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Available
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Publication
Harper Collins Canada (2020), 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S BREAKOUT AUTHOR TO WATCH IN 2020 "Brilliant and stunning . . . an absolute must read." �?? GILLIAN FLYNN "A well-constructed package of dynamite." �?? STEPHEN KING A most anticipated book by The New York Times USA Today Entertainment Weekly Marie Claire Elle Harper's Bazaar Bustle Newsweek New York Post Esquire Real Simple The Sunday Times The Guardian ONE OF THE MOST BUZZED ABOUT DEBUTS IN YEARS AN INTERNATIONAL SENSATION SOLD IN 24 TERRITORIES AND COUNTING 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. Includes a bonus conversation with Kate Elizabeth Russell, Grace Gummer, and Jessica Williams (editor of My Dark Vanessa). This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Kate Elizabeth Russell about My Dark Vanessa.… (more)
Media reviews
En helstøpt, sitrende og akkurat passende ubehagelig Metoo-roman, som lugger deg i din moralske hjerterot.
«Min mørke Vanessa»: En historie om forbudt kjærlighet?
Nei. Eller jo. Men nei.
Mens jeg som leser røres inn i en grumsete grøt av lengsel, erotikk, løgner og manipulasjon, blir jeg
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likevel i tvil til tider. For hvor går egentlig grensen mellom overgrep og destruktiv kjærlighet? Hva er definisjonen på maktmisbruk, og når og hvordan gjelds prinsippet om samtykke? Ikke minst: Hvem er dommerne som definerer? Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member indygo88
In the year 2000, 15-year-old Vanessa Wye begins her second year at Browick, a private boarding school in Maine. Reeling and hurt after a parting of ways from her previous roommate Jenny, and with no other close friends, she gradually becomes close to her English teacher, 42-year-old Jacob Strane.
There is so much I could say about this novel, and yet it's hard to put all my feelings into writing. So many layers, so many feelings, so many questions. I just finished this on audio (which was very good), along with an author interview and blog interview. This is a modern-day Lolita story (though better, in my opinion), and though many readers probably feel strongly about many aspects of this novel, I don't necessarily feel that things are always so black and white. This is a story begging for discussion. Lots of great quotes in here. In some ways I wish I had not read it on audio, as I would've loved to highlight quotes and discussion points. As a reader, I found myself frequently changing my perception on things. This reminded me a lot of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood, which I also really enjoyed and wanted to discuss with someone after reading. If you can handle disturbing-to-some subject matter, I highly recommend this. I am anxious to discuss it at book club.
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A relationship soon develops, crossing a line as to what most would consider appropriate given their age difference. A scandal occurs, though Vanessa never really is able to give up ties to Strane. 17 years later, she is still living with the repercussions of their actions and relationship, amid a blooming "Me Too" movement. There is so much I could say about this novel, and yet it's hard to put all my feelings into writing. So many layers, so many feelings, so many questions. I just finished this on audio (which was very good), along with an author interview and blog interview. This is a modern-day Lolita story (though better, in my opinion), and though many readers probably feel strongly about many aspects of this novel, I don't necessarily feel that things are always so black and white. This is a story begging for discussion. Lots of great quotes in here. In some ways I wish I had not read it on audio, as I would've loved to highlight quotes and discussion points. As a reader, I found myself frequently changing my perception on things. This reminded me a lot of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood, which I also really enjoyed and wanted to discuss with someone after reading. If you can handle disturbing-to-some subject matter, I highly recommend this. I am anxious to discuss it at book club.
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LibraryThing member Dabble58
As you can see from the “dates read” I swallowed this book in one mad gallop. It is compelling. It is unsettling. As someone who experienced sexual abuse as a child and again as an adult, and who still wrestles with it in my relationships with others, this story gripped me tight.
Told in
Often people who have been abused tell themselves comforting stories about how “it wasn’t really abuse”, and “it wasn’t anything”, and worst of all, “I wanted it, too”, while long damaging rifts crack open across their lives and minds. It’s hard to estimate the damage done by sexual assault, even if it seems gentle, if it seems like something you wanted at the time. Grooming is real. For those who abuse and yet think it really wasn’t anything, this book should be mandatory reading.
Not that they WILL read it, of course. They haven’t done anything wrong, have they?
A wonderfully written book but be aware it WILL mess with your head. In a good way, actually.
Told in
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alternate flashback and current day, Russell links the story of Vanessa intensely to the damage done, the damage she is only beginning to realize and understand.Often people who have been abused tell themselves comforting stories about how “it wasn’t really abuse”, and “it wasn’t anything”, and worst of all, “I wanted it, too”, while long damaging rifts crack open across their lives and minds. It’s hard to estimate the damage done by sexual assault, even if it seems gentle, if it seems like something you wanted at the time. Grooming is real. For those who abuse and yet think it really wasn’t anything, this book should be mandatory reading.
Not that they WILL read it, of course. They haven’t done anything wrong, have they?
A wonderfully written book but be aware it WILL mess with your head. In a good way, actually.
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LibraryThing member muddyboy
A thought provoking and complex look into pedophilia. Vanessa is fifteen when she is sent to a boarding school where she falls under the spell of he much older English teacher, Mr. Strane, who makes her feel very special. He carefully and slowly nurtures the relationship always getting Vanessa's
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permission and even encouraging here to initiate further movement emotionally and sexually giving her the feel of control. Eventually everything come to light and Vanessa takes the blame and gets thrown out of school. The book follows her into her thirties and she never exposes him and the relationship continues. The issue here is can a teenage girl have a real loving relationship with a much older man or does manipulation from a position of power negate their "love". Ultimately, I think he was still a pervert. Show Less
LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
A big dream becomes true when 15-year-old Vanessa Wye is accepted at Browick, an expensive boarding school with an excellent educational programme. Immediately she is hooked by her literature teacher, Jacob Strane, who opens the world of books to her. But this is not the only world he introduces
Kate Elizabeth Russel’s novel really is a hell of a read. Using the first person narrator perspective, you climb into Vanessa’s head and get her thinking without any filter. More than once I was stunned, abhorred, terrified or just could shake my head in disbelieve. This girl – even as a grown up woman – is totally captured in her construction of the world, her oftentimes limited capacities of assessing a situation and the naivety with which she confronts her treacherous teacher is one of the best and highly authentic characters I have read about in a while. Even though I could hardly be farther away in my own thinking, I can easily imagine that her state of mind can be found in many girls who are insecure and a bit detached from her classmates.
This novel certainly is not for the highly sensitive. Child abuse and sexual harassment have been topics I have been faced with in my job and in my opinion, “My Dark Vanessa” is a superb example of how a molester gets closer to his victim and which techniques of manipulation he can use to make a girl or woman comply with his wishes. Blaming the victim for what has happened is one of the most loathsome strategies but quite typical and more than once I cringed while reading. Several times, Vanessa senses that something is not right, she feels maybe not abused but her wishes and needs are not respected but she does not possess the mental force or the words to express her position. Even when she is older, it takes some time for her to say it out loud what all that happened has to be called. Possibly her own understanding helped her to cope with the situation better than others, nevertheless, at 32, she is a total mess and far from mentally stable.
A wonderful novel in many respects. Not an easy topic to write about, but an exceptional development of the characters and by using flashbacks also an excellent way of presenting two interpretations of the same incident, the younger and the older Vanessa are not the same anymore. “My Dark Vanessa” was highly praised as one of the most remarkable and important debuts of 2020 – I could hardly agree more with this.
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her to. It all starts with some glances, some minutes he makes her linger after class, a careless and random touch until it is what it should not be: sexual abuse of a minor and a student. However, this is just one view, for Vanessa, it is her first love, the first time somebody pays attention to her, tells her she is pretty, appreciates her mind and opinion. Of course, a secret relationship like this will not go unnoticed and when Strane and Vanessa are confronted with the accusations, it is her who is expelled. More than 15 years later, she still wonders how all this could have gone so wrong, they were only in love, that’s all.Kate Elizabeth Russel’s novel really is a hell of a read. Using the first person narrator perspective, you climb into Vanessa’s head and get her thinking without any filter. More than once I was stunned, abhorred, terrified or just could shake my head in disbelieve. This girl – even as a grown up woman – is totally captured in her construction of the world, her oftentimes limited capacities of assessing a situation and the naivety with which she confronts her treacherous teacher is one of the best and highly authentic characters I have read about in a while. Even though I could hardly be farther away in my own thinking, I can easily imagine that her state of mind can be found in many girls who are insecure and a bit detached from her classmates.
This novel certainly is not for the highly sensitive. Child abuse and sexual harassment have been topics I have been faced with in my job and in my opinion, “My Dark Vanessa” is a superb example of how a molester gets closer to his victim and which techniques of manipulation he can use to make a girl or woman comply with his wishes. Blaming the victim for what has happened is one of the most loathsome strategies but quite typical and more than once I cringed while reading. Several times, Vanessa senses that something is not right, she feels maybe not abused but her wishes and needs are not respected but she does not possess the mental force or the words to express her position. Even when she is older, it takes some time for her to say it out loud what all that happened has to be called. Possibly her own understanding helped her to cope with the situation better than others, nevertheless, at 32, she is a total mess and far from mentally stable.
A wonderful novel in many respects. Not an easy topic to write about, but an exceptional development of the characters and by using flashbacks also an excellent way of presenting two interpretations of the same incident, the younger and the older Vanessa are not the same anymore. “My Dark Vanessa” was highly praised as one of the most remarkable and important debuts of 2020 – I could hardly agree more with this.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
This was an extremely difficult book to read. It is about a 15-year old girl, Vanessa Wye, and her complicated relationship with her teacher - 42 year old Jacob Strane.
Their relationship quickly moves to a sexual relationship and Vanessa struggles to define herself after this affair, and whether
Truly, what 15 year old has the capacity to make this decision? It is heartbreaking how her life tumbles out of control and how she can’t let go of Strane.
Very powerful book.
#MyDarkVanessa #KateElizabethRussell
Their relationship quickly moves to a sexual relationship and Vanessa struggles to define herself after this affair, and whether
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or not he took advantage of her and advised her, or if she wanted it-a modern Lolita. Truly, what 15 year old has the capacity to make this decision? It is heartbreaking how her life tumbles out of control and how she can’t let go of Strane.
Very powerful book.
