My Dark Vanessa Book Review
Hello everyone, welcome back to another book review! I recently read My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell. Before we get into the review, I just want to preface this with the triggers. This book talks about grooming, assault, incredibly toxic relationships, suicide, the list goes on. So if you're not in the headspace for that, please skip this one! Now, onto the review.
My Dark Vanessa follows a young woman named Vanessa and her journey with coming to terms with being groomed and assaulted by her teacher at age 15. The book flips back and forth from 2000-2001, 2006-2007, and 2017. It is set in Maine, which is a really beautiful setting that I haven't read or visited before so I enjoyed the descriptions of the forest, the cold winters, the seaside. That part was lovely.
In 2000, Vanessa attends a high end boarding school on scholarship I believe and this is where she meets Strane, the teacher that grooms and assaults her. In 2006, Vanessa is later in college at Atlantica and this time period follows her strained relationship with Strane and her somewhat friendship with Henry Plough, her professor. In 2017 is where Vanessa is presently, working as a concierge at a hotel and dealing with another woman's accusations against Strane and her journey in therapy working through her past.
This is a very layered book, full of darkness, despair, hurt, and anger. Vanessa is grappling with lots of inner demons, the biggest of which is Strane. I feel that the author took great care and delicacy in writing about this topic; not hiding behind flowery lyrical language, but plainly written from the heart. The ending shows a glimmer of hope and healing and that really is wonderful and all I could ask for in an ending.
The book is repetitive in some areas, but that doesn't detract from the story. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the care done to this topic. Vanessa isn't a perfect character, which may be why some dislike this book. But I find her raw and real, my favorite kind of character. I recommend this if you're in a headspace to read it; this is an amazingly talented debut novel. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
Alette
Comments
Post a Comment