Currently reading My Dark Vanessa and Wow

Submitted by MercurysNova t3_11djcxp in books

It came recommended to me after I read 'The Price of Salt' and bought 'Lolita'. I've been kicking the can on reading 'Lolita', so I wanted to read another book with it, so if I get sick of it, I can switch to a different one as a brain cleanser.

'My Dark Vanessa' is a modern take on Lolita with the POV of the young girl and mixed with the "Me Too" movement. I find myself saying in Bob Belcher's voice, "Oh my god" a lot at the girls perspective of the older professor. 'My Dark Vanessa' is very well written and is a good companion book to 'Lolita' but not a good brain cleanser.

Has any body else read it? I'm a few days from reaching the end of 'My Dark Vanessa' and I'm hoping it's a good ending.

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Comments

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whatitdewwbabyyyy t1_jaa01qm wrote

The ending is realistic and hopeful but not a hugely satisfying one. But it’s very in line with the character. It’s such a good book and one of my best reads from last year. Reading was like watching a train crash. As an adult I saw all the red flags so early on but could completely understand how an isolated teenager would miss it and fall prey to a predator.

Absolutely heartbreaking to watch and read reviews of people saying that they didn’t realize they too had gone through a similar experience and didn’t understand that what happened was bad until reading the book.

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MercurysNova OP t1_jaa0prv wrote

Thank you. I was hoping it wasn't going to be a toss the book across the room ending. Because im invested. Its too late to stop now. Even though the whole time I'm reading, I'm just wide eyed saying, "Nooo."

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Earthwick t1_jaa4lwq wrote

My wife is not a person who reads books. She reads magazines and things online and a lot for her job. She loved Dark Vanessa though and since she read it she has been looking for more books like it but nothing I've given her or suggested seems to have hit that spot for her.

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Fujohime t1_ja97sxk wrote

It’s so good, but also a really rough read.

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lyrasbookshelf t1_ja9667w wrote

Read it last year and enjoyed it immensely!

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PashasMom t1_ja9qtvd wrote

I thought it was incredibly well-written and engaging, also extremely dark and horrifying. That said, I much preferred it to All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, with its endorsement/celebration of a sexual and "romantic" relationship between a child and an adult.

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Kingaroo75 t1_jactr3a wrote

The way All The Ugly and Wonderful things was written was so good. It had me discussed with myself for rooting for the couple.

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ans-myonul t1_ja9gc9o wrote

I read it a few months ago and I really liked it

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misselphaba t1_ja9h8e3 wrote

I started it and couldn't get past the ick.

Then I started All The Ugly and Wonderful Things.

Send help.

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9C2825 t1_ja9iakj wrote

This is making me think about revisiting it because I genuinely hated reading MDV and couldn't get into it at all...

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haloarh t1_ja9qrp3 wrote

I read it and loved it.

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NickolaBrinx t1_jaa6p1l wrote

I read this and was hooked. I read it quicker than any book before. Got me out of my reading slump. I thought the ending was great. Not to spoil anything but I read the last word and burst into sobs and didn't stop until I called my mum. One of the best books I've read.

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DeepMarshmallow t1_jaaxhao wrote

You can also try Tampa by Alissa Nutting. It's told from the perspective of a female teacher who grooms her 14 yr old male student. It's also a commentary on how female pedos aren't taken as seriously as male pedos, and shows that boys can be victims just like girls.

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SpiritedCabinet2 t1_jabyyoz wrote

I liked it a lot. I'm guessing most guys don't ever experience grooming, including myself. I rationally knew that it must be a particularly nefarious practice, but this book gave me real insight into what it actually is and its dreadful psychological ramifications.

This book and Catch and kill by Ronan Farrow really impacted me in terms of realizing what women deal with on a daily basis, that I've not even have had to think about once.

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venusapollo t1_jab42os wrote

I thought the writing was insanely good even though the subject matter was so cringey. But it felt very realistic in how things started and progressed and how a teens perspective would be. I think her adult life was just as sad and depressing too. But I couldn’t put it down. Ending was meh for me but most books are.

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BBVIP21 t1_jabo6nu wrote

I agree that it’s a well written book! It was difficult for me to read however because I felt a bit uncomfortable with the subject matter. I still managed to finish it and I thought the ending was fine.

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lannn12345 t1_jadb0do wrote

One of my favorite books. It’s incredible

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everywhereinbetween t1_jadb1ke wrote

I got it a while ago (ie a couple of years ago 😌😂🤣) but haven't read! I haven't read Lolita either, actually.

Do you recommend (each/both)?

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