54 pages • 1 hour read
Kate Elizabeth RussellMy Dark Vanessa
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Kate Elizabeth Russell's debut novel My Dark Vanessa, Vanessa Wye, now 30, revisits her past and her relationship with her 42-year-old English teacher, Jacob Strane, during her time at Browick, a boarding school in Maine. Strane uses literature to manipulate the 15-year-old Vanessa, making her believe their abusive relationship is a romantic affair, which she grapples with into adulthood as she uncovers its true nature. The novel includes depictions of sexual abuse and assault.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell is a hauntingly powerful exploration of an abusive relationship between a teenage girl and her teacher. Reviewers praise its unflinching portrayal of trauma and manipulation. However, some critics find its graphic content difficult to read and express concerns over potential triggering material. Overall, it prompts deep reflection on consent and agency.
Who Should Read My Dark Vanessa?
Readers who enjoyed Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold will likely be drawn to My Dark Vanessa. This novel captures the complex dynamics of a student-teacher relationship, making it compelling for those interested in psychological depth and controversial themes in fiction.