A review by sonia_reppe
Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention by Donna Freitas
4.0
The stalker-Priest/Professor didn't get violent or sexual in his harassment; yet it's crazy how he just didn't get it. Most people get the hint when someone stops returning your calls and keeps refusing your invitations; when someone avoids you, it becomes apparent that you should move on. But this guy, and intellectual person so does not get it. Even when Donna started saying "no," over and over, he refused to hear the no, and accused her of "being a bad friend."
An added layer of complication came from his position of power. He was on her dissertation committee and would be the one who needed to write her letter or recommendation. So for a long time she felt she had to put up with things. No, he wasn't inappropriate in a sexual way, but receiving multiple letters and calls everyday by this guy would make anyone dread opening the mailbox or answering the phone, and make them a nervous wreck.
And yet a third layer to the situation caused even more anger and frustration: how the university HR lied to Donna saying they would do something about it; yet they did nothing.
All this made for a quick, compelling read, although I felt Freitas analyzes it too much for the reader. Especially the prologue was not needed. (Not for the reader-- I believed Freitas needed to get that down on paper for her own mental cleansing but the reader didn't need it). Just the facts of what happened will let any reader conclude the craziness and inappropriateness of him and of her innocence. Just by sharing her background,as she does, of being from a traditional Catholic family, will let the reader draw connections between why she waited so long to assert herself against a priest.
A different kind of stalker tale.
An added layer of complication came from his position of power. He was on her dissertation committee and would be the one who needed to write her letter or recommendation. So for a long time she felt she had to put up with things. No, he wasn't inappropriate in a sexual way, but receiving multiple letters and calls everyday by this guy would make anyone dread opening the mailbox or answering the phone, and make them a nervous wreck.
And yet a third layer to the situation caused even more anger and frustration: how the university HR lied to Donna saying they would do something about it; yet they did nothing.
All this made for a quick, compelling read, although I felt Freitas analyzes it too much for the reader. Especially the prologue was not needed. (Not for the reader-- I believed Freitas needed to get that down on paper for her own mental cleansing but the reader didn't need it). Just the facts of what happened will let any reader conclude the craziness and inappropriateness of him and of her innocence. Just by sharing her background,as she does, of being from a traditional Catholic family, will let the reader draw connections between why she waited so long to assert herself against a priest.
A different kind of stalker tale.