#MyDarkVanessa #KateElizabethRussell
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LibraryThing member ozzer
This is an extraordinarily good depiction of the complex issues surrounding the #MeToo movement. Russell succeeds in combining this with a strong coming-of-age story told with a superb first-person narrative. Vanessa is a fully realized and nuanced character whom Russell follows with a nonlinear
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narrative from her teen years into adulthood. During her journey, Vanessa is haunted by an intimate relationship she had with a teacher starting when she was a teenager. She struggles to understand it and especially her reaction to it. She experiences all of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, including self-doubt, depression, substance abuse, loss of motivation, and impaired relationships. Her behavior and internal monologue are particularly effective at demonstrating why so many abused people refuse to acknowledge their abuse and fail to come forward. Moreover, the character of Strane, her abuser, is an excellent portrayal of the subtle power dynamic that is so common in these relationships. One cannot help but come away from this novel with a richer understanding of the profound impact that sexual abuse has on its victims. Show Less
LibraryThing member JosephCamilleri
The #MeToo movement has led to the fall of many high and mighty men (less high and mighty ones too) and belated justice for many wronged women. More importantly, however, this movement has highlighted that the issue of abuse on women goes deeper than just the immoral and illegal actions of
The stories which we have seen in the media in the past years have also shown how complex the matter of “consent” can become. We have heard abusers defending themselves by saying that their victims “consented” to or even encouraged their advances. And, at a very superficial level, in some cases there could be some truth in this ‘defence’. But what exactly counts as “consent”? Where one of the parties is a minor, or in a vulnerable position, can it ever be present?
My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell’s debut novel, is unafraid to face these thorny questions head on. Its protagonist and narrator is the “Vanessa” of the title. As a wide-eyed, fifteen-year-old outsider at college, she is flattered by the attention she receives from her English tutor, Jacob Strane, thirty years her senior. This attention, however, soon changes into something far creepier, developing into a sexual liaison which will mark and traumatize Vanessa well into adulthood. As Strane is accused by other ex-students in the wake of #MeToo, Vanessa has to face past horrors head on, and to admit to herself that what she considers the “love affair of her life” is, in reality, a sordid case of manipulation and abuse.
Russell’s novel is intelligent and nuanced. Whilst it is clear throughout that Strane is an abuser and Vanessa his victim, this is neither a black-and-white account nor a one-sided manifesto. And the novel is so much the better for this. It helps, for instance, that Vanessa is not a particularly likeable character and that her negative traits cannot all be blamed on Strane. This in no way lessens the gravity of the abuse she suffers – on the contrary, the novel shows how the weaknesses of a potential victim can be worked upon by an abuser. Russell also points to the factors which have allowed abusive practices to take place unchecked – from a reluctance of the authorities and family members to admit to inconvenient truths in the hope that they will just “go away”, to the subtle glorification of abusive relationships whether in “high” or popular culture (from literature to pop songs). At the same time, Russell hints at some ambivalence about #MeToo as a "movement", in the sense that she emphasizes that the history of each victim is different and there is no exclusively "valid" response to trauma. Trigger warning - some descriptions are explicit and revolting but, then again, the novels subject is not for the squeamish.
Is My Dark Vanessa the great book it is being touted to be? Admittedly, it is neither formally adventurous nor particularly striking in style and language. But it tells a timely and important story and does so effectively, leaving the reader with much food for thought.
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individual men. Often, the abuse could not have been perpetrated without the complicity, the connivance or, at the very least, the lack of concern, of wider society. The stories which we have seen in the media in the past years have also shown how complex the matter of “consent” can become. We have heard abusers defending themselves by saying that their victims “consented” to or even encouraged their advances. And, at a very superficial level, in some cases there could be some truth in this ‘defence’. But what exactly counts as “consent”? Where one of the parties is a minor, or in a vulnerable position, can it ever be present?
My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell’s debut novel, is unafraid to face these thorny questions head on. Its protagonist and narrator is the “Vanessa” of the title. As a wide-eyed, fifteen-year-old outsider at college, she is flattered by the attention she receives from her English tutor, Jacob Strane, thirty years her senior. This attention, however, soon changes into something far creepier, developing into a sexual liaison which will mark and traumatize Vanessa well into adulthood. As Strane is accused by other ex-students in the wake of #MeToo, Vanessa has to face past horrors head on, and to admit to herself that what she considers the “love affair of her life” is, in reality, a sordid case of manipulation and abuse.
Russell’s novel is intelligent and nuanced. Whilst it is clear throughout that Strane is an abuser and Vanessa his victim, this is neither a black-and-white account nor a one-sided manifesto. And the novel is so much the better for this. It helps, for instance, that Vanessa is not a particularly likeable character and that her negative traits cannot all be blamed on Strane. This in no way lessens the gravity of the abuse she suffers – on the contrary, the novel shows how the weaknesses of a potential victim can be worked upon by an abuser. Russell also points to the factors which have allowed abusive practices to take place unchecked – from a reluctance of the authorities and family members to admit to inconvenient truths in the hope that they will just “go away”, to the subtle glorification of abusive relationships whether in “high” or popular culture (from literature to pop songs). At the same time, Russell hints at some ambivalence about #MeToo as a "movement", in the sense that she emphasizes that the history of each victim is different and there is no exclusively "valid" response to trauma. Trigger warning - some descriptions are explicit and revolting but, then again, the novels subject is not for the squeamish.
Is My Dark Vanessa the great book it is being touted to be? Admittedly, it is neither formally adventurous nor particularly striking in style and language. But it tells a timely and important story and does so effectively, leaving the reader with much food for thought.
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LibraryThing member ZeljanaMaricFerli
There are only so many references to Lolita I can take in one book, and there are way too many in this one. This is a gutwrenching autopsy of abuse and self-delusion which made me physically ill at times.
The book pulled me in, as I felt I was tricked into reading this expecting a "magnetic
But that is the real tragedy this book is all about, in its power to show exactly how the events played out for Vanessa psychologically. The effect of this manipulation on the years that followed the initial "affair" is heartbreaking. It is a testament to what the institutions did and failed to do regarding sexual abuse.
On a lighter note, there are some great literary references in this book, as well as pop-culture references from the early 2000s. It's actually quite amazing how much things have changed ever since the #metoo movement gained momentum.
Unfortunately, I felt this book was at least 200 pages too long and it seemed to promise something that never happened. There is a false sense of build-up that left me kind of disappointed. The strength of Russell's writing is in the psychological dissection of victimhood. However, I didn't really care about Vanessa, she was very unlikeable and one-dimensional. She was the perfect "victim" character, which seemed too constructed for me. While I see how this book may be important for people who have lived through similar abuse, there was nothing new or different here.
I caught myself speed reading towards the end(which brought no real resolution but offered some hope) , but this is a great portrait of a victim and a solid cautionary tale.
The book pulled me in, as I felt I was tricked into reading this expecting a "magnetic
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teacher" - promised by the blurb - so that I could maybe understand more how a 15-year-old fell into an emotional trap of falling for an older man. I didn't expect she would end up obsessed with a despicable monster that she seems to have seen right through from the very onset. But that is the real tragedy this book is all about, in its power to show exactly how the events played out for Vanessa psychologically. The effect of this manipulation on the years that followed the initial "affair" is heartbreaking. It is a testament to what the institutions did and failed to do regarding sexual abuse.
On a lighter note, there are some great literary references in this book, as well as pop-culture references from the early 2000s. It's actually quite amazing how much things have changed ever since the #metoo movement gained momentum.
Unfortunately, I felt this book was at least 200 pages too long and it seemed to promise something that never happened. There is a false sense of build-up that left me kind of disappointed. The strength of Russell's writing is in the psychological dissection of victimhood. However, I didn't really care about Vanessa, she was very unlikeable and one-dimensional. She was the perfect "victim" character, which seemed too constructed for me. While I see how this book may be important for people who have lived through similar abuse, there was nothing new or different here.
I caught myself speed reading towards the end
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LibraryThing member johnfishlock
Remarkable and disturbing. The book is written well but had me cringing throughout. It's a very tragic horrid story. The book reads like true to life and is a topic that should be discussed more as I am sure this sort of awful behavior happens a lot more than reported.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
When I read "Lolita", by Vladimir Nabokov, his writing was so exquisitely evocative that I could not finish the book. It was so painful to read! I think the fact that the writing in "My Dark Vanessa" was not quite at Nabokov's level, ssomehow made the events more bearable to read about. This story
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of a young girl being groomed and abused by a boarding school teacher was very difficult to tolerate, yet it was told from two points of view, the adolescent & the adult. The reason I think this book is so important stems from the psychological insight into the lifelong impact of such an experience, which is not often discussed. I think we as a culture just quickly acknowledge that such behavior is wrong, but it is too uncomfortable to think about much more than that. If you can bring yourself to read this uncomfortable story, the way in which a child's self image becomes distorted and impacts the rest of that person's life is enlightening. Not an easy topic or book! Show Less
LibraryThing member jnmegan
All too often the amount of buzz about an upcoming release the greater the risk that it fails to live up to the hype surrounding it, despite a fleeting boost in sales and generated excitement. Occasionally, a book that is widely anticipated and publicized proves to be deserving of all the acclaim
Thanks to the author and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
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it has received. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, with its skillful portrayal of an important but seldomly heard voice, is firmly in this category. Russell creates a character that is fully developed and heart-wrenchingly real, all while delivering a story that addresses the zeitgeist of the #MeToo movement from a perspective that invites a deeper contemplation of the issues. Vanessa is a young woman who is being pressured to testify about an “affair” she had with a teacher 17 years prior. A woman is accusing the teacher of inappropriate and sexually abusive behavior and wants Vanessa to join her in providing evidence against him. Vanessa, however, believes that what she experienced was genuinely consensual and she seeks to assert her autonomy by taking some of the blame on herself. The book vacillates between past and current events, beginning with a shy and naïve Vanessa at fifteen as she enters her Sophomore year at boarding school. These flashbacks reveal a girl who at that time is mourning the loss of a close friendship and is insecure and plaintively seeking validation. The character of Stroud is wonderfully written as more than just a predatory monster who takes advantage of weak girls. He is subtle in his approach, manipulating her into thinking she is the instigator of his indomitable attraction for this “one-time” lapse on his part. Vanessa remembers how she willingly exchanged her innocence for the attention and praise Stroud lavished upon her—bolstering her self-worth and making her feel respected and loved. As the recollections move forward in time, she realizes that their relationship was predicated by a skewed power dynamic and her obsession with this older man continues to influence her current decisions and relationships. As an adult who is not living up to her potential and copes by self-destructive acts, Vanessa’s long-term damage is extensive despite her denial. Vanessa grapples with the fact that she still feels compelled to protect Stroud and grateful for his role in her life. She rejects the label of “victim” and all the powerlessness that the word implies. The novel does not shy away from graphically describing Vanessa’s thoughts as she is alternatively aroused and repelled by her abuser. It raises questions about consent—its amorphic forms and maturity requirements, especially in the current age of early onset of sexual activity. Russell does not succumb to the customary waves of anger and need for retribution but chooses to instead examine the costs to victims when they submit themselves to scrutiny even when they are unprepared to do so. This pressure to come forward reflects how much evidence is required for victims to be believed and for justice to be (rarely) served. The Stroud character is depicted as man who experiences true regret and sadness but acts in cold self-preservation when cornered. Like Humbert Humbert in Nabokov’s Lolita (a book alluded to throughout the story), Strane evokes sympathy as well as contempt. The true villains of the book are the other adults: Vanessa’s parents and teachers who fail to see what is happening and then refuse to protect her when all is exposed. Also implicated are the people who are so consumed with gaining retribution that invoking punishment becomes more important than compassion. My Dark Vanessa is timely and thought-provoking, a stand-out among the flood of books already dedicated to these issues. Vivid and unforgettable, Vanessa’s story is one that will be unfortunately too familiar to many. For them, this book may either act as a trigger to be avoided or as a solace to see it expressed so well. Thanks to the author and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member alphacarrotein
Gritty, compulsive, and thought-provoking. Created a sense of urgency when reading, as if I discovered something dangerous and critical. Captivating prose, albeit squeamish content.
