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Dark Chapter
Winner of the Not the Booker Prize 2017
NOMINATED FOR THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL
Vivian is a cosmopolitan Taiwanese-American tourist who often escapes her busy life in London through adventure and travel. Johnny is a 15-year-old Irish teenager, living a neglected life on the margins of society.
On a bright spring afternoon in West Belfast, their paths collide during a horrifying act of violence.
In the aftermath, each is forced to confront the chain of events that led to the attack.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of the dark chapters and chance encounters that can irrevocably determine the shape of our lives.
NOMINATED FOR THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL
Vivian is a cosmopolitan Taiwanese-American tourist who often escapes her busy life in London through adventure and travel. Johnny is a 15-year-old Irish teenager, living a neglected life on the margins of society.
On a bright spring afternoon in West Belfast, their paths collide during a horrifying act of violence.
In the aftermath, each is forced to confront the chain of events that led to the attack.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of the dark chapters and chance encounters that can irrevocably determine the shape of our lives.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
104 people are currently reading
2207 people want to read
About the author
Winnie M. Li
4 books115 followersWinnie M. Li is a writer, producer, and activist. And frequent backpacker who has somehow managed to spend the past 15 years, engaged in film and literature in various parts of the world.
Taiwanese-American and raised in New Jersey, Winnie studied Folklore and Mythology at Harvard, specializing in Celtic Languages and Literature. In 2000, she was selected as a George Mitchell Scholar and earned her MA in Anglo-Irish Literature at the National University of Ireland, Cork.
While in Cork, Winnie began volunteering for the Cork International Film Festival. Shortly afterwards, she moved to London to work for Ugly Duckling Films / Left Turn Films, a small independent film production company. Eventually as Head of Development there, Winnie was involved in producing six award-winning feature films and two shorts, one of which was Oscar-nominated® and the other Oscar-shortlisted®. In addition to overseeing script development at Ugly Duckling Films, Winnie concentrated heavily on the marketing, financing, and distribution of their projects.
In 2010, Winnie began working with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) in Qatar, where she served as Programme Manager for the 2nd and 3rd editions of the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival. As Film Series Producer for the DFI, she founded the Institute’s year-round screening series, bringing 150+ screenings of arthouse and foreign films to a city accustomed to mainstream Hollywood movies.
In 2013, Winnie returned to the tourism and travel sector, working as a short-term Project Consultant for Temasek Holdings in Singapore. There she spearheaded the creative development of a future nature-themed tourist attraction, consolidating research within the attractions industry, eco-tourism, and wildlife conservation to develop new narratives for reaching the public.
In her spare time, she lectures on film studies and film production, and has spoken at Harvard University, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Aberdeen, the London School of Economics, and Northwestern University in Qatar. A former writer for the Let’s Go travel guide books, Winnie has traveled extensively on five continents. Her other published writing ranges from literary non-fiction to newspaper op-eds to academic essays. She is based in London and wrote her debut novel, Dark Chapter, while in the Creative & Life Writing MA Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London.
As of Autumn 2015, Winnie is a PhD researcher in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She is researching the impact of social media on the public discourse about rape and sexual assault, on an Economic and Social Research Council grant.
Taiwanese-American and raised in New Jersey, Winnie studied Folklore and Mythology at Harvard, specializing in Celtic Languages and Literature. In 2000, she was selected as a George Mitchell Scholar and earned her MA in Anglo-Irish Literature at the National University of Ireland, Cork.
While in Cork, Winnie began volunteering for the Cork International Film Festival. Shortly afterwards, she moved to London to work for Ugly Duckling Films / Left Turn Films, a small independent film production company. Eventually as Head of Development there, Winnie was involved in producing six award-winning feature films and two shorts, one of which was Oscar-nominated® and the other Oscar-shortlisted®. In addition to overseeing script development at Ugly Duckling Films, Winnie concentrated heavily on the marketing, financing, and distribution of their projects.
In 2010, Winnie began working with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) in Qatar, where she served as Programme Manager for the 2nd and 3rd editions of the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival. As Film Series Producer for the DFI, she founded the Institute’s year-round screening series, bringing 150+ screenings of arthouse and foreign films to a city accustomed to mainstream Hollywood movies.
In 2013, Winnie returned to the tourism and travel sector, working as a short-term Project Consultant for Temasek Holdings in Singapore. There she spearheaded the creative development of a future nature-themed tourist attraction, consolidating research within the attractions industry, eco-tourism, and wildlife conservation to develop new narratives for reaching the public.
In her spare time, she lectures on film studies and film production, and has spoken at Harvard University, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Aberdeen, the London School of Economics, and Northwestern University in Qatar. A former writer for the Let’s Go travel guide books, Winnie has traveled extensively on five continents. Her other published writing ranges from literary non-fiction to newspaper op-eds to academic essays. She is based in London and wrote her debut novel, Dark Chapter, while in the Creative & Life Writing MA Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London.
As of Autumn 2015, Winnie is a PhD researcher in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She is researching the impact of social media on the public discourse about rape and sexual assault, on an Economic and Social Research Council grant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 18, 2017
Although the book descriptions obscure the subject of this book, the blurbs on the back cover reveal that it is about a rape. Vivian Tan, a Harvard graduate in her late 20's works in London, in a job related to the film industry. She is invited to Belfast to the 10th anniversary of the Peace Accord. After all of the meetings, she decides to go for a hike in a park near West Belfast where she crosses paths with a 15-year-old Traveler Johnny Sweeney and suffers a violent sexual assault.
The author suffered a sexual assault herself. I am not sure who this book is for except perhaps as part of her own healing process. I rushed through the second half although I was tempted to discard it - not because I don't take the topic of such violence seriously but because it was relentless.
It is always tricky to write about characters who are members of marginalized communities and who are often stereotyped as criminals, thugs, thieves, and worse. Li consulted with several organizations representing the Traveler community. Yet despite this, I believe readers cannot walk away from this book seeing Johnny's crimes as the aberrations of an individual sociopath. Rather I believe they will reinforce prior stereotypes they've had of Travelers or if this is an unfamiliar community to them, they will finish the book with negative impressions of the community, and not just of Johnny.
Trigger warning The details of the assault are long and very violent. The police interviews and trial repeat them again. I honestly cannot recommend this book to anyone.
The author suffered a sexual assault herself. I am not sure who this book is for except perhaps as part of her own healing process. I rushed through the second half although I was tempted to discard it - not because I don't take the topic of such violence seriously but because it was relentless.
It is always tricky to write about characters who are members of marginalized communities and who are often stereotyped as criminals, thugs, thieves, and worse. Li consulted with several organizations representing the Traveler community. Yet despite this, I believe readers cannot walk away from this book seeing Johnny's crimes as the aberrations of an individual sociopath. Rather I believe they will reinforce prior stereotypes they've had of Travelers or if this is an unfamiliar community to them, they will finish the book with negative impressions of the community, and not just of Johnny.
