Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'
Meine dunkle Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, Ulrike Thiesmeyer
29 reviews
xo_lali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Grief, and Death
Minor: Toxic friendship
jordanleigh321's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
hannahhansa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Stalking, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexism, Pedophilia, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual content, Rape, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Death
mari_addor99's review against another edition
- 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
I'll gather my thoughts before I can make a proper review of this one
20/02
THIS IS NOT A LOVE STORY
First of all, I don’t plan on rating this book. I don’t think 5 stars are adequate to the subject of the story, although I can se why so many people love it; just like rating it 1 or 2 stars wouldn’t be doing it justice. Because, for me, this is not a bad book - although I do see the controversy behind it.
I listened to this story on audiobook format and it came with extra content - two interviews with the author. She makes it clear that we are not supposed to interpret this as a love story - it is, in it’s most pure form, about a pedophilic, abusive relationship.
❗️❗️TW for pedophilia, abusive relationships, gaslighting, suicide ideations, suicide, abuse of narcotics, rape, ptsd.
Vanessa Wye is 15 years old when she falls in love with her boarding school literature professor. He is 42. He calls her beautiful, intelligent, mature for her age. And yet, when she’s with him, he makes her dress like a child, begs her to call him “daddy” while he touches himself. She lets him because he’s the only one who truly sees her and because she’s utterly alone, and he know it.
Years later, when she’s about 30, she still talks to him. Vanessa doesn’t consider herself a victim because doing so would be admitting to the horrible things that happened to her in the hands of Jacob Strain. So she lies to everyone and to herself, calls it a love affair, a consensual relationship. Even when her former school colleague comes forward exposing the same teacher for abuse. To Vanessa, you are only a victim, if you choose to be one. Right...?
The author weaves the thread of her tormented psychological state, shattered by years of manipulation, gaslighting and downright physical abuse, into a carefully placed lie that Vanessa repeats to herself over and over again through the years.
This is a very well written book, I’m not gonna lie. It had me hooked from the start. But it’s also extremely violent. And I think this is the part I’d change if I could. Too many explicitly sex scenes, all of which were non-consensual. I think the story would still have its impact if these excruciatingly explicitly scenes weren’t in it. I feel like they’ve “cheapened” the book, used only for the sake of shock.
Now, the comparison to Lolita.... It stops at the pedophilia. But the author made clear, Vanessa’s fascination with the book, brought on by Strain, is only a form to readdress the issue: this is not a healthy relationship in neither shape or form.
My final thoughts are: I’m glad it’s over. Am I glad I read it? I don’t know, but it sure left an impact. This is not the book for everyone
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide
acampbell_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
megan_deathe's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
millieh404's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape
angel_lyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I found parts of the story disturbing and upsetting, it does go into detail about the ways he manipulates her and what he does to her.
One of the main reasons I felt so connected to this book is because I’ve been through a similar thing myself and I struggled for a long time to see myself as a victim. Strane pushes ideologies into her mind about things that make girls attractive, making Vanessa’s present day self extremely conscious of how men look at teenage girls. She sees girls like herself as victims but can’t see herself as one.
Her present day life essentially revolves around Strane, even though they aren’t together and he stopped finding her attractive when she was a young adult, she still cares for him and is under his spell. It’s a very hard read, especially if you’ve been through something similar yourself. It left me feeling numb afterwards but also made me rethink my own situation and now 5 months after reading I can honestly say this book helped me enormously.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
This book is an emotional read, please only read this if you can handle descriptions of sex between a minor and adult, suicidal thoughts and mental health problems, grooming, and pedophiliaauteaandtales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence