'My Dark Vanessa' by Kate Elizabeth Russell is a chilling and unsettling novel that delves into the story of a 15-year-old girl, Vanessa Wye, who falls under the spell of her much older English teacher, Mr. Strane, at a prestigious boarding school. The book explores the grooming process and manipulation tactics used by the teacher to make Vanessa feel special and in control of their relationship. As the story unfolds, it follows Vanessa into her adult life, where she grapples with the long-lasting impact of the abuse she experienced as a teenager. The narrative alternates between past and present timelines, shedding light on Vanessa's emotional turmoil and her struggle to come to terms with the true nature of her relationship with her abuser.
The author, Kate Elizabeth Russell, skillfully navigates the sensitive and disturbing subject matter of abuse and exploitation in 'My Dark Vanessa'. Through Vanessa's perspective, the readers witness the complexities of her emotional journey, her distorted self-image, and the lifelong consequences of her traumatic experiences. The book offers a profound insight into the psychological effects of such abuse, highlighting the blurred lines between consent and manipulation, and the lasting scars it leaves on the victim's psyche.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include sexual harassment, rape, pedophilia, child abuse, drug use, and suicide, making it essential for readers to approach with caution.
From The Publisher:
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"[An] exceedingly complex, inventive, resourceful examination of harm and power." -The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice
"A lightning rod . . . brilliantly crafted."-The Washington Post
A most anticipated book by The New York Times
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Exploring the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet naïve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher, a brilliant, all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer.
2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher.
2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past. But how can Vanessa reject her first love, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager-and who professed to worship only her-may be far different from what she has always believed?
Alternating between Vanessa's present and her past, My Dark Vanessa juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of The Girls and the creeping intensity of Room, My Dark Vanessa is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself.
Ratings (135)
Incredible (48) | |
Loved It (42) | |
Liked It (29) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (7) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (319):
Read It (138) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (138) | |
Did Not Finish (3) | |
Not Interested (39) |
10 comment(s)
6 ⭐️
This is a terrifying, horrifying, uncomfortable book. It is supposed to be uncomfortable. The most important discussions often are.
It didn’t have the ending I wanted. But I think that makes the book better.
The prose in this book is probably the most poetic and engaging writing I’ve ever read. The way Vanessa’s trauma, disassociating, and PTSD was written was powerful. Russell put into words feelings that I didn’t think could be described. You have to read the reading to understand what I mean. Everything was so visual that I felt like I was there. It was terrifying.
The pacing is perfect. Just when the segments from 2001 get too hard to stomach. We bounce back to 2017 with a small glimmer of hope on the horizon.
This book made me re-evaluate my entire high school experience. Especially “that incident” that I think a lot of people unfortunately had in their high school. It makes me feel sick.
This book is so incredibly dark and triggering that I imagine a lot of people can’t finish it. I think for the people who can, it is 100% worth it. My requirements for a 6 star book is that it is something that I will never forget and that it changes who I am as person. This book has most definitely changed my life.
My advice is NOT to read it at work because bawling your eyes out at your desk at 11:56 am on a Friday is embarrassing.
Switched to audiobook
My dar Vanessa was a very uncomfortable read and horrifying that things like this exist in real life and not just fiction, but at the same time it's really important read.
This book is obviously a challenging read. Anyone who has experienced SA/trauma this may bring back some hard memories. I feel like the book was well written and didn't feel like smut. I have read books with this same...topic...and it felt wildly inappropriate. The way Kate wrote the story, it just hit home on some of the things, and brought a new way of thinking of things. The story was really good and I definitely would recommend the read if you won't be triggered by it.
I’m finding this hard to even rate. I feel like I have so much to say, but also I’m speechless? I’m a pretty fast reader and nothing usually phases me much, but I had to stop reading this several times because I was so sick to my stomach. This is such a brutal novel, but a necessary story. Some aspects that really struck me were how well the complexity and reach of these issues were depicted and the discussion around victimhood and agency.
4*
RTC
I've seen several recommendations for this book, so I gave it a try. Not for everyone, but also not ground breaking. I felt sad for our heroine, but I also question a lot of her choices and motivations. I guess I'm overlooking those issues based upon the character's age and the fact she was sought out by a predator. 3 stars.
Through out the book I felt so many different emotions. I ranged from feeling disgust to anger to despair to immense sadness. Overall I enjoyed the book and think it deals well with how grooming and pedophilia looks like in real life. I feel like the ending was a little rushed and lack luster. I understand that it was trying to have a realistic ending because sometimes victims never get any justice, I just wish we’d get a little more about Vanessa finally realizing she’s the victim and healing from the abuse and trauma she experienced.
romanticizes minor/teacher sexual relationships too much. mc is a jealous pos that hates others for being abused bc she wants to be the only one abused by her abuser. buying a dog does not cure your ptsd - worst ending ever
This book is not for everybody, but if you are one of the poor souls it’s for, you must read this novel. I have never felt so seen before. Vanessa, despite her flaws, is a character that I saw much of myself in, which was as unsettling as it was comforting.
What can you read after
My Dark Vanessa?
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