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sarah_faichney's review against another edition
5.0
I bought and read "Dark Chapter" because I had signed up for some workshops hosted by author Winnie Li in association with Writing On The Wall, Liverpool (@wowfest). I cannot tell you how glad I am that this book came to me. The dedication at the beginning hit me square in the feels. This is a fictionalised account of real events. As such, Li provides painfully accurate descriptions of detachment during (and in the aftermath of) a sexual assault. She presents a brave, and graphic, description of a vicious rape without being gratuitous. I appreciated her honesty in confronting the fact that no-one knows how they will react until they're in the situation. In "Dark Chapter" a bright light is shone on the reality that there is no right or wrong way to behave in the face of assault. Survival is key.
What makes this book a standout are the dual perspectives. Both Vivian and Johnny have distinctive voices. In fact, the accuracy with which Li (a Taiwanese-American woman) writes a young, male Irish traveller speaks to her skill and attention to detail. The dialect, words and phrases used are incredibly authentic. I feel that it's extremely magnanimous of Li to so generously portray (and even consider) the potential backstory of her assailant.
The courtroom experience is given the warts and all treatment, allowing those fortunate enough to have never experienced the criminal justice system a valuable insight into the inner workings. It's also important to note that Li doesn't shy away from the fact that courtroom interrogations can be brutal and re-traumatising.
"Dark Chapter" is a phenomenal debut and a worthy award winner. Winnie Li has taken an emotive and sensitive subject and handled it with great care and respect. She writes beautifully and with a tone that is very much unique to her. I hope that this novel provides comfort to some and asks uncomfortable questions of others. It's certainly an excellent means by which to start having the challenging conversations necessary to effect change in a system often not fit for purpose.
What makes this book a standout are the dual perspectives. Both Vivian and Johnny have distinctive voices. In fact, the accuracy with which Li (a Taiwanese-American woman) writes a young, male Irish traveller speaks to her skill and attention to detail. The dialect, words and phrases used are incredibly authentic. I feel that it's extremely magnanimous of Li to so generously portray (and even consider) the potential backstory of her assailant.
The courtroom experience is given the warts and all treatment, allowing those fortunate enough to have never experienced the criminal justice system a valuable insight into the inner workings. It's also important to note that Li doesn't shy away from the fact that courtroom interrogations can be brutal and re-traumatising.
"Dark Chapter" is a phenomenal debut and a worthy award winner. Winnie Li has taken an emotive and sensitive subject and handled it with great care and respect. She writes beautifully and with a tone that is very much unique to her. I hope that this novel provides comfort to some and asks uncomfortable questions of others. It's certainly an excellent means by which to start having the challenging conversations necessary to effect change in a system often not fit for purpose.
rgreen888's review against another edition
5.0
I raced through this book and could not put it down. Heart-rending, infuriating, powerful, all at once. Li's ability to write coherently and pointedly about her own experience and at the same time to write empathetically and emotionally about that of her rapist is profound. Sometimes I found myself underlining entire paragraphs because the feeling she describes is so relatable, or so harrowing, or so indescribably sorrowful. Read this.
But, be prepared. It is gritty; it is hard. It is not an 'enjoyable' read: Li's descriptions of the violence are harsh. But they reflect the reality of sexual violence, which our global society still shies away from confronting directly quite literally because we complain it is too hard to stare into its face. Many who have commented here critique the harshness of these descriptions and bemoan that the book was therefore not enjoyable - but what about violence and victimhood is enjoyable? Is not one of the beautiful purposes of literature is that it allows us to connect to each other's experiences, and even more importantly to those experiences we may never undergo ourselves?
This book is an opportunity for all of us to join Li. Bear witness.
But, be prepared. It is gritty; it is hard. It is not an 'enjoyable' read: Li's descriptions of the violence are harsh. But they reflect the reality of sexual violence, which our global society still shies away from confronting directly quite literally because we complain it is too hard to stare into its face. Many who have commented here critique the harshness of these descriptions and bemoan that the book was therefore not enjoyable - but what about violence and victimhood is enjoyable? Is not one of the beautiful purposes of literature is that it allows us to connect to each other's experiences, and even more importantly to those experiences we may never undergo ourselves?
This book is an opportunity for all of us to join Li. Bear witness.
readingsar's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from Legend Press to review as part of a blog tour (my spot is on the 14th I'm v excited!). So I'll upload a full review after this point. Dark Chapter is unlike any book I've read, it's brutal and truthful and gives a real insight in to the effects that sexual assault can have. It's a tough read but it's also an important one!
debsd's review against another edition
2.0
ARC from Netgalley.