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
My Dark Vanessa, Katie Elizabeth Russell, author; Grace Gummer, narrator
The title aptly describes this book. The story is dark and difficult. The subject matter is often too explicit, and the language is occasionally foul. The reader will have to gird themselves, in advance, with patience and
Beginning in 2000 and continuing until 2017, we follow the life of Vanessa Wye, a 15 year old teenager who feels misunderstood by her family and her peers. Although she is highly intelligent, she is also often unduly belligerent and antagonistic without provocation or appropriate justification. She seems to turn people away unwittingly. She assumes she is simply bad and/or different. When she approaches her parents to allow her to go to boarding school, and obtains a full scholarship, they agree.
Although Vanessa is very bright and intuitive, she is oddly very naïve, as well. She has always been very lonely and has few friends. Those she has trusted have betrayed her, sometimes without meaning to do so. Because she is so insecure, she often misjudges their intentions as she over thinks most things. Her mind is so cluttered with thoughts, that as a result, her surroundings are cluttered with disorganization and the detritus of her life. Calling her untidy does not due her justice.
Although only 15, she is aware of the fact that she attracts a certain type of attention because of her attitude and her looks, and she uses these attributes to her ultimate disadvantage and detriment, because of her immaturity. Shortly after she enters the private boarding school for the elite, her misguided efforts and analysis of situations will set off events that will spiral her life out of control. When Vanessa attends her first English class, she notices that her English teacher, Mr. Jacob Strane, seems to be attracted to her. Because she has rarely been complimented or felt adequately appreciated and loved, she encourages his attention. His interest draws her into him like a moth to a flame, although he is 42, and she is 15.
As their romance blossoms and continues to flourish without discovery, some people see hints of the illicit relationship and try to warn her. All attempts fail. When a formal complaint is made against the teacher, it isn’t in the best interest of the school to recognize the scandal, and as a result, the accusation is not investigated fully when Vanessa denies it. Soon circumstances evolve that make Vanessa, and not the teacher, the greater victim. His influence causes her to choose to protect him and accept all the blame and consequences for herself. What follows for her is a life traumatized by their relationship. His manipulation has twisted her thoughts and affected her ability to function fully. His passive aggression controls her every move into her future. His comments, compliments, book suggestions, subtle mood changes and behavior have made her his slave. She is like a canvas that he has painted. All attempts by others to get her to seek help and deal with the results of his abuse, are unsuccessful as she has made a promise never to betray him.
The book goes back and forth in time from the present to different times of her life in the past, illustrating the evolution of their relationship. Although she was so young, her imagination was very vivid. She both loved the control she had over him, and his control over her, which was far greater. Even as he made her feel perfect in some ways, he destroyed her self image in others. Her writing talent was great, but his effect on her might annihilate it, and her ambition. As she matures, she recognizes that his influence is negative and unhealthy, but she then second guesses her better judgment and blames herself for their forbidden relationship. She is unable to sever the ties, and she needs him like a drug addict needs drugs.
In the end, it is Vanessa’s silence to protect her abuser that exposed others to the same abuse. That is why I find the “Me Too” movement disingenuous. Many of the women of the movement complied for selfish reasons. There is no excuse for that because their silence condemned others to the same abusive behavior. The movement represents women who allowed abuse, as adults, not as teens. Vanessa believed she was complicit, because she wanted the attention, but she was far too young to understand what was happening and was easily manipulated. The women of the “Me Too” movement insist that the abuse was unwanted, but they accepted it for the reward. They knew better, and most could have said no. I am not blind to why they were silent, just disturbed by their reasons. I believe that silence makes the victim somewhat complicit and guilty. It means someone else will become a victim unnecessarily.
The in-depth analysis of the characters and the problems they dealt with make this book superb. The author really seems to understand both the victim and the victimizer, intuiting their thoughts and reactions perfectly.
At times the book is too graphic in its sexual descriptions and the language feels unnecessarily foul. The political snipes are also over the top and have no real purpose except to promote the author’s preferences. Fortunately, the comments are rare, but they are noted in negative reviews. I was a little dissatisfied with the conclusion because there was no justice and no change in society’s treatment of the victims. Everything still seems to be status quo, but that is not the fault of the author, but of society. I believe that all accusations have to be investigated, and some will be false. Those will then be rooted out. I do not believe in zero tolerance because that merely allows abuse on the other end of the equation.