Trigger warning The details of the assault are long and very violent. The police interviews and trial repeat them again. I honestly cannot recommend this book to anyone.
March 15, 2020
Ein beeindruckendes Buch,welches sprachlos macht. Anfangs hatte ich etwas Sorge,dass die Autorin zu sehr in Vorurteile/Klischees abrutscht,aber sie hat Beide Sichten sehr gut dargestellt. 4,5 Sterne von mir
September 7, 2018
An exceptionally courageous exploration of how different people's life circumstances can mold them into who they become and cause a violent and devastating clash when they happen to meet in the wrong place at the wrong time.
July 21, 2025
4.25 🌟
***This entire novel is about a rape - the before, the during, and the aftermath. It is not explicitly named as a sexual assault in the book blurb, which seems unfair to some readers.
I barely know how to rate this. The fact that this is based on the author's lived experience makes the novel all the more heartbreaking.
Honestly? I nearly gave up on this one at the beginning. It's split into two POVs - Vivian and Johnny. Johnny is part of the Irish Traveller culture (something I was previously unaware of), and frankly, his poor grammar and frequent use of unfamiliar slang were quite off-putting. Additionally, I'm unsure if it's because I read the ARC version (although this was initially published in 2017, so it's unlikely), but the way Vivian and Johnny's POVs flowed into one another without clear breaks was somewhat confusing.
I'm glad I kept reading, though. The author/Vivian's story is a difficult but important one to tell. Unfortunately, I was able to relate to quite a bit of it, as are too many other people I know. I admired Vivian's strength and courage, even though she didn't feel that way about herself. It's hard to delve too deeply into specifics without spoiling anything. So, if this resonates with you at all, please read it.
Recommended for everyone, as people should be more aware of the truth of what happens/can happen. But if any of this is a trigger for you, I suggest skipping it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura Books for the ARC.
***This entire novel is about a rape - the before, the during, and the aftermath. It is not explicitly named as a sexual assault in the book blurb, which seems unfair to some readers.
I barely know how to rate this. The fact that this is based on the author's lived experience makes the novel all the more heartbreaking.
Honestly? I nearly gave up on this one at the beginning. It's split into two POVs - Vivian and Johnny. Johnny is part of the Irish Traveller culture (something I was previously unaware of), and frankly, his poor grammar and frequent use of unfamiliar slang were quite off-putting. Additionally, I'm unsure if it's because I read the ARC version (although this was initially published in 2017, so it's unlikely), but the way Vivian and Johnny's POVs flowed into one another without clear breaks was somewhat confusing.
I'm glad I kept reading, though. The author/Vivian's story is a difficult but important one to tell. Unfortunately, I was able to relate to quite a bit of it, as are too many other people I know. I admired Vivian's strength and courage, even though she didn't feel that way about herself. It's hard to delve too deeply into specifics without spoiling anything. So, if this resonates with you at all, please read it.
Recommended for everyone, as people should be more aware of the truth of what happens/can happen. But if any of this is a trigger for you, I suggest skipping it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura Books for the ARC.
June 7, 2017
If I had to choose only three words to sum up Li’s debut novel Dark Chapter, it would be: compelling, well-written and courageous. Drawing on her own personal experiences, the author’s account of her character’s journey to reclaim her life after the traumatic assault and rape she suffered at the hands of her attacker is well drawn and authentic – as it is harrowing and disturbing. Some readers may find the scenes describing Vivian’s rape confronting, but I thought they are refreshingly honest and brave. Her visceral account of events is not added for shock value, but to recount her character’s experience in all its gritty reality. Vivian’s voice is natural and engaging, and she quickly drew me into the story. Having been in contact with victims of rape and assault through my work as an A&E nurse, the story really highlighted the long, ongoing journey these women face in trying to come to terms with the trauma and to move on from it despite the havoc it wreaked on their lives.
Personally, I felt the courtroom scenes especially harrowing, and am not surprised that many women shy away from laying charges just because they cannot face the additional burden of being in the media spotlight and under crossfire from the lawyers. How horrible to have to relive your worst nightmare, and having to justify your own actions, when you are the innocent party. Incredible, really, that our society allows the victims of rape and assault to be further traumatised like this!
Dark Chapter is told in two alternating voices – that of vivacious Vivian, setting out on a hike she has been looking forward to; and that of 15-year old Johnny Sweeney, a troubled boy who is about to destroy her trust and innocence forever. Whilst I am often not a fan of getting too much into the mind of the perpetrator in novels, Li’s book proved that – if executed the right way (i.e. to add depth, not shock value) – this approach can add a lot to the story. Whilst I found this rapist remorseless and lacking in insight, and could make no excuses for his actions, exploring his childhood and upbringing did sow a small seed of empathy for his troubled mind. I applaud the author for being able to present the perpetrator in such an honest light, when a lot of emotions must be tangled up in the story for her.
Focusing on the events surrounding a horrific assault and rape and the effects on the victim’s life afterwards, Dark Chapter is a story of courage, hope and moving forward. I loved Li’s writing, which is as unflinchingly honest as it is engaging. It is obvious that a lot of the author’s emotions were tied up in this story, and she conveys them effortlessly to the reader, giving us a true-to-live main protagonist that is so real she could be your friend, neighbour, relative. Although some might find it confronting in its honesty, I couldn’t put it down would recommend it highly to female and male readers alike. I hope to read a lot more from this talented author in future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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“The person she is now. The person she still can be. The person she always was.”
Personally, I felt the courtroom scenes especially harrowing, and am not surprised that many women shy away from laying charges just because they cannot face the additional burden of being in the media spotlight and under crossfire from the lawyers. How horrible to have to relive your worst nightmare, and having to justify your own actions, when you are the innocent party. Incredible, really, that our society allows the victims of rape and assault to be further traumatised like this!
“And then she realises how ridiculously unfair this whole system is. She was the one who was walking along on her own, when he did this to her. And then she has to wait almost a year to sit in front of a room full of strangers, tell them the humiliating truth, stand up to a sleaze-bag barrister trying to paint her as a villain-seductress and then listen to the boy make up this trash about her? Is this what we have to subject ourselves to, in order to get justice?”
Dark Chapter is told in two alternating voices – that of vivacious Vivian, setting out on a hike she has been looking forward to; and that of 15-year old Johnny Sweeney, a troubled boy who is about to destroy her trust and innocence forever. Whilst I am often not a fan of getting too much into the mind of the perpetrator in novels, Li’s book proved that – if executed the right way (i.e. to add depth, not shock value) – this approach can add a lot to the story. Whilst I found this rapist remorseless and lacking in insight, and could make no excuses for his actions, exploring his childhood and upbringing did sow a small seed of empathy for his troubled mind. I applaud the author for being able to present the perpetrator in such an honest light, when a lot of emotions must be tangled up in the story for her.
Focusing on the events surrounding a horrific assault and rape and the effects on the victim’s life afterwards, Dark Chapter is a story of courage, hope and moving forward. I loved Li’s writing, which is as unflinchingly honest as it is engaging. It is obvious that a lot of the author’s emotions were tied up in this story, and she conveys them effortlessly to the reader, giving us a true-to-live main protagonist that is so real she could be your friend, neighbour, relative. Although some might find it confronting in its honesty, I couldn’t put it down would recommend it highly to female and male readers alike. I hope to read a lot more from this talented author in future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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May 23, 2017
This story is all the more astounding when you consider that it is based on the real life events that occurred to the author. I have never been more affected or more enthralled by the content of a novel or by its alternate voice method of presentation. Vivian Tan, independent and vivacious traveller, is in Belfast invited to contribute in the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. As a keen walker she plans to use the opportunity to explore the nearby Colin Glen Forest Park close to the city. She meets a young, seemingly innocent boy John Sweeney who continues to follow the hiker seeking a reaction from her as he attempts to strike up a friendly conversation. The situation develops in a frightening and unexpected manner when a pleasant exchange turns to a violent assault and uncontrollable lust ending in the rape of Mz Tan.
It is the telling of this story through the voices of the victim and the perpetrator that makes for compelling reading. A victim so traumatized by a violent act that her life from here on is changed irrevocably and a perpetrator totally unconcerned by the affect of his actions on the victim..."But they have no idea how far she is now from the person they knew a week ago. They just see her, hear her voice. But the real Vivian checked out days ago, and she doesn't know when she'll return.".... As we alternate quickly between the thoughts of Vivian and Sweeney we encounter the rape, the aftermath, the trial and the fallout. It is often so easy to read about a sexual assault and to dismiss very quickly, but the voice of Winnie Li, and her articulate literary presentation taking us from a solitary walk to her life today, (as the lines between Winnie and Vivian must surely be merged) is a meaningful, sombre and sad experience to me as a male reader.
An essential important read by a lady who I can only hold the greatest respect and admiration for. The scenes in the Northern Irish courtroom and the questioning that Vivian received at the hands of a well educated defence lawyer had me totally engrossed by its realism and authenticity ( I work within the legal system) This is a novel that should be read by everyone and can only add to the understanding of a victim in a violent sexual attack, a victim with the courage to tell her story knowing that...."One of these day, she tells herself, she'll be able to walk into a field on her own. An open field under the broad sky in the middle of the day. She'll be able to lie down on her back, feel the grass beneath her, the sun on her face, close her eyes and she will feel completely content. And she will feel no danger....." Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
It is the telling of this story through the voices of the victim and the perpetrator that makes for compelling reading. A victim so traumatized by a violent act that her life from here on is changed irrevocably and a perpetrator totally unconcerned by the affect of his actions on the victim..."But they have no idea how far she is now from the person they knew a week ago. They just see her, hear her voice. But the real Vivian checked out days ago, and she doesn't know when she'll return.".... As we alternate quickly between the thoughts of Vivian and Sweeney we encounter the rape, the aftermath, the trial and the fallout. It is often so easy to read about a sexual assault and to dismiss very quickly, but the voice of Winnie Li, and her articulate literary presentation taking us from a solitary walk to her life today, (as the lines between Winnie and Vivian must surely be merged) is a meaningful, sombre and sad experience to me as a male reader.
An essential important read by a lady who I can only hold the greatest respect and admiration for. The scenes in the Northern Irish courtroom and the questioning that Vivian received at the hands of a well educated defence lawyer had me totally engrossed by its realism and authenticity ( I work within the legal system) This is a novel that should be read by everyone and can only add to the understanding of a victim in a violent sexual attack, a victim with the courage to tell her story knowing that...."One of these day, she tells herself, she'll be able to walk into a field on her own. An open field under the broad sky in the middle of the day. She'll be able to lie down on her back, feel the grass beneath her, the sun on her face, close her eyes and she will feel completely content. And she will feel no danger....." Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
April 9, 2018
To award stars because of enjoying the book, or to award stars as recognition that it is an important piece of literature that is well written, that is the question.
This is almost impossible to enjoy as a novel, through Winnie Li’s writing is to be admired especially considering the she herself is a rape victim.
I have read a couple of books this year about the neglect of children and along with this, should you choose to read them, such books need to be spaced apart, with plenty of levity in between.
The perpetrator’s story is not any easier to handle here either. Johnny Sweeney is from an Irish Travelling community, has himself been physically abused and neglected, in that he has had no education. There can be no excuse for his actions, but by way of explanation it is of interest.
Not an easy read, though quite a quick one.
This is almost impossible to enjoy as a novel, through Winnie Li’s writing is to be admired especially considering the she herself is a rape victim.
I have read a couple of books this year about the neglect of children and along with this, should you choose to read them, such books need to be spaced apart, with plenty of levity in between.
The perpetrator’s story is not any easier to handle here either. Johnny Sweeney is from an Irish Travelling community, has himself been physically abused and neglected, in that he has had no education. There can be no excuse for his actions, but by way of explanation it is of interest.
Not an easy read, though quite a quick one.
June 21, 2017
This story is all the more astounding when you consider that it is based on the real life events that occurred to the author. I have never been more affected or more enthralled by the content of a novel or by its alternate voice method of presentation. Vivian Tan, independent and vivacious traveller, is in Belfast invited to contribute in the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. As a keen walker she plans to use the opportunity to explore the nearby Colin Glen Forest Park close to the city. She meets a young, seemingly innocent boy John Sweeney who continues to follow the hiker seeking a reaction from her as he attempts to strike up a friendly conversation. The situation develops in a frightening and unexpected manner when a pleasant exchange turns to a violent assault and uncontrollable lust ending in the rape of Mz Tan.
It is the telling of this story through the voices of the victim and the perpetrator that makes for compelling reading. A victim so traumatized by a violent act that her life from here on is changed irrevocably and a perpetrator totally unconcerned by the affect of his actions on the victim..."But they have no idea how far she is now from the person they knew a week ago. They just see her, hear her voice. But the real Vivian checked out days ago, and she doesn't know when she'll return.".... As we alternate quickly between the thoughts of Vivian and Sweeney we encounter the rape, the aftermath, the trial and the fallout. It is often so easy to read about a sexual assault and to dismiss very quickly, but the voice of Winnie Li, and her articulate literary presentation taking us from a solitary walk to her life today, (as the lines between Winnie and Vivian must surely be merged) is a meaningful, sombre and sad experience to me as a male reader.
