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A review by thesaltiestlibrarian
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. The opinions expressed herein are mine alone and may not reflect the views of the author, publisher, or distributor.
Oh, man. This was rough. The writing was quality, but the content hits you like a brick.
Vanessa Wye recounts her time at a private boarding school in Western Maine, where an English teacher grooms her and proceeds to take advantage of her. Years later, the #MeToo movement bursts onto the scene, and Vanessa has to decide how she's going to deal with other students making accusations about the man who professed to--and continues to profess to--loving her. What's more, she starts to wrestle with her own mind. Were his advances love, or was she manipulated all along?
(Spoiler alert: she was totally manipulated.)
What we have here is an interesting parallel to Lolita in the age of open discussion regarding sexual assault and pedophilia. So while the book became a bit repetitive in some spots, I can see the necessity for it in a time like this.
It can even be argued that the repetitive nature of those bits reflects the hellish merry-go-round of mental gymnastics that victims of abuse struggle through their entire lives. Definitely read this when you're in a safe mental space.
Oh, man. This was rough. The writing was quality, but the content hits you like a brick.
Vanessa Wye recounts her time at a private boarding school in Western Maine, where an English teacher grooms her and proceeds to take advantage of her. Years later, the #MeToo movement bursts onto the scene, and Vanessa has to decide how she's going to deal with other students making accusations about the man who professed to--and continues to profess to--loving her. What's more, she starts to wrestle with her own mind. Were his advances love, or was she manipulated all along?
(Spoiler alert: she was totally manipulated.)
What we have here is an interesting parallel to Lolita in the age of open discussion regarding sexual assault and pedophilia. So while the book became a bit repetitive in some spots, I can see the necessity for it in a time like this.
It can even be argued that the repetitive nature of those bits reflects the hellish merry-go-round of mental gymnastics that victims of abuse struggle through their entire lives. Definitely read this when you're in a safe mental space.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity