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A review by futurama1979
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
5.0
In 2001, 15 year old Vanessa Wye is groomed and abused by one of her boarding school teachers. In 2017, she's approached by another survivor, and the chance to come out anonymously about the abuse. The question is, can she free herself from over a decade of manipulation and gaslighting in order to do so?
Stephen King said of this book that it's hard to read and harder to put down. I 100% agree. Like, this is one of the most difficult, painful, sickening stories I can remember reading but at the same time it's told with such nuance, such understanding of trauma/PTSD, and such dedication to getting it all down realistically. The slow, everyday portrayal of trauma, of dissociation, without ever describing them w/ a diagnosis and just letting the symptoms take time on the page, was so brilliantly written.
The part about it that drew me in so utterly was the fact that it all seemed so real, actually. As someone who has lived my whole life in Maine, every description, every location, each little aspect of the setting was so extremely realistic and was something I was super familiar with. That and the fact that it was published so recently that all the fashion trends, music, social movements, technology and internet usage, and other little things are familiar as well, all things that I lived through or am living with now. Those facts made it come so intensely to life.
At moments it was a little too much for me and I had to take a step away for a little tea break, and, conversely, at moments the writing was a little repetitive. But overall it was an amazing read, with a super strong character voice throughout.
Stephen King said of this book that it's hard to read and harder to put down. I 100% agree. Like, this is one of the most difficult, painful, sickening stories I can remember reading but at the same time it's told with such nuance, such understanding of trauma/PTSD, and such dedication to getting it all down realistically. The slow, everyday portrayal of trauma, of dissociation, without ever describing them w/ a diagnosis and just letting the symptoms take time on the page, was so brilliantly written.
The part about it that drew me in so utterly was the fact that it all seemed so real, actually. As someone who has lived my whole life in Maine, every description, every location, each little aspect of the setting was so extremely realistic and was something I was super familiar with. That and the fact that it was published so recently that all the fashion trends, music, social movements, technology and internet usage, and other little things are familiar as well, all things that I lived through or am living with now. Those facts made it come so intensely to life.
At moments it was a little too much for me and I had to take a step away for a little tea break, and, conversely, at moments the writing was a little repetitive. But overall it was an amazing read, with a super strong character voice throughout.