An essential important read by a lady who I can only hold the greatest respect and admiration for. The scenes in the Northern Irish courtroom and the questioning that Vivian received at the hands of a well educated defence lawyer had me totally engrossed by its realism and authenticity ( I work within the legal system) This is a novel that should be read by everyone and can only add to the understanding of a victim in a violent sexual attack, a victim with the courage to tell her story knowing that...."One of these day, she tells herself, she'll be able to walk into a field on her own. An open field under the broad sky in the middle of the day. She'll be able to lie down on her back, feel the grass beneath her, the sun on her face, close her eyes and she will feel completely content. And she will feel no danger....." Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
It is the telling of this story through the voices of the victim and the perpetrator that makes for compelling reading. A victim so traumatized by a violent act that her life from here on is changed irrevocably and a perpetrator totally unconcerned by the affect of his actions on the victim..."But they have no idea how far she is now from the person they knew a week ago. They just see her, hear her voice. But the real Vivian checked out days ago, and she doesn't know when she'll return.".... As we alternate quickly between the thoughts of Vivian and Sweeney we encounter the rape, the aftermath, the trial and the fallout. It is often so easy to read about a sexual assault and to dismiss very quickly, but the voice of Winnie Li, and her articulate literary presentation taking us from a solitary walk to her life today, (as the lines between Winnie and Vivian must surely be merged) is a meaningful, sombre and sad experience to me as a male reader.
An essential important read by a lady who I can only hold the greatest respect and admiration for. The scenes in the Northern Irish courtroom and the questioning that Vivian received at the hands of a well educated defence lawyer had me totally engrossed by its realism and authenticity ( I work within the legal system) This is a novel that should be read by everyone and can only add to the understanding of a victim in a violent sexual attack, a victim with the courage to tell her story knowing that...."One of these day, she tells herself, she'll be able to walk into a field on her own. An open field under the broad sky in the middle of the day. She'll be able to lie down on her back, feel the grass beneath her, the sun on her face, close her eyes and she will feel completely content. And she will feel no danger....." Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
May 1, 2017
When Vivian goes hiking alone in an unfamiliar part of Belfast, she meets 15-year-old Johnny and her life is never the same afterwards
I really struggled with this book and how to rate it. Usually, I rate a book according to how much I enjoyed it, but this book was not an enjoyable read. In fact, it should come with a warning that it contains intense images of rape and violence. Not that it is a voyeuristic or lurid novel. Far from it. Dark Chapter is an intense, gritty drama about one woman's journey from victim to hero. Still, it's not my typical read, and I think it was mislabeled by the publisher as a mystery/thriller.
I'm not one to give out five-star reviews on a whim. Books must earn that rating. What made this book a five-star was its amazing writing. It's stark style works well with the subject matter. Li draws the reader into the story and doesn't let her go. Dark Chapter is a compelling story, and I couldn't put it down. I was rooting for the heroine the entire time.
This book offers an unflinching view of an unspeakable crime. It won't be for every reader, but it is definitely a novel of great worth.
I really struggled with this book and how to rate it. Usually, I rate a book according to how much I enjoyed it, but this book was not an enjoyable read. In fact, it should come with a warning that it contains intense images of rape and violence. Not that it is a voyeuristic or lurid novel. Far from it. Dark Chapter is an intense, gritty drama about one woman's journey from victim to hero. Still, it's not my typical read, and I think it was mislabeled by the publisher as a mystery/thriller.
I'm not one to give out five-star reviews on a whim. Books must earn that rating. What made this book a five-star was its amazing writing. It's stark style works well with the subject matter. Li draws the reader into the story and doesn't let her go. Dark Chapter is a compelling story, and I couldn't put it down. I was rooting for the heroine the entire time.
This book offers an unflinching view of an unspeakable crime. It won't be for every reader, but it is definitely a novel of great worth.
August 3, 2020
Nein ist mir sofort aufgefallen und ich wollte es unbedingt lesen. Doch habe ich auf den richtigen Moment gewartet. Den hier bekommt der Leser keine leichte Kost geliefert. In diesem Buch geht es um Vergewaltigung und um nochmal genauer zu sein, die Autorin verarbeitet ihren eigenen sexuellen Missbrauch in dieser Geschichte.
Ihr ist etwas sehr Ähnliches passiert wie der Protagonistin und so kann ich mir gut vorstellen, dass es alles andere als leicht war dieses Buch zu schreiben. Natürlich gibt es auch künstliche Freiheiten. So hat sich die Autorin dazu entschlossen das Buch nicht nur aus der weiblichen Perspektive zu erzählen. Sondern auch aus der des Täters.
Dies war auch der Punkt, der mich besonders angesprochen hat. Die Erzählung aus Sicht des Opfers und des Täters. Auch dies stelle ich mir unheimlich schwierig vor. So ist das Buch eher distanziert geschrieben, also es wird nicht versucht großartig die Emotionen des Lesers zu wecken. Die Autorin erzählt einfach was passiert ist und wie es den Beteiligten dabei bzw. damit ergeht, nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Hier bedarf es keinem künstlichen Drama.
Ihr ist etwas sehr Ähnliches passiert wie der Protagonistin und so kann ich mir gut vorstellen, dass es alles andere als leicht war dieses Buch zu schreiben. Natürlich gibt es auch künstliche Freiheiten. So hat sich die Autorin dazu entschlossen das Buch nicht nur aus der weiblichen Perspektive zu erzählen. Sondern auch aus der des Täters.
Dies war auch der Punkt, der mich besonders angesprochen hat. Die Erzählung aus Sicht des Opfers und des Täters. Auch dies stelle ich mir unheimlich schwierig vor. So ist das Buch eher distanziert geschrieben, also es wird nicht versucht großartig die Emotionen des Lesers zu wecken. Die Autorin erzählt einfach was passiert ist und wie es den Beteiligten dabei bzw. damit ergeht, nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Hier bedarf es keinem künstlichen Drama.
April 26, 2017
This book was painful and brutal yet simultaneously beautiful and necessary. I could not put it down and I stayed up too late past my bedtime to finish it. I hadn't read many detailed summaries before receiving an ARC from Netgalley (thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!) so I actually had no idea that the catalyst to the story was a rape. To be totally honest, I'm not sure I would have read the book had I known that rape was at the forefront. However, I'm incredibly glad that I read this. The strength of both the writing and the protagonist's journey was inspiring, and it's not often that I am so emotionally touched by a book. I hope readers don't avoid this book because of the topic, because there is a lot to be gained from this stunning debut. Knowing that it was very loosely based on the author's own experiences makes it even more meaningful. To the author: Thank you for writing this book. It is extremely important and you have my utmost respect for not shying away from any part of a traumatic experience, no matter how ugly or difficult. The raw honesty in your writing meant a lot to me and I am looking forward to hopefully more novels from you!
January 26, 2018
Seriously I really don't think anything I have to say here does this book justice and I don't want to give this book the usual "riveting, gripping, page-turning" review because this is a book that everyone needs to read.
Dark Chapter is based on a true story and inspired by the authors own sexual assault and therefore every word written is brutal, raw and harrowing. Often when I write reviews I might refer to the characters or the twists or the atmosphere, but Dark Chapter is a book that doesn't require any of that in my opinion. This is a book that evoked powerful feelings from the opening page to the final chapter.
