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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
Meine dunkle Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, Ulrike Thiesmeyer
352 reviews
oeczone's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Self harm, Sexual content, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual harassment
maddy_porter's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
tarantulagirl's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
missallypants's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Mental illness
red_headed_book_slut'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
4.0
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Rape
emptzuu's review against another edition
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.
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Pedophilia
allison_j'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
blasfeminin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship
ankita1996's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Vomit
camigz'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: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship