Wednesday, December 09, 2020

First Wednesday Book Review, MY DARK VANESSA



Boy this was a difficult book to read. With LOLITA, a book that is similar in story but from the POV of Humbert Humbert, the predator not the victim, we are able to maintain a certain distance. With MY DARK VANESSA (Kate Elizabeth Russell), we have a sexually- abused fifteen year old to take us through the tale. And guess what? For 300 plus pages she is convinced she was not abused by her English teacher. That she longed for this man almost 30 years her senior. And the book is so hyper-focused on this relationship and a similar one that follows, there is no air to breathe. Literally, it left me feeling breathless with dread.

This is a well-written novel. And it is an interesting take on pedophilia. What if the child seems as obsessed with her seducer as he is with her? Is she culpable if she wants him to worship her? If he is the only thing on her mind for 20 years. 

I don't think so. I think the author has to look at the possibility of mental illness more if this is the story. There is literally not a page in this book when the narrator is not pondering this man. Her parents are fairly aloof but not abusive or bad enough to produce a child this obsessed. This obsession completely derails her life. At 32, she, a promising student at age 15 and even 20, works at a dead end job. I need to talk to her therapist. I need an explanation of why this middle-aged man so completely subsumed her. So I can't recommend it despite it being extremely polished and somewhat interesting.

For more and hopefully happier books, see Barrie Summy.

13 comments:

TracyK said...

That sounds like a very difficult book to read, Patti. I think I would have problems reading Lolita, but this sounds worse.

Barrie said...

Well, I can say I wouldn't be up for reading a book like this at the moment. Perhaps after the pandemic and US politics are under control? You do raise interesting questions. Was the girl/women obsessive about other things in life? Or just this relationship? Thank you for reviewing!

pattinase (abbott) said...

Just this relationship. It was her whole life.

Barrie said...

Now I'm interesting in googling obsessions and learning more about them. But not till I turn this revision in to my agent. :)

Jenn Jilks said...

I think it important to understand what victims go through.
There is so much we know now, about perpetrators grooming their victims, how victims feel guilty as they are sucked into the vortex. I made a point of reading about such things. Teaching for 25 years, I really wanted to be aware.

Lucy said...

I appreciate your thoughtful review but I don't think this one is one I could read. But thanks for reviewing and bringing attention to it. :)

Steve Oerkfitz said...

If she is 15 he is not a pedophile. Pedophilia refers to pre adolescent children. Although the media gets it wrong most of the time. Not that it makes that sort of relationship okay.

Linda McLaughlin said...

Oh, my. Sounds like she has major Daddy issues. Therapy would be in order.

I'm impressed that you were able to read the whole thing.

Happy Holidays!

Margot Kinberg said...

This sounds disturbing, Patti. And sometimes, very well-written books are. I may read this when I'm ready for a bleak book like this, but for now...not ready.

George said...

This sounds disturbing. Right now, I'm into spy stories, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. Anything to escape the pandemic Hell we're all in.

Powell River Books said...

Sounds like a very tough read. Important issue, but tough. - Margy

Sarah Laurence said...

Pedophilia might be the hardest topic (maybe incest is worst) to write well, and I find it too painful to read too. I had a tough time with Lolita and hate it when men refer to it as a favorite or advertisers us the name as a synonym for tantalizing/sexy. Consent doesn't negate the crime of an adult taking advantage of a child, even if that child is a teenager (still not the age of consent in many states), and a teacher should never get in a relationship with a student due to the unequal power dynamic. Transference can produce feelings confused as love. Fine review of a difficult book!

Sarah Laurence said...

PS. Thanks also for recommending an historical novel.