There are many pertinent references in the book to the culture of the times. There are references to Monica Lewinsky and Amy Fischer, both accused of being, or were called, Lolita figures. Brittany Spears and a book and song she made popular, which was controversial and, to me, bordered on porn, is also mentioned. I preferred the references to Shakespeare and other well known authors, like Vladimer Nabokov, who wrote Lolita.
I like the cover which has the flap for a book mark and depicts a face that is disturbed with obvious emotion. I thought that the narrator was superb, interpreting the nuances of each character exactly so that each one was distinct and authentic in his/her role.
There is a controversy surrounding this book. There is another author, Wendy Ortiz, who insists that the book was plagiarized from her memoir, “Excavations”. Russell has also been criticized for appropriating a subject to write about without authority, since she was not abused. I believe that, that criticism is without basis. However, in her defense, unnecessarily, she has stated that while it is not her story, it is taken from pieces of her own history.
The title aptly describes this book. The story is dark and difficult. The subject matter is often too explicit, and the language is occasionally foul. The reader will have to gird themselves, in advance, with patience and
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tolerance in order to bear the pain that splashes and spreads across every page. The story is too important to abandon.Beginning in 2000 and continuing until 2017, we follow the life of Vanessa Wye, a 15 year old teenager who feels misunderstood by her family and her peers. Although she is highly intelligent, she is also often unduly belligerent and antagonistic without provocation or appropriate justification. She seems to turn people away unwittingly. She assumes she is simply bad and/or different. When she approaches her parents to allow her to go to boarding school, and obtains a full scholarship, they agree.
Although Vanessa is very bright and intuitive, she is oddly very naïve, as well. She has always been very lonely and has few friends. Those she has trusted have betrayed her, sometimes without meaning to do so. Because she is so insecure, she often misjudges their intentions as she over thinks most things. Her mind is so cluttered with thoughts, that as a result, her surroundings are cluttered with disorganization and the detritus of her life. Calling her untidy does not due her justice.
Although only 15, she is aware of the fact that she attracts a certain type of attention because of her attitude and her looks, and she uses these attributes to her ultimate disadvantage and detriment, because of her immaturity. Shortly after she enters the private boarding school for the elite, her misguided efforts and analysis of situations will set off events that will spiral her life out of control. When Vanessa attends her first English class, she notices that her English teacher, Mr. Jacob Strane, seems to be attracted to her. Because she has rarely been complimented or felt adequately appreciated and loved, she encourages his attention. His interest draws her into him like a moth to a flame, although he is 42, and she is 15.
As their romance blossoms and continues to flourish without discovery, some people see hints of the illicit relationship and try to warn her. All attempts fail. When a formal complaint is made against the teacher, it isn’t in the best interest of the school to recognize the scandal, and as a result, the accusation is not investigated fully when Vanessa denies it. Soon circumstances evolve that make Vanessa, and not the teacher, the greater victim. His influence causes her to choose to protect him and accept all the blame and consequences for herself. What follows for her is a life traumatized by their relationship. His manipulation has twisted her thoughts and affected her ability to function fully. His passive aggression controls her every move into her future. His comments, compliments, book suggestions, subtle mood changes and behavior have made her his slave. She is like a canvas that he has painted. All attempts by others to get her to seek help and deal with the results of his abuse, are unsuccessful as she has made a promise never to betray him.
The book goes back and forth in time from the present to different times of her life in the past, illustrating the evolution of their relationship. Although she was so young, her imagination was very vivid. She both loved the control she had over him, and his control over her, which was far greater. Even as he made her feel perfect in some ways, he destroyed her self image in others. Her writing talent was great, but his effect on her might annihilate it, and her ambition. As she matures, she recognizes that his influence is negative and unhealthy, but she then second guesses her better judgment and blames herself for their forbidden relationship. She is unable to sever the ties, and she needs him like a drug addict needs drugs.
In the end, it is Vanessa’s silence to protect her abuser that exposed others to the same abuse. That is why I find the “Me Too” movement disingenuous. Many of the women of the movement complied for selfish reasons. There is no excuse for that because their silence condemned others to the same abusive behavior. The movement represents women who allowed abuse, as adults, not as teens. Vanessa believed she was complicit, because she wanted the attention, but she was far too young to understand what was happening and was easily manipulated. The women of the “Me Too” movement insist that the abuse was unwanted, but they accepted it for the reward. They knew better, and most could have said no. I am not blind to why they were silent, just disturbed by their reasons. I believe that silence makes the victim somewhat complicit and guilty. It means someone else will become a victim unnecessarily.
The in-depth analysis of the characters and the problems they dealt with make this book superb. The author really seems to understand both the victim and the victimizer, intuiting their thoughts and reactions perfectly.
At times the book is too graphic in its sexual descriptions and the language feels unnecessarily foul. The political snipes are also over the top and have no real purpose except to promote the author’s preferences. Fortunately, the comments are rare, but they are noted in negative reviews. I was a little dissatisfied with the conclusion because there was no justice and no change in society’s treatment of the victims. Everything still seems to be status quo, but that is not the fault of the author, but of society. I believe that all accusations have to be investigated, and some will be false. Those will then be rooted out. I do not believe in zero tolerance because that merely allows abuse on the other end of the equation.
