Reviews tagging 'Classism'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

12 reviews

aliencomplex's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Grief, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide, Animal death, and Death of parent

joaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

lilacwhisker's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

pretty much every review talking about this book says it’s a “conversation-starter", and after reading this thing i understand why. my dark vanessa is a story about a girl who gets groomed by her teacher, but won't admit she was sexually abused. the whole thing (especially the start) is horrifying because of the events that occur but also because of vanessa's insistence that she wanted the whole thing to happen to her. this extra layer of denial is what makes this whole book so much more sad— seeing her call what they have "love" made me want to vomit, but i do think this can be accurate to how a lot of victims can feel. it's clear that russell did her research on this kind of abuse and trauma, and throughout we come to see how complicated both vanessa and her abuser are. it did get a little repetitive near the end, but this makes sense considering how such abuse works in cycles, and the length of their relationship. it really was a crazy book, and somewhat reminds me of notes on an execution by danya kukafka

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking

Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Addiction, and Animal death

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide

Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

amsswim's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think a lot of people could benefit from reading this (not to get political, ahem) , but I'm afraid they would only see what they want to see in Vanessa's character and take her for exactly what she says they will in the book. I thought this book had not only an important story to tell, but it was told incredibly well. The time jumps of Vanessa's high school experience to her "modern day", #MeToo era day-to-day gave the reader a large perspective of the stages of trauma and stages of abuse. 

As a someone who has experienced different kinds of abuse and trauma, I very much related with many themes. I would recommend looking through warnings and triggers contained here if you'd like to read, some themes may be upsetting for other survivors of similar experiences. I recommend to all however. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Abandonment, Sexual content, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Classism, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Bullying, and Infidelity

Minor: Classism, Blood, Body shaming, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use

korolevakotykiv's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Alcohol, Classism, Death of parent, and Drug use

reneetrinket's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual content, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, and Pedophilia

Minor: Dysphoria, Vomit, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexism

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Disturbing on a level that I can’t formulate words for while also giving voice to girls and women who have been brainwashed into believing they were never victimized. Definitely check the trigger warnings. This book is heartbreaking and depicts horrible things happening to young girls. It also depicts these girls unwillingness to believe they are anything other than special and cared for by the men who are their abusers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Pedophilia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

nicoleherz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Complex protagonist and manipulative antagonist, a story of self healing, left open at the end

Beautiful writing, such a tragic story, interesting to see a multidimensional representation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction

Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Cursing, and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal death

ayearinbookswithzoe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wrote so much in this book. My copy is covered in underlines and notes. I think I really needed to read this book. My experience is different from Vanessa’s but I think there is some value, some closure in reading a book from the perspective of the survivor, especially one who keeps her agency. This book looks at the complexity of coming to terms with an abusive relationship. It tackles the self blame, the negligence of others, and the manipulation of the abuser. It also demonstrates how easy it is to be stuck with the person who hurts you. This book is definitely not for everyone, the descriptions are traumatic and horrific at times. I advise people to be aware before reading. However, I’m glad I took the time to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Addiction

Minor: Vomit and Animal death