Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

20 reviews

butlerebecca's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

What a good effin’ book

I’ve picked this up and put it down many times over the past three years and I’m so glad I finished it

Such a nuanced and brutal and compassionately written depiction of abuse — the author did an excellent job of writing Vanessa’s inner monologue in a way that  communicated both the reality and the distorted reality you believe when you’re traumatized 

and such stunning prose throughout — like had to pause the audiobook and sit with descriptions

Also shoutout to Meryl Streep’s daughter on the  narration, great job queen

P.S. the best part was when she got mad at him for not listening to Fiona Apple

P.P.S. I read somewhere that this book is what A Little Life thinks it is and like… a little true

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking

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

batcaves's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

tesz's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

The most difficult book I have ever read, probably because it is also the most truthful.

“‘He’ll never meet you,’ I say. It’s a hard truth, carrying within it grief and joy. Jo opens her eyes, doesn’t lift her head as she watches me. She’s constantly taking in my face and tone, noticing everything about me. When I start to drift away, her tail thumps against the couch cushion, like a drumbeat, a heartbeat, a rhythm of grounding. You’re here, she says. You’re here. You’re here.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

ecravens's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Grief, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

lakea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use and Addiction

Minor: Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

review here: https://daisychains.co/2022/12/06/book-review-my-dark-vanessa/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cancer, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape

howlinglibraries's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

 

“I wonder how much victimhood they’d be willing to grant a girl like me.”

What a lovely, mesmerizing, infuriating book.

“It’s strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I’ll think of this.”

My Dark Vanessa is a tough book to rate and review, and I'm not sure I can do it or myself justice, honestly. I usually try to review every book I read, but I'm granting myself some grace on this one and I'll just say that it was a gorgeous book that I'm very happy to have read, even if it made me immensely uncomfortable, heartbroken, and angry more often than not.

I suppose some books are meant to do that, though.

Buddy read with my wonderful friend Misty 🖤 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicide

chaser's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is honestly a masterpiece. The story is horrible in a gripping and beautiful way. Kate Elizabeth Russel has created something that could be on its way to a classic. It tells the story of pedophilia from the victims perspective taking a turn on lolita which is a massive reference in the book. I hated the relationship but it made m love the book more. You should read it, it's changed my viewpoint. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide

veenotme's review

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow. This book… Although I had to take frequent breaks because of its heavy topics and scenes all I can say is wow… this book was beautiful. The language was beautiful. The story was both horriffic and interesting. It really makes you question; do I encourage their love or do I hate them for it? I’ll carry this book in my heart forever. It’s a very heavy read but nontheless a big recommendation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Alcoholism