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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell is a hard look at abuse and the psychology of the victim that comes with it. This novel is powerful, because you can feel the truth in the words and actions. The story is fiction but yet feels so real. The novel is challenging in it's descriptions of abuse. I found the denial of Vanessa challenging as well, you want to hug her and at the same time shaker out of her feelings to wake her up. despite all the challenging I found the psychology of it beautiful, as we see the breakdowns of each moment. My Dark Vanessa could be a good outlet for those who need it, but there are a lot of triggers, that will be too much for some. This is one of those books that I acknowledge that it is good but never want the reread and be in that head space again.
The Plot: Vanessa is a bright young student, with big dreams. She begs her parents to go to a prestigious boarding school. We meet Vanessa at 15 in her second year of boarding school in 2000, her roommate Jenny and used to be best friend, has a boyfriend and no time for Vanessa. She finds a kinship in a middle aged literature teacher Jacob Strane. Vanessa's adoration for Strane soon turns to lust. He makes a passing gesture of layered with innuendos, his knee touches hers, and his hand rest on her lap. He gives her the infamous book Lolita. Vanessa young and naive thinks this is a love story. The novel move to 2017 at the height of the Me Too movement, where a journalist has tracked Vanessa at 34 down as a former students and students have came forward with abuse charges against Strane. Vanessa must answer hard truths about herself and her past.
What I Liked: How raw the emotions are throughout the novel. The flipping back and forth in time worked, with the me too movement going on in present day and the abuse happening in order in the past. I liked the ending, It doesn't ended in a big revelation, it ends with a slight acknowledgement, and more work to do. I liked all the literature and poetry references. I liked how the me too movement was worked in too the story and how it never felt forced. Me TOO wasn't mentioned but hinted at. I liked the coping mechanism was telling herself it was a great love story.
What I Disliked: I found the dialogue to be stale. I felt Strane with his love of great works and education would have a bigger vocabulary than what was for his dialogue.
Recommendation: I think people should read this book for the psychology of abuse alone. The story is not the easiest to handle at times, and those with past traumas should tread lightly. There's a truth to the story that is undeniable. I rated My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell 4 out of 5 stars.
The Plot: Vanessa is a bright young student, with big dreams. She begs her parents to go to a prestigious boarding school. We meet Vanessa at 15 in her second year of boarding school in 2000, her roommate Jenny and used to be best friend, has a boyfriend and no time for Vanessa. She finds a kinship in a middle aged literature teacher Jacob Strane. Vanessa's adoration for Strane soon turns to lust. He makes a passing gesture of layered with innuendos, his knee touches hers, and his hand rest on her lap. He gives her the infamous book Lolita. Vanessa young and naive thinks this is a love story. The novel move to 2017 at the height of the Me Too movement, where a journalist has tracked Vanessa at 34 down as a former students and students have came forward with abuse charges against Strane. Vanessa must answer hard truths about herself and her past.
What I Liked: How raw the emotions are throughout the novel. The flipping back and forth in time worked, with the me too movement going on in present day and the abuse happening in order in the past. I liked the ending, It doesn't ended in a big revelation, it ends with a slight acknowledgement, and more work to do. I liked all the literature and poetry references. I liked how the me too movement was worked in too the story and how it never felt forced. Me TOO wasn't mentioned but hinted at. I liked the coping mechanism was telling herself it was a great love story.
What I Disliked: I found the dialogue to be stale. I felt Strane with his love of great works and education would have a bigger vocabulary than what was for his dialogue.
Recommendation: I think people should read this book for the psychology of abuse alone. The story is not the easiest to handle at times, and those with past traumas should tread lightly. There's a truth to the story that is undeniable. I rated My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell 4 out of 5 stars.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oof. This was such a difficult book to read as Vanessa is coming to terms with her trauma, but I deeply appreciate the way the author told this story with honesty, nuance, and grace. I will carry this story around with me for a very long time.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Please read TWs for this book before reading it or my review 🫶
This was such a difficult book to read (for me personally) but I could not put it down. Reading a story about a girl abused in high school partially told from her perspective in her thirties hit painfully close to home. My heart broke every time she went back to him. I know too well what it’s like to reach that point with an abuser where you can say anything to them and they would sit there and take it, only for them to twist it back on you. At times reading this felt like looking in a mirror. The scenes where she compared the severity of his abuse with other girls made my skin crawl because I’ve been in that exact situation. I’m grateful I managed to cut ties with my abuser in my mid-20s because I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I had kept contact longer. So much of Strane’s behavior was hauntingly familiar.
Also, the quote “It’s strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I’ll think of this” literally made me want to DIEEE!!!!!
This was such a difficult book to read (for me personally) but I could not put it down. Reading a story about a girl abused in high school partially told from her perspective in her thirties hit painfully close to home. My heart broke every time she went back to him. I know too well what it’s like to reach that point with an abuser where you can say anything to them and they would sit there and take it, only for them to twist it back on you. At times reading this felt like looking in a mirror. The scenes where she compared the severity of his abuse with other girls made my skin crawl because I’ve been in that exact situation. I’m grateful I managed to cut ties with my abuser in my mid-20s because I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I had kept contact longer. So much of Strane’s behavior was hauntingly familiar.
Also, the quote “It’s strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I’ll think of this” literally made me want to DIEEE!!!!!
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book made me sick to my stomach more than any horror book I’ve ever read. At the same time it also healed something inside of me.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh dear, I feel this book is very needed as it shows the point of view of a victim of abuse and it's very complete. Vanessa is only 15 when she starts being groomed by a teacher in the boarding school she attends and we can clearly see how the abuse starts and if someone doesn't see it clearly, I don't know, you may have a problem. My issue with this book is that is quite detailed, so a lot of rape, and I was feeling quite disgusted but I guess that's how I should feel. Also is quite long, it follows Vanessa since she is 15 until 2017 when she is 32, and it is horrifying to see how this abusive relationship impacts, of course in negative ways, her life in many ways. Even if sometimes it felt like torture to read this book, I wanted to know if there is some healing for Vanessa.