There are many pertinent references in the book to the culture of the times. There are references to Monica Lewinsky and Amy Fischer, both accused of being, or were called, Lolita figures. Brittany Spears and a book and song she made popular, which was controversial and, to me, bordered on porn, is also mentioned. I preferred the references to Shakespeare and other well known authors, like Vladimer Nabokov, who wrote Lolita.
I like the cover which has the flap for a book mark and depicts a face that is disturbed with obvious emotion. I thought that the narrator was superb, interpreting the nuances of each character exactly so that each one was distinct and authentic in his/her role.
There is a controversy surrounding this book. There is another author, Wendy Ortiz, who insists that the book was plagiarized from her memoir, “Excavations”. Russell has also been criticized for appropriating a subject to write about without authority, since she was not abused. I believe that, that criticism is without basis. However, in her defense, unnecessarily, she has stated that while it is not her story, it is taken from pieces of her own history.
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LibraryThing member janismack
Wow, that was a tough book to read. Vanessa was an insecure lonely teenager When she goes off to boarding school at 15 years old. Her english teacher Mr. Shane knows how to manipulate young girls to get what he wants from them. This is the story of Vanessa as she tries to live her life with Mr
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Strane in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member akblanchard
My Dark Vanessa is a remarkable novel, and not just because it takes the familiar teacher-student sex trope and turns it on its head. Fifteen-year old Vanessa, a scholarship student at a prestigious boarding school, doesn’t fit in anywhere. Her English teacher, Jacob Strane, singles her out for
As an adult, Vanessa can’t let go of Strane, or the incidents that defined her adolescence. Was she really a victim, like everyone says? Or did she choose her fate?
I really liked this dark coming of age story, which I think deserves to be read on its own merits, apart from the controversy that surrounded it in the early part of 2020. Highly recommended.
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special attention, which quickly leads to a sexual affair. When their relationship is discovered, Strane sacrifices her to save his own sorry hide. As an adult, Vanessa can’t let go of Strane, or the incidents that defined her adolescence. Was she really a victim, like everyone says? Or did she choose her fate?
I really liked this dark coming of age story, which I think deserves to be read on its own merits, apart from the controversy that surrounded it in the early part of 2020. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member LiveLaughRead
In 2000 a young teenage girl, full of passion and determination named Vanessa Wye goes to a boarding school in Maine. Upon becoming a sophomore at a tender age of 15 she ends up having an affair with her English teacher, Jacob Strane. Unsure of her choices she is making, unsure if it all seems
Where do I even start with his book? I know a lot of people liked this book, but I just cannot. It wasn’t terrible, and I know this book is supposed to be more on the informative side, and is supposed to make a statement, which I understand which is why I gave 3 stars. However, in my opinion Vanessa is not a strong character, she is weak, and so is Jacob Strane for that matter, but then again, he’s a predator so I guess it fits. But reading Vanessa, I honestly just wanted to shake her, and maybe that’s the point of the book, but I just found myself rolling my eyes, she just bothered me the entire time. Her parents also, not smart. Its constant bad choice all around, the only person who actually had a brain was Jenny. The book was very wordy, I felt like you could have cut a lot out, just page fillers as some times. I did think the writing was good and don’t get me wrong it did explain sexual assault and how it’s not always the typical “rape” we think and see in movies. Besides that, I just wasn’t a fan.
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right, she is convinced he loves her, and this is something she wants. Fast forward to 2017, she sees another girl has accused Mr. Strane of abuse, and is taking legal actions and trying to persuade Vanessa to get on board. Flip flopping between present day 2017 and past 2000 on, you are informed of all of Vanessa’s choices and how she became who she is all starting with her affair with Jacob Strane. Where do I even start with his book? I know a lot of people liked this book, but I just cannot. It wasn’t terrible, and I know this book is supposed to be more on the informative side, and is supposed to make a statement, which I understand which is why I gave 3 stars. However, in my opinion Vanessa is not a strong character, she is weak, and so is Jacob Strane for that matter, but then again, he’s a predator so I guess it fits. But reading Vanessa, I honestly just wanted to shake her, and maybe that’s the point of the book, but I just found myself rolling my eyes, she just bothered me the entire time. Her parents also, not smart. Its constant bad choice all around, the only person who actually had a brain was Jenny. The book was very wordy, I felt like you could have cut a lot out, just page fillers as some times. I did think the writing was good and don’t get me wrong it did explain sexual assault and how it’s not always the typical “rape” we think and see in movies. Besides that, I just wasn’t a fan.
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LibraryThing member nancyjean19
I read another book with a similar theme very recently, Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Stout. The grooming methods of both teachers were almost identical — the compliments on their writing, recommending special books, suggesting a special after school club as a pretense. In that way, the book
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follows a familiar pattern because predators follow a familiar pattern, just like Humbert Humbert before them. What I liked about this book was following Vanessa for the 17 years beyond her initial abuse. Lolita does the same in a way, but of course from Humbert’s perspective. I would have been interested in hearing more about her adult relationships after college, perhaps instead of the plot line with her college professor, but I understand how that piece moved the plot forward. I liked her atmospheric descriptions of Maine sprinkled here and there, from her small town to her seaside college. Worth reading for a Me Too era inspired take on a sadly familiar story. Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Not sure about this book. It certainly hits the point about how difficult trauma can be. There is no one in the book you love or even root for except perhaps the therapist. Complicated book. Good for bookclub
LibraryThing member Tytania
This was a disappointment. I was expecting a nuanced story about a teacher-student affair. But it was a story about abuse. None of the characters were likeable. I'm glad to be done with it.