This is a powerful story on a very important topic. It is mostly well-written, but there are a number of inaccuracies which I found interfered with my ability to become absorbed in the story. There were quite a few very simple errors: for example the narrator mentions the “hot pink nail polish” on a nurse who’s treating her, when nurses aren’t supposed to wear nail polish, in general, and the dress code for the hospital named bans nail polish for clinical staff, or when she refers to a building as “the (name)” when there is never, ever, a “the” before its name. But there were a couple of bigger stinkers too: the narrator comments that she’s not allowed to be in court for most of the trial, then proceeds to relate the events of the trial from her own perspective, from her position in the courtroom.
The story is the author’s first book, and that does show. It’s also semi-autobiographical and I’m not sure that in this case that makes it a stronger book – I understand that the author has poured a great deal of herself into it, but I did feel that it would have been better if she’d been able to be more detached from it.
This is a powerful story on a very important topic. It is mostly well-written, but there are a number of inaccuracies which I found interfered with my ability to become absorbed in the story. There were quite a few very simple errors: for example the narrator mentions the “hot pink nail polish” on a nurse who’s treating her, when nurses aren’t supposed to wear nail polish, in general, and the dress code for the hospital named bans nail polish for clinical staff, or when she refers to a building as “the (name)” when there is never, ever, a “the” before its name. But there were a couple of bigger stinkers too: the narrator comments that she’s not allowed to be in court for most of the trial, then proceeds to relate the events of the trial from her own perspective, from her position in the courtroom.
The story is the author’s first book, and that does show. It’s also semi-autobiographical and I’m not sure that in this case that makes it a stronger book – I understand that the author has poured a great deal of herself into it, but I did feel that it would have been better if she’d been able to be more detached from it.
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
Won in Goodreads Giveaways - not read, passed on to another reader.
yrsakron's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
elizastudying's review against another edition
4.0
This was not an easy read, even though it's an easy and quick read in terms of style and story. It follows two characters: a young woman who is raped and her rapist, who happens to be only 15 years old. It was eye-opening to read the two perspectives next to each other, and it helped very much in understanding what undergoing rape is like. It documents the whole process - event, aftermath, trial, recovery - in quite a lot of detailed, though I was disappointed there wasn't more about the two characters after the trial had ended. All in all, though, worth a read if you're interested in these matters.
lucyp21's review against another edition
5.0
The thing is with books like these, where the author uses their own experience to inform the book (more than most authors at least) is that the books tend to be important books to read but not very well-written. This was absolutely not the case with this book, it was incredibly compelling. I found it hard to put down but also hard to read on without stopping because the way Li writes is so very real. The switching of POVs between the two characters, as well as the setting up of the backstory, could have been confusing but Li managed to pull it off in a brilliant way. The way Vivian had to deal with her own feelings, as well as the legal proceedings and her work and friends' reactions to it, was written really well and I loved (in a heartbreaking way) at how other women shared their own experiences with rape that Vivian never knew about until this had happened to her. I liked how she noted how it was only her male friends who wished prison rape on her rapist.
Johnny was done well too. It was obvious how his past and his family led to him turning into the violent man in the book, but Li managed to write him in a way so you could understand why he was like this but she never excused what he had done before. The mentions of Johnny having done the same to other girls as well and how he doesn't really see exactly what he had done wrong was chilling.
This was an interesting book to read and I would definitely recommend it.
Johnny was done well too. It was obvious how his past and his family led to him turning into the violent man in the book, but Li managed to write him in a way so you could understand why he was like this but she never excused what he had done before. The mentions of Johnny having done the same to other girls as well and how he doesn't really see exactly what he had done wrong was chilling.
This was an interesting book to read and I would definitely recommend it.
victorianamkung's review against another edition
4.0
A difficult, necessary, and empathetic story about two lives forever changed because of misogynistic violence.
readswithdogs's review against another edition
5.0
A compelling telling of a 'dark chapter' in the author's life.
The book switches back and forth between Vivian (the victim of a vicious rape) and Jonny (the teenager rapist) and I think that style worked really well. I read this in one day because I was so angry and needed to see how it ended and if there was any justice.
Basically a irl Law and Order: SVU book, but with more feeling and less sensationalism. Read this, get angry and remain vigilant!
The book switches back and forth between Vivian (the victim of a vicious rape) and Jonny (the teenager rapist) and I think that style worked really well. I read this in one day because I was so angry and needed to see how it ended and if there was any justice.
Basically a irl Law and Order: SVU book, but with more feeling and less sensationalism. Read this, get angry and remain vigilant!