My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The 411:

Wow this book was very hard to put down. I found myself struggling between rage, sadness and humiliation. As a child of abuse I wanted to rip Jacob Strane's heart out. He disgusted me and made me angry. 

For all those who who during this "Me Too" Movement that we are in ever wondered why did she/he not tell someone...this book answers why. 

Vanessa is a young girl sent to school away from her parents I do not remember why. Mr. Strane, one of her teachers is a deviant bastard who romances her, defiles her and uses his power as her instructor to literally rape her having her believe it was all her doing. The subject matter as revolting as it is is written beautifully.  

This fast paced book goes back and forth between young Vanessa and older Vanessa. The author does an amazing job of forcing us to see the manipulation of an older man using mature methods on an impressionable young girl and how the garbage he feed her as a minor still sits with her years later. 

There are so many things I could hit on that really sat with me even now but then I would be typing an entire book of my own.  The title My Dark Vanessa is what Vanessa's teacher called her. He told her that she was as dark as he was. There was nothing I liked about Strane. Fortunately the author doesn't make him a victim or likable in any way.  

My Dark Vanessa is disturbing but Kate's writing is masterful because even I was angry about the direction of the book I devoured it in a few days. Reading it early in the morning before the kids woke but thought of it all day.  

Side note: This reads as a memoir. I had to keep reminding myself that this was not an autobiography but a well written first novel from a talented author.