monologue in a way that communicated both the reality and the distorted reality you believe when you’re traumatized

and such stunning prose throughout — like had to pause the audiobook and sit with descriptions

Also shoutout to Meryl Streep’s daughter on the narration, great job queen

P.S. the best part was when she got mad at him for not listening to Fiona Apple

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samkilbride's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-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

Content Warnings

ellymc'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? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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matildaesandell's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This book is so fucked up, which is the whole point. Definitely read with caution and a lot of trigger warnings. This book had me feeling actually sick and making facial expressions of pure disgust in public. Please proceed with caution, this is a story of grooming, manipulation and trauma. This book honestly deserves 5 stars but I never want to read it again or recommend it to anyone because it is deeply traumatic, maybe an important one to read if you haven’t experienced these things, to help you better understand the lifelong damage and how hard it is for a victim to even grapple with the truth

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lilacwhisker's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

4.5

pretty much every review talking about this book says it’s a “conversation-starter", and after reading this thing i understand why. my dark vanessa is a story about a girl who gets groomed by her teacher, but won't admit she was sexually abused. the whole thing (especially the start) is horrifying because of the events that occur but also because of vanessa's insistence that she wanted the whole thing to happen to her. this extra layer of denial is what makes this whole book so much more sad— seeing her call what they have "love" made me want to vomit, but i do think this can be accurate to how a lot of victims can feel. it's clear that russell did her research on this kind of abuse and trauma, and throughout we come to see how complicated both vanessa and her abuser are. it did get a little repetitive near the end, but this makes sense considering how such abuse works in cycles, and the length of their relationship. it really was a crazy book, and somewhat reminds me of notes on an execution by danya kukafka

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cecilialau_'s review against another edition

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5.0

I am in awe.
This book was frustrating to no end with how human and inhuman it was. Such brilliant storytelling that keeps you turning page after page until the very end. I’ve just put it down, and I honestly feel it was a masterpiece. Heartbreakingly raw and with incredibly crafted ambivalence in the feelings of guilt on Vanessa’s part. I could go on in praising this book. It really is a tough read while a read that I think, if you can, it offers a unique insight to sth that we as a society simply cannot ignore. It’s so nuanced and insightful and all-encompassing and, yeah, wow.

It goes without saying that Strane is a manipulative pos. To put it mildly. I was also horrified by Mrs. Giles, a truly terrible person who lack any and all sense of empathy and care and compassion and integrity. I could go on. Absolutely disgusted with her as well. Again, speaks to the great writing bc we all know that her behaviour is fully unacceptable.

Content Warnings