How did it make me feel? Well simply put I think I felt too many emotions to list them all. Firstly when reading Vivian's side of the story I was shocked, horrified, scared, traumatised and angry for her and with her throughout her story. Because the book is based on Winnie's real life attack I knew that Vivian's emotions and responses were real and that made everything raw. Her bravery in telling this story and making the reader feel her pain and horror is incredible and so intimate that you are able to feel everything Vivian's experiencing.
Reading Johnny's version of the events made me sick to my stomach, angry and ashamed that there are people in the world who think this behaviour is acceptable or normal.
There is very little I can add to this review except that it is a very brave and brutal story based on true events. A powerful and harrowing book which I know will stay with me for a very long time.
Dark Chapter is based on a true story and inspired by the authors own sexual assault and therefore every word written is brutal, raw and harrowing. Often when I write reviews I might refer to the characters or the twists or the atmosphere, but Dark Chapter is a book that doesn't require any of that in my opinion. This is a book that evoked powerful feelings from the opening page to the final chapter.
How did it make me feel? Well simply put I think I felt too many emotions to list them all. Firstly when reading Vivian's side of the story I was shocked, horrified, scared, traumatised and angry for her and with her throughout her story. Because the book is based on Winnie's real life attack I knew that Vivian's emotions and responses were real and that made everything raw. Her bravery in telling this story and making the reader feel her pain and horror is incredible and so intimate that you are able to feel everything Vivian's experiencing.
Reading Johnny's version of the events made me sick to my stomach, angry and ashamed that there are people in the world who think this behaviour is acceptable or normal.
There is very little I can add to this review except that it is a very brave and brutal story based on true events. A powerful and harrowing book which I know will stay with me for a very long time.
May 16, 2018
A very good story about a rape and the effects the crime has on the perpetrator and the victim, but not truly a mystery. This book was nominated for an Edgar Award and after reading it you can see why. The beginning is a little confusing and it takes a little bit to unravel it. Once you get into the story it is page turning. The story is told from two perspectives: the perpetrator and the victim. I found the story of the perpetrator very enlightening as it delves into the life of “the travelers” in Ireland. The story of the victim is also revealing in the sense of the humiliation the person goes through at the hands of the system while physical evidence is being gathered and at trial. A very well written book with great character development. I found the character of the perpetrator quite good and believable.
January 28, 2018
Vivian and Johnny, two very different people from two very different backgrounds whose paths are on course for collision. In The Dark Chapter, Winnie Li takes us on a journey that changed her life forever. This is a story based on reality, it’s a tough and emotional read but it is also a story of strength, resilience and a journey to recovery. It is a story that needs to be read.
It is harrowing, and despite being fiction, it is a raw read as we know that the author is also a survivor of rape. This might not be the whole of her story but it is written from the heart and the perspective of someone who has lived through this experience and so it is difficult not to feel that emotional connection with Vivian. The prologue is so intense as the narrator watches herself from a distance taking a journey she is powerless to stop. Right from the very beginning I was drawn in and in doing so was taken on the journey alongside Vivian all of the way.
The book follows alternate chapters in which Vivian and Johnny’s lives are traced leading up to the event that would change their lives forever; the very ordinariness of their lives and experiences, how events and people shaped the people they became, was a powerful and tense read. It was impossible to read it and not feel the emotions that Vivian felt. From start to finish was an emotional rollercoaster.
When Johnny was narrating his story it was difficult not to feel conflicted; as a human being watching the life of a young boy being shaped in such a way that it would have been nigh on impossible for him not to take the wrong path in life, it was hard not to feel sorrow for him, not to want to lay the blame on his upbringing, the discrimination faced by travellers, but it was also gut wrenching as I knew that this story was being written by a woman who had experienced the trauma that Johnny was about to inflict on her. We know that this is not Winnie Li’s attacker she is writing about as she knows nothing about him other than he was from the travelling community; he pled guilty and so there was no trial, no background information or defence lawyer trying to silence her truth. Despite the conflict mentioned above, it was impossible to empathise with him as he played out the part that was to change this woman’s life forever.
Some may ask is Winnie giving the rapist a voice or is she using fiction and writing as a therapeutic process? Having met and listened to Winnie speak, I’d say it was the latter, it is a courageous and compassionate woman who can take her experience and write about it from the perspective of the survivor as well as the perpetrator. I would say that fiction plays an important part in opening up conversations about rape and about violence; understanding why someone has done something is not condoning the act but it does help shatter the silence around the subject which is what we need to be doing; it encourages the conversations that we all need to be having.
The loneliness of Vivian struck me to the core, as she came to terms with having to censor her story to protect the listeners, to having to protect others from her pain: but also the sheer strength of her as an individual, a survivor and a voice that needed to be heard.
The courtroom scenes were written so well that I found myself sitting in the room watching the wheels of justice churning, I felt Vivian’s pain as she was left feeling exposed once more, reliving the rape under cross-examination, her pain yet her determination to see the process through in order to see justice done. It laid bare conflicts she felt, should she cry? Should she be strong and composed? How do the public expect a survivor of rape to behave? All these questions and thoughts that no individual should ever have to be thinking.
I wept reading this book, not because I think her life is ruined but I wept that she has had to go through this pain to write this novel, to write a novel where the research done was based on her experience, I wept that she was strong enough to tell this story and to carry on speaking out for those who have not yet been able to find their voice
It is harrowing, and despite being fiction, it is a raw read as we know that the author is also a survivor of rape. This might not be the whole of her story but it is written from the heart and the perspective of someone who has lived through this experience and so it is difficult not to feel that emotional connection with Vivian. The prologue is so intense as the narrator watches herself from a distance taking a journey she is powerless to stop. Right from the very beginning I was drawn in and in doing so was taken on the journey alongside Vivian all of the way.
The book follows alternate chapters in which Vivian and Johnny’s lives are traced leading up to the event that would change their lives forever; the very ordinariness of their lives and experiences, how events and people shaped the people they became, was a powerful and tense read. It was impossible to read it and not feel the emotions that Vivian felt. From start to finish was an emotional rollercoaster.
When Johnny was narrating his story it was difficult not to feel conflicted; as a human being watching the life of a young boy being shaped in such a way that it would have been nigh on impossible for him not to take the wrong path in life, it was hard not to feel sorrow for him, not to want to lay the blame on his upbringing, the discrimination faced by travellers, but it was also gut wrenching as I knew that this story was being written by a woman who had experienced the trauma that Johnny was about to inflict on her. We know that this is not Winnie Li’s attacker she is writing about as she knows nothing about him other than he was from the travelling community; he pled guilty and so there was no trial, no background information or defence lawyer trying to silence her truth. Despite the conflict mentioned above, it was impossible to empathise with him as he played out the part that was to change this woman’s life forever.
