Name: My Dark Vanessa Low Price CD
Rating: 4.212823164426061 (967 reviews)
ISBN: 9780063063952

Kate Elizabeth Russell

Grace Gummer

My Dark Vanessa Low Price CD

2000: Bright, ambitious fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher. 2017: Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa. Now Vanessa 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? -- adapted from jacket

My Dark Vanessa

baku

“My Dark Vanessa” is something really close to my heart. It’s a well-written novel that captures the complexities of adolescence, abusive relationships, grooming, and trauma. Russell adeptly weaves together the multiple layers of the narrative, avoiding any preachiness or didacticism. She does an amazing job of showing Vanessa’s struggles, doubts, and self-blame. I really admire Russel’s precise and deliberate prose, which, in some parts, creates a sense of claustrophobia and entrapment. It made my skin crawl to bear witness to the years of abuse that Vanessa went through. <br /><br />It's an incredibly uncomfortable yet compelling read and one that definitely leaves you with an intense need for catharsis right after. <br />

this book is one that made me want to study themes, delve deeper, and also peel my skin off! it’s so well built, well understood and a super interesting take on power imbalance dynamics. some parts were a little on the nose, certain sentences felt like they could have just been the reader’s on thoughts of a situation - but they were forced on you and it felt a little like babying? like leave some to the imagination. mega fucked up but unputdownable

The book was very well written but I would never recommend it to anyone.

The fmc was unlikeable but not in a way that allows you to hate her. As much as she denies it or refuses to see the truth, she was so deeply traumatized. The teachers (yes, plural) made me sick to my stomach.

The ending didn't give me the closure I was hoping for. It wouldn't have been fair otherwise, I suppose, since the women didn't get any closure either.

Sophia

The book was very well written but I would never recommend it to anyone.

The fmc was unlikeable but not in a way that allows you to hate her. As much as she denies it or refuses to see the truth, she was so deeply traumatized. The teachers (yes, plural) made me sick to my stomach.

The ending didn't give me the closure I was hoping for. It wouldn't have been fair otherwise, I suppose, since the women didn't get any closure either.

A Novel

This was a difficult read but it was worth it. The book being told through the victims pov made the book more interesting. I felt so much rage because she wasn’t doing “what I would’ve done” but I think that made the book better. I think we’re supposed to get angry and/or feel pity. 

🥔

My Dark Vanessa was an incredibly difficult but worthwhile read. The writing is so vivid that it made my skin crawl, hence I had to pace myself a lot when reading it. Nonetheless, I think it provides a well-needed perspective on surviving sexual assault and grooming, I think this book has a lot of uncomfortable truths in it. How we as a society have a certain understanding of what it means to be a victim and how victims should behave,  and when this expectations are not met we usually become suspicious. There is no such thing as a perfect victim and My Dark Vanessa makes this clear.

As well as that My Dark Vanessa highlight exactly how destructive grooming is, and how its effects last a lifetime, it also shows that no two victims are the same. Therefore I think this can be a beneficial book to read to understand and tackle these heavy themes. I will advise however is child sexual assault, grooming or victim blaming are triggering topic for you, it maybe better for you to steer clear, as everything in the book is described in excruciating detail

Marz 

My Dark Vanessa was an incredibly difficult but worthwhile read. The writing is so vivid that it made my skin crawl, hence I had to pace myself a lot when reading it. Nonetheless, I think it provides a well-needed perspective on surviving sexual assault and grooming, I think this book has a lot of uncomfortable truths in it. How we as a society have a certain understanding of what it means to be a victim and how victims should behave,  and when this expectations are not met we usually become suspicious. There is no such thing as a perfect victim and My Dark Vanessa makes this clear.
As well as that My Dark Vanessa highlight exactly how destructive grooming is, and how its effects last a lifetime, it also shows that no two victims are the same. Therefore I think this can be a beneficial book to read to understand and tackle these heavy themes. I will advise however is child sexual assault, grooming or victim blaming are triggering topic for you, it maybe better for you to steer clear, as everything in the book is described in excruciating detail

Ryan Mateyk

wow i'm surprised by how much i enjoyed this (though "enjoyed" is kind of a strange way to describe reading this book). the writing was impeccable, vanessa was such a complex character, and it deftly deals with touchy subjects.

Kaitlin Simpson

Well Written

This book is written very well, but the subject matter is so dark and heavy it’s hard to read at some points.

My Dark Vanessa Low Price CD

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