My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
About the Book:
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.
Verdict:
I've seen countless mixed reviews for this book, but the one thing they all have in common is that it's a tough read. I agree it was a painful and uncomfortable read. Yet, I came away from this book feeling like I had learned so much about the impact of trauma, the complex nature of victimhood, and the importance of things like opening up a dialogue to get to the bottom of issues, rather than brushing them aside. I would not recommend this book for everyone, but I found it to be incredibly powerful!
So, what did I like about My Dark Vanessa? I really enjoyed the way the author took the idea of Lolita and wove it throughout the novel. The way she built each and every character was fantastic - I felt like I knew all of them and could picture them clearly in my mind, which always makes for a better read. The dual timelines were easy to follow and allowed the repercussions of Vanessa's past experiences to unfold alongside the actions that caused her trauma.
With that being said, I understand why many people don't support this book. There was quite a controversy when it came out that an author of Mexican descent published a memoir that was similar in editorial and marketing to My Dark Vanessa. Ortiz found it difficult to get her book published and was paid much less than Russell's seven-figure advance. Russell's book was given the VIP treatment, with review copies sent out in velvet-lined boxes, BookExpo featuring it as an Adult Buzz Book, and Oprah choosing the book as her book club pick (before revoking the decision...). All this points to the deep-rooted systemic issues in publishes that puts "white" stories above diverse voices.
Pairing:
I decided to make this absolutely delicious black velvet cake to match the cover of this book! I'll be honest...this was a difficult cake to make. There were lots of pieces and parts, and for someone who is not great it baking it was a lot. But it was fun! And it came out beautifully, which made me happy! You can check out the recipe and make it yourself here.
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