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A review by smileymiley550
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, justice system,.
SPOILERS INCLUDED
A fantastic dive into class, sexism, domestic violence, privilege, and the justice system. What does justice mean, and what does it look like practically? This novel encourages countless introspective questions like the ones above--this one will stay with me for a long time.
I keep up with the theater industry and was certainly aware of "Prima Facie"--it's success, it's subject matter, and it's critical acclaim. However, this novel is my first into the story, as I have not yet seen the staged play. I'm having a hard time picturing how this operates as a one-woman play because the supporting cast of characters are critical and dynamic. Upon finishing the novel, I looked up how to watch the pro shot of the West End or Broadway production with Jodie Comer. Guess what? It's showing at a local theater in November and I immediately purchased tickets! I cannot wait to see the stage version and compare it with the new novel version.
I loved the Tessa's journey of operating from a strict lens of how the justice system works and having full faith that the system, when set up correctly, will see justice served. At the onset, Tessa believes it's not a barrister's job to actually uncover the truth or who is guilty, but to create the best story and highlight holes in the opposition's case. As a reader, it seemed clear to me that this approach is dangerous and has consequences, but she doesn't see it that way until the sexual assault. After, she sees the lawyer she once was in her' rapist's defense team, who are now setting up their best story and poking holes in hers. She knows her chances of winning are slim but she's determined to present her case through the system she has put her entire faith in previously. She knows she will fail, but she has no choice--she owes it to herself, potential future victims, and all of the victims she had previously interrogated. And she owes it to herself. It's the final stone to fall of her crumbled sense of a, now-evident-to-Tessa, broken justice system.
While it doesn't change their complicity, I really appreciated the author's utilization of the supporting cast of characters. They illustrate the many responses and perspectives that can be experienced when faced with the reality of sexual assault. It doesn't excuse their behavior, but it helps us understand why people respond the way that they do.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and Goodreads for the ARC of "Prima Facie." All opinions are my own.
SPOILERS INCLUDED
A fantastic dive into class, sexism, domestic violence, privilege, and the justice system. What does justice mean, and what does it look like practically? This novel encourages countless introspective questions like the ones above--this one will stay with me for a long time.
I keep up with the theater industry and was certainly aware of "Prima Facie"--it's success, it's subject matter, and it's critical acclaim. However, this novel is my first into the story, as I have not yet seen the staged play. I'm having a hard time picturing how this operates as a one-woman play because the supporting cast of characters are critical and dynamic. Upon finishing the novel, I looked up how to watch the pro shot of the West End or Broadway production with Jodie Comer. Guess what? It's showing at a local theater in November and I immediately purchased tickets! I cannot wait to see the stage version and compare it with the new novel version.
I loved the Tessa's journey of operating from a strict lens of how the justice system works and having full faith that the system, when set up correctly, will see justice served. At the onset, Tessa believes it's not a barrister's job to actually uncover the truth or who is guilty, but to create the best story and highlight holes in the opposition's case. As a reader, it seemed clear to me that this approach is dangerous and has consequences, but she doesn't see it that way until the sexual assault. After, she sees the lawyer she once was in her' rapist's defense team, who are now setting up their best story and poking holes in hers. She knows her chances of winning are slim but she's determined to present her case through the system she has put her entire faith in previously. She knows she will fail, but she has no choice--she owes it to herself, potential future victims, and all of the victims she had previously interrogated. And she owes it to herself. It's the final stone to fall of her crumbled sense of a, now-evident-to-Tessa, broken justice system.
While it doesn't change their complicity, I really appreciated the author's utilization of the supporting cast of characters. They illustrate the many responses and perspectives that can be experienced when faced with the reality of sexual assault. It doesn't excuse their behavior, but it helps us understand why people respond the way that they do.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and Goodreads for the ARC of "Prima Facie." All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Classism