Some may ask is Winnie giving the rapist a voice or is she using fiction and writing as a therapeutic process? Having met and listened to Winnie speak, I’d say it was the latter, it is a courageous and compassionate woman who can take her experience and write about it from the perspective of the survivor as well as the perpetrator. I would say that fiction plays an important part in opening up conversations about rape and about violence; understanding why someone has done something is not condoning the act but it does help shatter the silence around the subject which is what we need to be doing; it encourages the conversations that we all need to be having.
The loneliness of Vivian struck me to the core, as she came to terms with having to censor her story to protect the listeners, to having to protect others from her pain: but also the sheer strength of her as an individual, a survivor and a voice that needed to be heard.
The courtroom scenes were written so well that I found myself sitting in the room watching the wheels of justice churning, I felt Vivian’s pain as she was left feeling exposed once more, reliving the rape under cross-examination, her pain yet her determination to see the process through in order to see justice done. It laid bare conflicts she felt, should she cry? Should she be strong and composed? How do the public expect a survivor of rape to behave? All these questions and thoughts that no individual should ever have to be thinking.
I wept reading this book, not because I think her life is ruined but I wept that she has had to go through this pain to write this novel, to write a novel where the research done was based on her experience, I wept that she was strong enough to tell this story and to carry on speaking out for those who have not yet been able to find their voice
November 18, 2017
The title of this book is so very perfect and although to the reader it represent the very horrific and brutal facts of the story, for the author and assailant it is the dark chapters in their lives following the thirty minutes that they actual knew each other. It is a courageous story told by the author, herself the victim. The thing that I admire greatly about her is being able to not only tell her side of the story but also that of the young teenager that violated and raped her.
There is a back drop of both characters from when they were growing up, where their childhood years couldn’t have been more different. Vivian confidant, educated and in a successful career loved walking and exploring, at times, in more remote areas. Johnny was a travellers son, being dragged up, for lack of a better word, by his abusive father. His world was one of violence which he had witnessed between his father and mother. The stories from other lads about taking ‘what they wanted’ from girls as a right were regularly told to him. Then one day Johnny sees Vivian walking and both of their lives would be destroyed by what followed.
Winnie M Li, the author describes every frightening and terrifying action and thought that she experienced, her desperate pleas, her bargaining and quick thinking to ensure her survival. Then the thoughts of Johnny, how he sees the events, his right to do what he is doing and how he knows this is ‘what she wants too’. There was such an helplessness that I felt when I was reading this, a boy so damaged by how he was brought up actually thinking that this was normal, to the woman who I knew would never forget this day.
The court case that followed was just as horrific. The story though goes much further and describes how it affected the relationships of both Vivian and Johnny with their families and friends.
I truly admire this author that has had the courage to write about this terrible time in her life but the ability to look into the mind of this young man was remarkable. There is nothing tacky about this story, this is a detailed account of what happened. Truly courageous.
There is a back drop of both characters from when they were growing up, where their childhood years couldn’t have been more different. Vivian confidant, educated and in a successful career loved walking and exploring, at times, in more remote areas. Johnny was a travellers son, being dragged up, for lack of a better word, by his abusive father. His world was one of violence which he had witnessed between his father and mother. The stories from other lads about taking ‘what they wanted’ from girls as a right were regularly told to him. Then one day Johnny sees Vivian walking and both of their lives would be destroyed by what followed.
Winnie M Li, the author describes every frightening and terrifying action and thought that she experienced, her desperate pleas, her bargaining and quick thinking to ensure her survival. Then the thoughts of Johnny, how he sees the events, his right to do what he is doing and how he knows this is ‘what she wants too’. There was such an helplessness that I felt when I was reading this, a boy so damaged by how he was brought up actually thinking that this was normal, to the woman who I knew would never forget this day.
The court case that followed was just as horrific. The story though goes much further and describes how it affected the relationships of both Vivian and Johnny with their families and friends.
I truly admire this author that has had the courage to write about this terrible time in her life but the ability to look into the mind of this young man was remarkable. There is nothing tacky about this story, this is a detailed account of what happened. Truly courageous.
March 14, 2018
Once in a while there comes a book that knocks you down, tears you apart, then puts you together again a much inspired woman. DARK CHAPTER does that. I ran out of post-its to mark the important words. I used my camera to snap evey phrase that spoke to me but soon my phone was full with more than a hundred snapshots of this book. Every page is important. Every phrase is true, gripping, gut-wrenching, emotional, angry, powerful, strong. STRONG.This book, this story? STRONG. The voice? STRONG. 💖
Trigger warning: rape and battery. If you think this might be painful, please do not read beyond this point. Though if you could, I encourage you to. This book heals. It won't be right away, but it will lead you from a dark place to the light. It will prepare you for the truth, for the reality. It's neither ugly or pretty. Truth is truth. Reality can be unfair and lack of compassion. It is what it is.
If other books mindfuck us with their twist and turn, this book punches me with its brutal truth. 💗
"And then she realizes how ridiculously unfair this whole system is. She was the one who was walking along on her own when he did this to her. And then she has to wait almost a year to sit in front of a room full of strangers, tell them the humiliating truth, stand up to a sleazy-bag barrister trying to paint her as a villain-seductress, then listen to the boy make up this trash about her? Is this what we have to subject ourselves to, in order to get justice?" VIVIAN TAN
💖
DARK CHAPTER gives me an unapologetic, uncensored picture of the aftermath. The damage and the pain doesn't stop once you are rescued, or when the criminal is convicted.
The author has pushed the meaning of the word STRONG to a whole new level. I admire her and Vivian's strength. I admire the author's compassion in giving the assailant in this story a voice too. He's despicable but he has a voice and we hear it.
Trigger warning: rape and battery. If you think this might be painful, please do not read beyond this point. Though if you could, I encourage you to. This book heals. It won't be right away, but it will lead you from a dark place to the light. It will prepare you for the truth, for the reality. It's neither ugly or pretty. Truth is truth. Reality can be unfair and lack of compassion. It is what it is.
If other books mindfuck us with their twist and turn, this book punches me with its brutal truth. 💗
"And then she realizes how ridiculously unfair this whole system is. She was the one who was walking along on her own when he did this to her. And then she has to wait almost a year to sit in front of a room full of strangers, tell them the humiliating truth, stand up to a sleazy-bag barrister trying to paint her as a villain-seductress, then listen to the boy make up this trash about her? Is this what we have to subject ourselves to, in order to get justice?" VIVIAN TAN
💖
DARK CHAPTER gives me an unapologetic, uncensored picture of the aftermath. The damage and the pain doesn't stop once you are rescued, or when the criminal is convicted.
The author has pushed the meaning of the word STRONG to a whole new level. I admire her and Vivian's strength. I admire the author's compassion in giving the assailant in this story a voice too. He's despicable but he has a voice and we hear it.
August 17, 2022
A riveting page turner. The book deals with a rape that occurred in Belfast and has a two-person perspective: Vivian Tan - the rape survivor and Johnny Sweeney - the rapist. I listed to the audible version and was blown away by the man narrating Johnny.
The author survived a rape and understands the hard work of recovery for victims/survivors of rape.
She presents the two voices from their childhood to five years after the rape. We can follow the arc of their lives. As the front of the cover says, "One day. One victim. Two lives changed forever." I literally couldn't put the book down.
The author survived a rape and understands the hard work of recovery for victims/survivors of rape.
She presents the two voices from their childhood to five years after the rape. We can follow the arc of their lives. As the front of the cover says, "One day. One victim. Two lives changed forever." I literally couldn't put the book down.
November 13, 2017
I received this from Legend Press to review as part of a blog tour (my spot is on the 14th I'm v excited!). So I'll upload a full review after this point. Dark Chapter is unlike any book I've read, it's brutal and truthful and gives a real insight in to the effects that sexual assault can have. It's a tough read but it's also an important one!
November 15, 2017
If I could only write one sentence about this book it would be: Dark Chapter is a disturbing and compelling book but quite simply STUNNING! I could no more tear my eyes from the page than I could forget to breathe. As difficult as it was to read at times, it was quite impossible to stop reading.
Vivian has come to Belfast to see the sights, but gets more than she bargained for when she is raped; shocked and stunned, she reports the crime but as much courage as that took, she needs to call on greater strength to see it through. Seeing the crime from both sides is shocking and surprising and I can't even begin to imagine what Winnie M Li has been through in order to call upon such emotions.
The Prologue of Dark Chapter sets the pace, where I felt sick with fear and my heart raced with the increasing tension as we hurtled towards the inevitable conclusion. Although there are no chapters, which usually would annoy me, but in this case I barely blinked, I raced through the 5 parts of the book: part 1 the time leading up to the event, part 2 the aftermath, part 3 the arrest of Johnny, part 4 the trial and part 5 new beginnings. What I found amazing, was that I didn't feel sorry for Vivian, I felt every emotion with her. I felt as if the crime had been committed against my very own person and I was as MAD as hell.
Dark Chapter deserves every accolade that is coming its way, and I'm sure there will be many. To write a book filled with such emotion showing both sides of a story is nothing short of exceptional. As such abuse seems to be in the news recently, this is a book that is both very current and also very timeless. Seeing the story from both sides is both mesmerising and jawdropping, making Dark Chapter an absolutely stunning work of fiction, with a disturbing ring of truth.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Vivian has come to Belfast to see the sights, but gets more than she bargained for when she is raped; shocked and stunned, she reports the crime but as much courage as that took, she needs to call on greater strength to see it through. Seeing the crime from both sides is shocking and surprising and I can't even begin to imagine what Winnie M Li has been through in order to call upon such emotions.
The Prologue of Dark Chapter sets the pace, where I felt sick with fear and my heart raced with the increasing tension as we hurtled towards the inevitable conclusion. Although there are no chapters, which usually would annoy me, but in this case I barely blinked, I raced through the 5 parts of the book: part 1 the time leading up to the event, part 2 the aftermath, part 3 the arrest of Johnny, part 4 the trial and part 5 new beginnings. What I found amazing, was that I didn't feel sorry for Vivian, I felt every emotion with her. I felt as if the crime had been committed against my very own person and I was as MAD as hell.
Dark Chapter deserves every accolade that is coming its way, and I'm sure there will be many. To write a book filled with such emotion showing both sides of a story is nothing short of exceptional. As such abuse seems to be in the news recently, this is a book that is both very current and also very timeless. Seeing the story from both sides is both mesmerising and jawdropping, making Dark Chapter an absolutely stunning work of fiction, with a disturbing ring of truth.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 12, 2017
At first it was a little confusing, starting at the end, then jumping to the beginning. Then onto the childhood of Vivian, living in America, her education and her love of travel with her arrival to the UK. At the same time as Vivian’s story we are told about Johnny, a teenager of Irish Travellers, his upbringing is very different and hard. Once I had gone a few chapters into the book and understood the switching between characters, then I was well and truly hooked.
The book tells how two people come to be in one place at the same time. How that meeting changed both of their lives. What I found interesting was how the author had also incorporated the thoughts of both the victim and the attacker. It gave a very deep and in-depth perspective. Two views that are so opposite to each other. The characters are different in their mannerisms, outlooks on life, their education, their everything. The book, once I had got used to the style, was then set out in a very logical way. It gives details up to the attack, the attack, the trial and also the after effects of the attack As I read the section regarding the trial especially, I had a lump in my throat, just holding back the tears until the verdict was delivered. At this point I had to put down the book, I could not see through my tears. I was amazed at how caught up I had got in this story.
I found once I had started this book, it was very difficult to put down. There are some uncomfortable reading moments as you would expect. It has an honesty that is heartbreaking, emotional and inspiring. I would recommend this book to readers of contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, crime genres.
The book tells how two people come to be in one place at the same time. How that meeting changed both of their lives. What I found interesting was how the author had also incorporated the thoughts of both the victim and the attacker. It gave a very deep and in-depth perspective. Two views that are so opposite to each other. The characters are different in their mannerisms, outlooks on life, their education, their everything. The book, once I had got used to the style, was then set out in a very logical way. It gives details up to the attack, the attack, the trial and also the after effects of the attack As I read the section regarding the trial especially, I had a lump in my throat, just holding back the tears until the verdict was delivered. At this point I had to put down the book, I could not see through my tears. I was amazed at how caught up I had got in this story.
I found once I had started this book, it was very difficult to put down. There are some uncomfortable reading moments as you would expect. It has an honesty that is heartbreaking, emotional and inspiring. I would recommend this book to readers of contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, crime genres.
June 15, 2017
Told with empathy and insight, this powerful and unflinching story of a young woman’s rape and its aftermath is based on the author’s own experience, and feels convincingly authentic. Narrated in two alternating voices, the victim's and the assailant's, it’s the tale of a young Taiwanese-American woman who enjoys travelling independently and is always aware of the risks. However, when walking in a Belfast park her path crosses with a disadvantaged 15-year-old Traveller boy, Johnny, and what follows is a harrowing sexual assault. Although I am impressed with the author’s honesty, and although it’s an important and relevant theme, the writing didn’t draw me in, and although we are privy to Johnny’s though processes I still felt on the outside looking in rather than fully invested in the characters. A brave book, as others have commented, but not one that engaged me.
August 23, 2019
Sehr berührend und emotional, ich bin der Autorin sehr dankbar, dass sie ihre Erlebnisse derartig in einem Roman verarbeitet.
Es ist auch sehr nachvollziehbar wie sie aus der Sicht ihres Vergewaltigers schreibt, manchesmal aber wenn er mit solcher Herablassung von Frauen spricht, vergisst man, dass dieser Teil natürlich fiktiv ist.
