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challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Violence, Vomit
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the audiobook and it’s narrated by Jodi Comer so I knew from the get go it was going to be amazing!
I hadn’t read the premise of the story so went in blind. The reader is immediately plunged into the hustle and bustle of the legal world in particular criminal barristers.
Our protagonist Tess is a high flying criminal defence barrister, a scholar from an underprivileged background, Tessa has worked her socks off to become a well respected barrister. She’s a likeable and down to earth character and she knows her profession inside out, I have a lot of respect for Tessa.
I don’t wish to give away any spoilers as I didn’t see the plot twist coming but comes it does and it throws everything Tessa has worked for and believed in into disarray.
You can tell this book is written by someone who has worked deep within the legal profession and having been part of the legal world myself for the past 25 years I enjoyed the familiarity.
This is a real exploration of the judicial system and outdated practices, I leave the book feeling that Judicial Review for sexual assault is long long overdue.
An outstanding piece of literature and I can only hope I get tickets for the theatre show next year 🤞🏻
I hadn’t read the premise of the story so went in blind. The reader is immediately plunged into the hustle and bustle of the legal world in particular criminal barristers.
Our protagonist Tess is a high flying criminal defence barrister, a scholar from an underprivileged background, Tessa has worked her socks off to become a well respected barrister. She’s a likeable and down to earth character and she knows her profession inside out, I have a lot of respect for Tessa.
I don’t wish to give away any spoilers as I didn’t see the plot twist coming but comes it does and it throws everything Tessa has worked for and believed in into disarray.
You can tell this book is written by someone who has worked deep within the legal profession and having been part of the legal world myself for the past 25 years I enjoyed the familiarity.
This is a real exploration of the judicial system and outdated practices, I leave the book feeling that Judicial Review for sexual assault is long long overdue.
An outstanding piece of literature and I can only hope I get tickets for the theatre show next year 🤞🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit
Thought it was a murder mystery, turned out to be sexual assault legal drama. Interesting concept, amazing level of legal detail and great character, just not something I feel comfortable reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Based on the Olivier and Tony Award-winning play of the same name, Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie follows Tessa Ensler, a young barrister fighting to bring her rapist to justice.
📚
This is a story that provokes strong emotional reactions from the outset due to its subject matter. As Miller repeatedly reminds the reader, one in three women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Miller's writing is charged, presenting a compelling argument for change. She demonstrates considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system and the specific challenges it poses for victims of sexual offences. For that alone, and for the way the story effectively answers (and hopefully silences) the “Why didn’t you report it?” brigade, Prima Facie is well worth reading - there can never be too many intelligent and empathetic counter-arguments to misogyny and sexual violence.
📚
However, despite its strength as a conversation starter, the novel suffers from uneven pacing, spending a disproportionate amount of time on the 'before', although I rather suspect this is a result of expanding the story from a screenplay to a novel.
📚
Additionally, Tessa’s soapbox moment towards the end feels contrived and unrealisitic in a courtroom setting. While undoubtedly powerful in the context of a one-woman play, in novel form, it lacks subtlety and feels heavy-handed, almost as if Miller feared the reader wouldn’t grasp the failings of the criminal justice system without being hit over the head with them.
📚
Overall, this is a solid 3 star read, which I have bumped up to 4 stars thanks to Jodie Comer’s fantastic narration in the audiobook version I listened to and the strength of Miller’s argument, if not always its execution.
📚
📚
This is a story that provokes strong emotional reactions from the outset due to its subject matter. As Miller repeatedly reminds the reader, one in three women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Miller's writing is charged, presenting a compelling argument for change. She demonstrates considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system and the specific challenges it poses for victims of sexual offences. For that alone, and for the way the story effectively answers (and hopefully silences) the “Why didn’t you report it?” brigade, Prima Facie is well worth reading - there can never be too many intelligent and empathetic counter-arguments to misogyny and sexual violence.
📚
However, despite its strength as a conversation starter, the novel suffers from uneven pacing, spending a disproportionate amount of time on the 'before', although I rather suspect this is a result of expanding the story from a screenplay to a novel.
📚
Additionally, Tessa’s soapbox moment towards the end feels contrived and unrealisitic in a courtroom setting. While undoubtedly powerful in the context of a one-woman play, in novel form, it lacks subtlety and feels heavy-handed, almost as if Miller feared the reader wouldn’t grasp the failings of the criminal justice system without being hit over the head with them.
📚
Overall, this is a solid 3 star read, which I have bumped up to 4 stars thanks to Jodie Comer’s fantastic narration in the audiobook version I listened to and the strength of Miller’s argument, if not always its execution.
📚
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Classism
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Sexual harassment
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault