Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

101 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

samkilbride's review

dark emotional sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcohol, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Body horror

ellymc's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

matildaesandell's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.25

This book is so fucked up, which is the whole point. Definitely read with caution and a lot of trigger warnings. This book had me feeling actually sick and making facial expressions of pure disgust in public. Please proceed with caution, this is a story of grooming, manipulation and trauma. This book honestly deserves 5 stars but I never want to read it again or recommend it to anyone because it is deeply traumatic, maybe an important one to read if you haven’t experienced these things, to help you better understand the lifelong damage and how hard it is for a victim to even grapple with the truth

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Stalking and Suicide

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

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

cecilialau_'s review

5.0

I am in awe.
This book was frustrating to no end with how human and inhuman it was. Such brilliant storytelling that keeps you turning page after page until the very end. I’ve just put it down, and I honestly feel it was a masterpiece. Heartbreakingly raw and with incredibly crafted ambivalence in the feelings of guilt on Vanessa’s part. I could go on in praising this book. It really is a tough read while a read that I think, if you can, it offers a unique insight to sth that we as a society simply cannot ignore. It’s so nuanced and insightful and all-encompassing and, yeah, wow.

Spoiler

It goes without saying that Strane is a manipulative pos. To put it mildly. I was also horrified by Mrs. Giles, a truly terrible person who lack any and all sense of empathy and care and compassion and integrity. I could go on. Absolutely disgusted with her as well. Again, speaks to the great writing bc we all know that her behaviour is fully unacceptable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Dysphoria, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia

ecw47's review

dark emotional sad 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: Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

mayarodriguez's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, and Sexual assault

itsdanibee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I-

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Drug use, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

ellementary's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book wrecked me. I am still emotionally shook from reading it... completely excavated. It is not the kind of book you delightedly recommend to everyone you know but, my God, was it impossible to put down. I was mesmerized by this story. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Suicide, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Stalking

Minor: Vomit, Infidelity, and Death of parent