Book Club: My Dark Vanessa

Trigger Warning: This book contains episodes of sexual abuse.

My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell, jumps back-and-forth through time as it tells the story of a fifteen-year old girl who enters a "romantic" relationship with her (considerably older) adult male teacher, and how the effects of that bond follow her as times goes by. The story is told from Vanessa's first person point of view, giving the reader unvarnished insight into complex repercussions of surviving child abuse.

Honestly? I don't remember the last time a book made me feel so uncomfortable, to the point where I wasn't sure I could keep going. Getting through certain passages was unbelievably tough -- some, because they were fairly graphic depictions of assault, and others, because the main character was clearly experiencing mental and emotional trauma. In short, My Dark Vanessa is not for everyone.

That being said, I'm glad to have read the book and won't completely rule out recommending it to people. It is well-written and feels very personal. In an extremely broad sense, I think the author captured what it's like to be a self-conscious, headstrong, unknowingly impressionable teenager. (And then, later, the stress of being in your thirties and unsure about your path.)

Despite some gut-wrenchingly difficult moments, a sense of suspense looms over the story, propelling you forward through each chapter. I found myself burning through pages, anxious to find out what happens to Vanessa, always rooting for her to overcome her haunted troubles and eventually find peace.

What are you reading these days?

Image credit: Google