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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/kate-elizabeth-russell-minu-sunge-vanessa-helios-2020/
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Jeg har et relativt travlt år, hvilket gør, at jeg ikke får læst i nærheden af hvad jeg har brug for. Så når jeg endelig læser en bog, som jeg så ikke helt falder pladask for, bliver jeg ekstra fornærmet. Hvilket selvfølgelig har intet sted på jord. Men nu står der at “Min mørke Vanessa” er “det 21. århundredes Lolita”. Og ja begge bøger handler rigtig nok om overgreb på børn, udført af mænd der bruger meget krudt på at overbevise dem selv om at alt af gjort ud fra den dybeste kærlighed, men for mig ender sammenligningen også der. Jo der var ubehagelige beskrivelser af overgreb, men fortællingen kom ikke rigtig ind under huden. Der bliver namedroppet Lolita litteratur, men det føles mest af alt som et trick for at minde læseren om, at Humbert Humbert og Lo’s historie på ligesindet vis skildre det komplekse sind som gør en overgrebsmand, i denne fortælling, og det gør den altså ikke. Man fatter ikke hvem hr. Strane er andet end han er klam og udnytter et barn, og man når aldrig rigtig at få indsigt i hvorfor hun bliver indraget i hans spind og hvilke psykologiske manipulationer der gør, at den type “forhold” kan opstå. Og bare lige for en god ordens skyld så anerkender jeg alle dage ofre for overgreb, men da dette er af fiktiv karakter føler jeg også, at den des så meget mere skylder at skildre hvor ødelæggende det kan være. Den føltes hverken autentisk og som om at den var skrevet efter grundig research, men mest af alt som noget en udenforstående har fundet på. Dog kan man sige den virkelig er nedtrykkende og man mister lidt pusten over hvor tungt livet kan ende efter et overgreb, og den gør også halvt op med den “lykkelige slutning” som trods alt ikke er alle forundt. Så det må jeg lige understrege, at jeg faktisk synes fungere nogenlunde. Men også kun NOGENLUNDE. For i virkeligheden føler jeg bogen var tung fordi den var kedelig. Who knows jeg mistede overblikket i min iver efter at færdiggøre den
dark
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely harrowing and horrifying. I dont think a book has ever made me feel so angry and disturbed and frustrated. Which I believe was the fullest intent. The culmination of everything that leads us to understand the MCs PTSD was truly well done and believable. A hauntingly powerful story that has marked me.
challenging
dark
emotional
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My Dark Vanessa is an incredibly dark and unsettling book—like a trainwreck I couldn’t look away from. Painful as it was to read, I felt compelled to see how it ended, even though I never truly connected with the characters. I kept expecting to like Vanessa more as the story unfolded, but every time she had the chance to grow, she seemed to remain stuck.
One of my biggest frustrations was the way so much responsibility and blame was placed on the victim. While the book does acknowledge the complicated feelings victims of predators may experience—including a distorted sense of consent—it never fully resolves the fact that Vanessa was a child, incapable of giving true consent. At times, the narrative risked leaving the impression that her underage “agreement” was somewhat valid, which was deeply unsettling.
That said, the novel is very effective at showing how grooming happens: how abusers carefully choose vulnerable targets, build trust, blur boundaries, and slowly push past them. Russell captures that process with disturbing accuracy. It’s horrific, but it feels very real.
I especially loved Ruby, the therapist, though I wish the story had given more closure around Vanessa fully recognizing her abuse. The scenes with Taylor were infuriating—though, unfortunately, they rang true to reality.
What the book does brilliantly is portray the rawness of being fifteen. Teenagers believe they’re more mature than they are, oscillating between adult-like confidence and childlike vulnerability. Russell absolutely nailed that emotional turbulence.
This is not an easy book to read—disturbing, painful, and often frustrating—but it’s also haunting and powerfully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content
My Dark Vanessa is a very heavy read, and it definitely needs multiple content/trigger warnings. Here’s a thorough list you could include:
Sexual abuse of a minor / statutory rape
Grooming & manipulation (adult–teen relationship dynamics)
Pedophilia (depicted from the perspective of victimization)
Psychological/emotional abuse
Gaslighting & victim-blaming
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes