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A review by readnext
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wish I could unread this book.
For a debut novel this was captivating and well written, although, a bit repetitive and wearisome at times, especially in the second half of the book. It is the visceral feelings of disgust that I could not shake while trudging through the book that shapes this review. It is a difficult book to review, as I haven’t gone through such horrific experiences. Many reviews mark this book as powerful, but this feels like an ambiguous statement. How much weight can or should be given to my individual thoughts on this one? While it by no means equates to the same thing, I’ve dealt with sexual harassment (as I am sure many women have), but didn’t feel empowered at all by this book. It is certainly thought-provoking and I understand the importance of keeping this uncomfortable conversation open, especially on the coattails of the Me Too movement, but that does not change it being an extremely difficult book to read. I finished it feeling nauseated and hopeless. This might have been the author’s intention (the book is, after all, about a minor sexually assaulted by her teacher which leads to self-blaming and the inability to see herself as the clear victim in this situation), but with the never-ending graphic depictions of rape/sexual assault… I just kept getting stuck on WHO was this written for? I do not think the explicit scenes were written purely for shock value, and I can grasp the need to write truth for readers. That said, continuously writing sex scenes in such horrific detail was jarring and revolting to get through. An important topic, definitely, but not a book I recommend.
For a debut novel this was captivating and well written, although, a bit repetitive and wearisome at times, especially in the second half of the book. It is the visceral feelings of disgust that I could not shake while trudging through the book that shapes this review. It is a difficult book to review, as I haven’t gone through such horrific experiences. Many reviews mark this book as powerful, but this feels like an ambiguous statement. How much weight can or should be given to my individual thoughts on this one? While it by no means equates to the same thing, I’ve dealt with sexual harassment (as I am sure many women have), but didn’t feel empowered at all by this book. It is certainly thought-provoking and I understand the importance of keeping this uncomfortable conversation open, especially on the coattails of the Me Too movement, but that does not change it being an extremely difficult book to read. I finished it feeling nauseated and hopeless. This might have been the author’s intention (the book is, after all, about a minor sexually assaulted by her teacher which leads to self-blaming and the inability to see herself as the clear victim in this situation), but with the never-ending graphic depictions of rape/sexual assault… I just kept getting stuck on WHO was this written for? I do not think the explicit scenes were written purely for shock value, and I can grasp the need to write truth for readers. That said, continuously writing sex scenes in such horrific detail was jarring and revolting to get through. An important topic, definitely, but not a book I recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment