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Trade Paperback
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9780062941510
Overview
Overview
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"Russell manages a brutal originality. . . . an] exceedingly complex, inventive, resourceful examination of harm and power." --The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice
"To call this book a 'conversation piece' or 'an important book' feels belittling . . . it] is so much more than that. It's a lightning rod. A brilliantly crafted novel."--The Washington Post
A most anticipated book by The New York Times - USA Today - Entertainment Weekly - Marie Claire - Elle - Harper's Bazaar - Bustle - Newsweek - New York Post - Esquire - Real Simple - The Sunday Times - The Guardian
Exploring the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet na ve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher, a brilliant, all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer.
2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher.
2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past. But how can Vanessa reject her first love, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager--and who professed to worship only her--may be far different from what she has always believed?
Alternating between Vanessa's present and her past, My Dark Vanessa juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of The Girls and the creeping intensity of Room, My Dark Vanessa is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself.
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: Russell, Kate Elizabeth
- ISBN: 9780062941510
- Condition: Used
- Dimensions: 7.90 x 1.10
- Number Of Pages: 400
- Publication Year: 2021
Customer Reviews
Rating Snapshot
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Highly Recommend
Xena L. - 5 years 6 months agoThis book is one of a kind. I enjoyed the complexity that was formed throughout about innocence and victimhood. Though it was painful to read, the perspective is important for our culture now, especially those who have been a part of or following the #MeToo movement.
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My Dark Abuser
Anita H. - 5 years 6 months agoA timely topic surrounding the #MeToo movement. You wonder if the narrator, Vanessa, was abused before she was even abused by her teacher. Teachers are taught in college to set boundaries with students, but students are not taught visa versus. Highly recommended! #SpringPicks
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Read--with Caution!
Krystal G. - 6 years 3 months agoIt can be difficult to read but not because of writing style. It's a challenging read because of subject matter. The romantic relationship between student and teacher is wrong, we know, but how often do we hear the student's perspective, in accuracy? If you want an easy, light-hearted read, this isn't it. If you want a read that gives insight into a life that may not be your own, read this. #summerreading
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My Dark Vanessa
kellie C. - 6 years 4 months agoA heavy and gut wrenching read! Relevant topic in regards to the #MeToo movement. I had to put it down every once in awhile to catch my breathe! #SummerReading
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Fantastic read with heavy subject matter #SummerReading
Chrislyn P. - 6 years 4 months agoThis was heart wrenching! Definitely an important read! These characters felt so real and the story so unsettling. Trigger warnings for sexual abuse. I would recommend you do your research before diving into this book to be sure you can handle the content. My Dark Vanessa is a heavy read! Would recommend to ages 18 and older! #SummerReading