Ohne Effekthascherei oder um Mitleid suchend beschreibt sie auch die Vergewaltigung aus beiderlei Sicht - diese Stelle war so intensiv aber dennoch nüchtern beschrieben, dass ich das Buch mittendrin weglegen musste.
Ich litt mit ihr, ich konnte ihre Angst nachvollziehen, ihre Probleme in den Alltag zurückzufinden aber auch ihren Wunsch das alles hinter sich zu lassen.
Ich bin froh, dass sie es anscheinend nach einem langen Weg geschafft hat, nicht ihr ursprüngliches Leben wiederzuerlangen, aber einen neuen, für sie passenden Lebensabschnitt zu beginnen.
Es ist auch sehr nachvollziehbar wie sie aus der Sicht ihres Vergewaltigers schreibt, manchesmal aber wenn er mit solcher Herablassung von Frauen spricht, vergisst man, dass dieser Teil natürlich fiktiv ist.
Ohne Effekthascherei oder um Mitleid suchend beschreibt sie auch die Vergewaltigung aus beiderlei Sicht - diese Stelle war so intensiv aber dennoch nüchtern beschrieben, dass ich das Buch mittendrin weglegen musste.
Ich litt mit ihr, ich konnte ihre Angst nachvollziehen, ihre Probleme in den Alltag zurückzufinden aber auch ihren Wunsch das alles hinter sich zu lassen.
Ich bin froh, dass sie es anscheinend nach einem langen Weg geschafft hat, nicht ihr ursprüngliches Leben wiederzuerlangen, aber einen neuen, für sie passenden Lebensabschnitt zu beginnen.
did-not-finish
March 10, 2019DNFed @ 28%. Uncomfortable to read being a book about rape, especially as it's apparently based on the author's own experience. So definitely a difficult subject to read about and I simply don't want to read more. I'm also finding the writing a little weak and unengaging. Of course this is difficult subject to write about well. Leaving unrated.
March 5, 2018
A disturbing read.
September 19, 2017
As other readers have commented, the constantly changing viewpoint makes it quite difficult to follow this book to start with, but it is well worth persevering because it is a mechanism used to very effectively build up the suspense and horror of the time leading up to the assault, and of the assault itself.
We know right from the outset that there WILL be an assault, and I was rather surprised to find it happened half way through the book: once I'd reached that part I thought "So what now?" but the aftermath of the scene and the effects it had on Vivian, Johnny and their friends and families actually kept me rivetted right to the last page.
A great debut but I'm worried that if the author writes another book, it may not tell such a powerful story. The plot for this book was inspired by personal experience, and I would hope that nobody goes through an experience as horrible and powerful as the one that inspired this book more than once in their lifetime. It will be interesting to see if she can write as well when drawing purely from imagination rather than experience.
We know right from the outset that there WILL be an assault, and I was rather surprised to find it happened half way through the book: once I'd reached that part I thought "So what now?" but the aftermath of the scene and the effects it had on Vivian, Johnny and their friends and families actually kept me rivetted right to the last page.
A great debut but I'm worried that if the author writes another book, it may not tell such a powerful story. The plot for this book was inspired by personal experience, and I would hope that nobody goes through an experience as horrible and powerful as the one that inspired this book more than once in their lifetime. It will be interesting to see if she can write as well when drawing purely from imagination rather than experience.
September 14, 2017
I won this book in a giveaway and when it finally arrived and I started reading,it seemed confusing,I didn't expect it to be written in two POVs, but it soon became clear to me that this way the story would uncover in two different perspectives and display all the terrifying things that goes in minds of rapists and how destructive it is for the victim to live everyday after the assault. I really wanted to finish this book as soon as possible,it was too hard for me to read, I would put it down and do something else to calm myself and then come back to it the next day. But today I said I would finish it and I did,and I'm so proud of the author that she could put part of her life into words and allow us to read about it. I still have several unanswered questions and I'm not happy the way it ended,but that's what life is,right? You can't always be happy about it,but you can keep on living no matter what happens.
June 5, 2017
ARC from Netgalley.
This is a powerful story on a very important topic. It is mostly well-written, but there are a number of inaccuracies which I found interfered with my ability to become absorbed in the story. There were quite a few very simple errors: for example the narrator mentions the “hot pink nail polish” on a nurse who’s treating her, when nurses aren’t supposed to wear nail polish, in general, and the dress code for the hospital named bans nail polish for clinical staff, or when she refers to a building as “the (name)” when there is never, ever, a “the” before its name. But there were a couple of bigger stinkers too: the narrator comments that she’s not allowed to be in court for most of the trial, then proceeds to relate the events of the trial from her own perspective, from her position in the courtroom.
The story is the author’s first book, and that does show. It’s also semi-autobiographical and I’m not sure that in this case that makes it a stronger book – I understand that the author has poured a great deal of herself into it, but I did feel that it would have been better if she’d been able to be more detached from it.
This is a powerful story on a very important topic. It is mostly well-written, but there are a number of inaccuracies which I found interfered with my ability to become absorbed in the story. There were quite a few very simple errors: for example the narrator mentions the “hot pink nail polish” on a nurse who’s treating her, when nurses aren’t supposed to wear nail polish, in general, and the dress code for the hospital named bans nail polish for clinical staff, or when she refers to a building as “the (name)” when there is never, ever, a “the” before its name. But there were a couple of bigger stinkers too: the narrator comments that she’s not allowed to be in court for most of the trial, then proceeds to relate the events of the trial from her own perspective, from her position in the courtroom.
The story is the author’s first book, and that does show. It’s also semi-autobiographical and I’m not sure that in this case that makes it a stronger book – I understand that the author has poured a great deal of herself into it, but I did feel that it would have been better if she’d been able to be more detached from it.
Read
June 16, 2017Won in Goodreads Giveaways - not read, passed on to another reader.
October 25, 2017
I became aware of this book after it won The Guardian Not the Booker Prize 2017 and thought that I would like to read it. This is a work of fiction based on the author’s experience of rape rather than a memoir. I’m not sure how I would cope with reading a memoir knowing that it was all true. That said this is a very powerful and moving tale told from the viewpoints of Johnny the rapist and Vivian the victim. I wasn’t at all comfortable with the voice of Johnny as I was reading particularly the courtroom scenes. I’m glad that Vivian’s story continued beyond the trial and let us see a bit more of her recovery.
‘The world is oblivious to what she’s just gone through. And unless she tells someone, anyone, they will never know about her journey through that valley, when she felt her way through in the dark’.
I received a copy of Dark Chapter via NetGalley and my thanks to Legend Press for that.
‘The world is oblivious to what she’s just gone through. And unless she tells someone, anyone, they will never know about her journey through that valley, when she felt her way through in the dark’.
I received a copy of Dark Chapter via NetGalley and my thanks to Legend Press for that.
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