Kate Elizabeth Russell

Last updated
Kate Elizabeth Russell
Born1984 (age 3940)
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
Education John Bapst Memorial High School
University of Maine at Farmington (BFA)
Indiana University (MFA)
University of Kansas (PhD)
Notable works
  • My Dark Vanessa

Kate Elizabeth Russell (born 1984) is an American author. Her debut novel, My Dark Vanessa, was published in 2020 and became a national bestseller.

Contents

Biography

Russell was raised in the town of Clifton, Maine, attending John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine. [1] [2] She subsequently studied as an undergraduate at the University of Maine at Farmington, earning a B.F.A. in creative writing in 2006, [3] and went on to earn an M.F.A. from Indiana University [4] and a Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Kansas. [5]

My Dark Vanessa

Russell's first novel offers a fictional account of a traumatic sexual relationship between its protagonist, Vanessa Wye, and Jacob Strane. Wye is 15 years old and a lonely student at boarding school when Strane, her 42-year-old English teacher, begins grooming her for a sexual relationship which will come to cast an appalling shadow over her life. The novel is a first-person narrative, jumping forward and backward in time amongst 2000, 2007, and 2017, with this last year affording Russell the social context of the Me Too movement. [6]

It is implied that Vanessa is, at least in part, an unreliable narrator owing to her reluctance to see herself as a victim or Strane as a predator.

My Dark Vanessa was a national bestseller. [7] It was selected for translation and publication in 22 countries, and optioned for the screen. [2] [3] Reviewed positively in a number of publications, [8] [9] [6] [10] [11] [12] [13] My Dark Vanessa brought Russell into a public conversation regarding the novel's treatment of abusive sexual relationships, as well as an individual's right to privacy regarding past trauma. [14] [15] [16] [17]

According to Book Marks, the book received "positive" reviews based on twenty-one critic reviews with seven being "rave" and thirteen being "positive" and one being "mixed". [18] In Books in the Media, a site that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg (3.86 out of 5) from the site which was based on eleven critic reviews. [19] [20] [21]

Russell was shortlisted for the 2021 Dylan Thomas Prize for My Dark Vanessa. [22]

Controversy

My Dark Vanessa occasioned pre-publication controversy when author Wendy C. Ortiz complained that Russell's novel had received different support from that given to Ortiz's memoir concerning a relationship with her 8th grade English teacher. [23] [24] Ortiz had not read Russell's book, [25] but discussed Russell's alleged appropriation on Twitter with Roxane Gay. [26] [27] Gay subsequently published Ortiz's essay "Adventures in Publishing Outside the Gates," which alleged My Dark Vanessa bore "eerie story similarities" to Ortiz's memoir; the article began with an illustration of one artist copying another's work. [28] However, the Associated Press reported, "Reviewers who looked at both books saw no evidence of plagiarism," [29] a conclusion echoed by Lila Shapiro of New York Magazine . [24] Nevertheless, in response to social media comments, and in the wake of the controversy over American Dirt , [30] Oprah Winfrey, who had originally tapped My Dark Vanessa as a selection for her influential Book Club, rescinded the selection. [29] [31]

As a result of the accusations of plagiarism and appropriation, Russell made a public statement disclosing that My Dark Vanessa had been inspired by her own experiences with sexual abuse as a teenager. [29] [32]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Grenville</span> Australian author

Catherine Elizabeth Grenville is an Australian author. She has published fifteen books, including fiction, non-fiction, biography, and books about the writing process. In 2001, she won the Orange Prize for The Idea of Perfection, and in 2006 she won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for The Secret River. The Secret River was also shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

Linda Grant is an English novelist and journalist.

<i>The Handmaids Tale</i> (film) 1990 film by Volker Schlöndorff

The Handmaid's Tale is a 1990 dystopian film adapted from Canadian author Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel of the same name. Directed by Volker Schlöndorff, the film stars Natasha Richardson (Offred), Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall, Aidan Quinn (Nick), and Elizabeth McGovern (Moira). The screenplay was written by playwright Harold Pinter. The original music score was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The film was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival. It is the first filmed adaptation of the novel, succeeded by the Hulu television series which began streaming in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Strout</span> American writer

Elizabeth Strout is an American novelist and author. She is widely known for her works in literary fiction and her descriptive characterization. She was born and raised in Portland, Maine, and her experiences in her youth served as inspiration for her novels–the fictional "Shirley Falls, Maine" is the setting of four of her nine novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Gilbert</span> American journalist and author (born 1969)

Elizabeth Gilbert is an American journalist and author. She is best known for her 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love, which has sold over 12 million copies and has been translated into over 30 languages. The book was also made into a film of the same name in 2010.

<i>Lolita</i> 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov that addresses the controversial subject of hebephilia. The protagonist is a French literature professor who moves to New England and writes under the pseudonym Humbert Humbert. He describes his obsession with a 12-year-old "nymphet", Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after becoming her stepfather. Privately, he calls her "Lolita", the Spanish diminutive for Dolores. The novel was originally written in English, but fear of censorship in the U.S. and Britain led to it being first published in Paris, France, in 1955 by Olympia Press.