I don't think it benefited by all the going back-and-forth in time. We knew the climax well before the end; a
Weird thing that annoyed me: the oddball one-syllable last names almost everyone had. One person's last name was only two letters long. It was a strange affectation (and yes, I know I'm strange for noticing and getting annoyed by it).
I don't think it benefited by all the going back-and-forth in time. We knew the climax well before the end; a
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little suspense would have improved the story. Towards the end there was an incident that I thought was going to give an interesting plot twist, but it went nowhere. Thus there was no satisfaction in reaching the end - except that I didn't have to spend another evening with 100% dysfunctional Vanessa (does she NEVER have a happy or successful moment?) or icky Strane (just yuck, yuck, yuck).Weird thing that annoyed me: the oddball one-syllable last names almost everyone had. One person's last name was only two letters long. It was a strange affectation (and yes, I know I'm strange for noticing and getting annoyed by it).
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LibraryThing member ShannonRose4
The imagery and details are thoughtfully written and spot on. The author has done her research so as to keep the reader in suspense while forcing them to hold on to the unwanted feeling of unease.
A really good debut, almost too good.
A really good debut, almost too good.
LibraryThing member techeditor
MY DARK VANESSA is really a two-star book for me because of its subject matter. I would have and maybe should have stopped reading the book after the first chapter. But I wanted to figure this girl out. So, for that reason, I think other readers might not be so put off and rate the book with three
Vanessa is a lonely 15-year-old. She doesn’t have friends. She eats by herself in the cafeteria. Then her male English teacher gives her some attention. It begins with a pat on the knee. She likes it. You can guess where it goes from there.
Chapters alternate between her high school and college years and when she is about 15 years older. Otherwise, I could not have finished the book. As it is, I still have not figured her out.
I won an ARC of MY DARK VANESSA from William Morrow Books.
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stars.Vanessa is a lonely 15-year-old. She doesn’t have friends. She eats by herself in the cafeteria. Then her male English teacher gives her some attention. It begins with a pat on the knee. She likes it. You can guess where it goes from there.
Chapters alternate between her high school and college years and when she is about 15 years older. Otherwise, I could not have finished the book. As it is, I still have not figured her out.
I won an ARC of MY DARK VANESSA from William Morrow Books.
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LibraryThing member pdebolt
Jacob Strane is a dynamic English teacher at the Bostwick boarding School in Maine. Vanessa's story about him is tin two parts: one as a fifteen-year old and the other seventeen years later working in a hotel at the concierge desk. The first part is chilling. Strane isolates and grooms her, making
There is surely no criminal as universally reviled as a pedophile. Even hardened criminals convicted of murder despise them. We all watched in horror as the true stories of Epstein and Sandusky were reviewed, along with countless others who didn't have the notoriety that they did. Dark is the operative word for this novel as it weaves a story where the victim feels responsible for the pedophile for many years, despite knowing his multiple assaults on other teenage girls in his class.
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her feel special in a world where she feels like an outcast. From her adult perspective, she understands his manipulations of her and others, but is still in his thrall as his transgressions come to light. There is surely no criminal as universally reviled as a pedophile. Even hardened criminals convicted of murder despise them. We all watched in horror as the true stories of Epstein and Sandusky were reviewed, along with countless others who didn't have the notoriety that they did. Dark is the operative word for this novel as it weaves a story where the victim feels responsible for the pedophile for many years, despite knowing his multiple assaults on other teenage girls in his class.
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This was an eerie book for me. I was a naive teenager in the mid-70s when I was a junior in high school. I had to take a half year of health. My teacher started off leaving me notes in French on my quizzes, keeping me after class, having me come in free periods, etc. Now I see his behavior for what
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it was - grooming. The end for me was him trying to use me as his "dummy" for a CPR class. I told my parents he was making me uncomfortable. They went to the principal who let me finish the class (only a few weeks) "independent study." Nothing happened to the teacher. During the second semester a sophomore ended up pregnant by this teacher. He was allowed to "resign" and he divorced his wife, married his student and moved to Vermont to teach. A few years later they divorced because not surprising, he was having sex with students there. This book really hit home for how accurate the behaviors of all involved were enunciated. It was very insightful. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
This book is just downright chilling, and left me feeling shaken and very emotional. While it is not an easy novel, it is one I recommend reading, if you can. It is very thought-provoking, and I can see it bringing out some pretty intense discussions for book clubs.
Vanessa’s portrait is utterly
Vanessa’s portrait is utterly
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heartbreaking. Her view of the situation- again, too common. She put everything on herself, and our society continues to enable that feeling of shame and guilt, and even goes so far as to threaten and warn off anyone who might think of doing otherwise. As others have pointed out, this book shows why recent movements like #MeToo, resonated with so many people and is another reason why I feel it is a worthy five -star book. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShannonRose4
The imagery and details are thoughtfully written and spot on. The author has done her research so as to keep the reader in suspense while forcing them to hold on to the unwanted feeling of unease.
A really good debut, almost too good.
A really good debut, almost too good.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2021)
Dylan Thomas Prize (Shortlist — 2021)
BookTube Prize (Finalist — Fiction — 2021)
LibraryReads (Annual Voter Favorite — March 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-03-10
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
006297680X / 9780062976802