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My Dark Vanessa

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About this listen

An instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 DYLAN THOMAS AWARD

An era-defining novel about the relationship between a fifteen-year-old girl and her teacher

ALL HE DID WAS FALL IN LOVE WITH ME AND THE WORLD TURNED HIM INTO A MONSTER

Vanessa Wye was fifteen-years-old when she first had sex with her English teacher.

She is now thirty-two and in the storm of allegations against powerful men in 2017, the teacher, Jacob Strane, has just been accused of sexual abuse by another former student.

Vanessa is horrified by this news, because she is quite certain that the relationship she had with Strane wasn't abuse. It was love. She's sure of that.

Forced to rethink her past, to revisit everything that happened, Vanessa has to redefine the great love story of her life – her great sexual awakening – as rape. Now she must deal with the possibility that she might be a victim, and just one of many.

Nuanced, uncomfortable, bold and powerful, My Dark Vanessa goes straight to the heart of some of the most complex issues of our age.

©2020 Kate Elizabeth Russell (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Coming of Age Crime Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Psychological Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Exciting Scary

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Critic reviews

"The book everyone will be talking about." (Louise O'Neill)

"...a package of dynamite." (Stephen King)

"Compulsive. I burned through the first half in such a fever that I lost sleep, I missed meals...a lightning rod." (Washington Post)
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I thought this book was stunning and very impactful in its description of abuse and how the victim can get so entangled and conflicted.
I wasn’t sure about the narrator at first but the contrast between her ‘dead’ voice and the more hopeful voice at the beginning was good. Particularly enjoyed the final encounter between Vanessa and Taylor, but ultimately think it was too long and meandering.

Lost impetus towards the end

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Couldn't stop listening. A must read for everyone. The story deals with trauma brilliantly.

Everyone should listen to or read this book

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I loved Vanessa. She reminded me of parts of myself growing up. I didn't love Strain. The story made me uncomfortable and angry and I think that was entirely the point. Highly recommend. Could listen to Grace Gummer narrate all day long.

Thought Provoking

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I loved the book it is so emotionally Dark great story far a novice brighter

what a fantastic story

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This book is written in an open ended way so the reader can interpret this for themselves.

Ms Russell the author does not make what happened in the book ok as it is an awful subject to cover, However she guides you through Vanessa's life by exploring her feelings and the complications of growing up. The struggles the pain wonder and joy.

Ms Russell writes about Mr Strane her teacher so well. He is so perceptive to all around him, but he was a calculated abuser and kept Vanessa helpless through his manipulation.

What I did find it odd was when the author, editor and narrator got together for a chat at the end of the book, when they asked what they loved about the book, what was your favourite scene etc....... It’s about a peadophile and the abuse of a 15 year old girl, so these word seemed very strange in the context of the question.

The darkness within

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good performance, excellent writing. I think a lot of women relate to Vanessa, which is sad but the truth.

Uncomfortable but worth it

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I couldn’t stop listening. The story pulled me right in. Performance was excellent. Difficult subject matter but told in a unique thought provoking way

Compelling.

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I found the protagonist very disturbed… the teacher is of course in the wrong too…

Vanessa is controversial

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Vanessa, damaged and delusional, dominates the narrative. As a child and an adult, she just cannot see what the reader can see - except in occasional moments of enlightenment. The quality of the writing and the performance are exceptional. Maybe a little drawn out towards the end.

Disturbing and compelling

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the narrator is brilliant, the story sucks you in and got through this is no time! recommend!

brilliant

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