Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

60 reviews

auteaandtales's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

sorcha_rosa's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

jameslyons's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I devoured this in three days and felt like I was reading my own diary. I've never read anything that describes the nuances of abuse survival so well, particularly located in the early 2000s. I found it affirming, confronting, triggering, and a really fucking good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Pedophilia

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gore, and Animal death

Child sexual abuse is the main subject. Gaslighting, grooming, institutional violence, and coping mechanisms.

pinkberryoasis's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

hebrideanreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Dark, claustrophobic and challenging, My Dark Vanessa cannot be considered a must read; I suspect it is too triggering and close to the bone for many people. But it is written with a complexity and sensitivity for the psychology of abuse survivors and examines the ongoing trauma suffered from gaslighting by abusers and structural and institutional lack of responsibility.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Stalking, Sexism, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

emilymay_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Adult/minor relationship

cosimabv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This story is haunting and difficult and dark. I had to take breaks reading the book, because it affected me so much. I definitely identified with Vanessa, and I felt like I understood her, she was very well written. You have to be in the right mindset to read this story, since it is quite challenging, but it is 100% worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Self harm

angelkisses's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide and Self harm

jbellomy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Grief, Self harm, and Suicide

rosalind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“Enjoy” is not a word I can apply to this novel. I read it every chance I got, but also had to put it down at regular intervals for fear of getting swept away by the sheer melancholy horror of the tale. It’s disturbing, of course, and not simply for the general subject matter. What is most jarring, to a modern-day feminist mindset, is viewing the whole story from the point of view of a narrator who is so thoroughly in denial about her own trauma that she becomes hardened and unfeeling towards the damage inflicted on others and herself. Whilst this is challenging to read and at times makes for slow or repetitive-sounding progress, it is crucial to the novel’s incisive exploration of the profound, ongoing consequences of grooming and abuse. 

I’d be cautious about recommending the book as I know it will be immensely triggering for some and unfathomable to others, but I applaud its brave honesty and its contribution to the #MeToo movement. A stunning read I hope to never revisit - and I mean that as a compliment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape and Self harm

Minor: Addiction and Suicidal thoughts