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A review by emilymiller1
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
5.0
“The excuses we make for them are outrageous, but they’re nothing compared with the ones we make for ourselves.”
This novel dives deep into uncomfortable territory, exploring love, power dynamics, and trauma. Vanessa's character evoked both empathy and frustration within me. The stark contrast in maturity between her 15-year-old self and her 32-year-old self was palpable and unsettling. Throughout the narrative, her character evolution is evident—manifested through her first-person recollection of events (although, there are certain enduring traits). It was moving to witness how she grapples with the gravity of her experiences— and that for so long she believed it was a “love story” or at least needed it to be in order to make sense out of what happened to her. The incorporation of pop culture events and the media’s portrayal of the women involved as “hysterical” provided a parallel to the treatment of victims who dare to speak out against their abusers.
Russell's prose leaves an indelible mark—much like a tattoo— intially painful and permanently affecting you long after the book is closed. It's an experience that's both painful and transformative.
“‘What could we have done? We were just girls.’ I know what she means—not that we were helpless by choice, but that the world forced us to be. Who would have believed us, who would have cared?”
This novel dives deep into uncomfortable territory, exploring love, power dynamics, and trauma. Vanessa's character evoked both empathy and frustration within me. The stark contrast in maturity between her 15-year-old self and her 32-year-old self was palpable and unsettling. Throughout the narrative, her character evolution is evident—manifested through her first-person recollection of events (although, there are certain enduring traits). It was moving to witness how she grapples with the gravity of her experiences— and that for so long she believed it was a “love story” or at least needed it to be in order to make sense out of what happened to her. The incorporation of pop culture events and the media’s portrayal of the women involved as “hysterical” provided a parallel to the treatment of victims who dare to speak out against their abusers.
Russell's prose leaves an indelible mark—much like a tattoo— intially painful and permanently affecting you long after the book is closed. It's an experience that's both painful and transformative.
“‘What could we have done? We were just girls.’ I know what she means—not that we were helpless by choice, but that the world forced us to be. Who would have believed us, who would have cared?”