Rebecca Stead is an American writer of fiction for children and teens. She won the American Newbery Medal in 2010, the oldest award in children's literature, for her second novel When You Reach Me.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oprah's Book Club 2.0</span> Award

Oprah's Book Club 2.0 is a book club founded June 1, 2012, by Oprah Winfrey in a joint project between OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and O: The Oprah Magazine. The club is a re-launch of the original Oprah's Book Club, which ran for 15 years and ended in 2011, but as the "2.0" name suggests, digital media is the new focus. It incorporates the use of various social media platforms and e-readers that allow for the quoting and uploading of passages and notes for discussion, among other features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxane Gay</span> American writer (born 1974)

Roxane Gay is an American writer, professor, editor, and social commentator. Gay is the author of The New York Times best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist (2014), as well as the short story collection Ayiti (2011), the novel An Untamed State (2014), the short story collection Difficult Women (2017), and the memoir Hunger (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy C. Ortiz</span> American poet

Wendy C. Ortiz is an American essayist, creative nonfiction writer, fiction writer, psychotherapist, and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Bond</span> American author and former actress (born 1961)

Cynthia Bond is an American author and actress. Her debut novel Ruby spent six consecutive weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list, and was chosen as a selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0. She was born in Hempstead, Texas, and now lives in Los Angeles, California. Bond won a journalism scholarship to Northwestern University she then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Bond was a PEN Rosenthal Fellow for Emerging Writers. Bond is also on staff at the Paradigm Malibu Adolescent Treatment Center.

<i>A Fair Maiden</i> 2010 novella by Joyce Carol Oates

A Fair Maiden is a 2010 novella by Joyce Carol Oates that chronicles the relationship between teenage nanny Katya Spivak and the much older, affluent artist Marcus Kidder. The novel's themes and plot are reminiscent of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.

Fiona Mozley is an English novelist and medievalist. Her debut novel, Elmet, was shortlisted for the 2017 Booker Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley C. Ford</span> American writer

Ashley C. Ford is an American writer, podcaster and educator who discusses topics including race, sexuality, and body image. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, Somebody's Daughter. She has been the host of five podcasts and has written or guest-edited for publications including The Guardian, Elle, BuzzFeed, and New York. In 2017, Forbes named her one of their "30 Under 30 in Media". In 2022, Ford won the Indiana Authors Award for a debut novel.

<i>Girl, Woman, Other</i> 2018 novel by Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other is the eighth novel by Bernardine Evaristo. Published in 2019 by Hamish Hamilton, it follows the lives of 12 characters in the United Kingdom over the course of several decades. The book was the co-winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, alongside Margaret Atwood's The Testaments.

Candice Carty-Williams is a British writer, best known for her 2019 debut novel, Queenie. She has written for publications including The Guardian, i-D, Vogue, The Sunday Times, BEAT Magazine, and Black Ballad, and is a contributor to the anthology New Daughters of Africa (2019), edited by Margaret Busby.

<i>American Dirt</i> Novel by Jeanine Cummins

American Dirt is a 2020 novel by American author Jeanine Cummins, published by Flatiron Books. The book is about a Mexican bookseller who is forced to flee as an illegal immigrant to the United States, along with her son, after her journalist husband exposes a local drug kingpin. American Dirt was a New York Times best seller, selling over 3 million copies worldwide in 37 languages. It was selected for the TV series Oprah's Book Club hosted by Oprah Winfrey, and was on the longlist for the 2020 Prix Médicis étranger. However, the book also gained significant criticism, especially from Mexican-American authors, for its alleged cultural exploitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honorée Fanonne Jeffers</span> American poet and novelist (born 1967)

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers is an American poet and novelist, and a professor of English at the University of Oklahoma. She has published five collections of poetry and a novel. Her 2020 collection The Age of Phillis reexamines the life of American poet Phillis Wheatley, based on years of archival research; it was longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Poetry, and won the 2021 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry. Her debut novel, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois, was published by HarperCollins in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth C. Bunce</span> American author

Elizabeth C. Bunce is an American author who writes mysteries, fantasy, and ghost stories. Best known for her Edgar Award-winning Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series and her novel A Curse Dark as Gold, her books feature strong female characters, are often inspired by folklore, and targeted toward young adult and pre-teen readers while also appealing to adults. Her writing style has been referred to as literary fiction, and her works have been called “mysteries in fantasy dress,” “spun with mystery and shot through with romance.” Her works are infused with the results of her research into history, science, culture, and etymology, often set in or inspired by historical places and times.

<i>Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be</i> 2021 non-fiction book by Nichole Perkins

Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be: Essays is a nonfiction essay collection and memoir by American writer Nichole Perkins. The book was released on August 17, 2021, by Grand Central Publishing. It was recommended by Fortune, Bitch, and Buzzfeed News.

References

  1. "The beautiful trauma of Bangor-area native Kate Russell's debut novel, 'My Dark Vanessa'". 6 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Clifton native's debut novel sold in a seven-figure book deal". 13 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 "'My Dark Vanessa': Announcing the biggest-selling debut novel of the season". EW.com.
  4. "Kate Elizabeth Russell author information". BookBrowse.com.
  5. "Kate Elizabeth Russell". Graduate Program in Creative Writing. September 10, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "'My Dark Vanessa' Looks Back At The Devastation Of A Predatory Affair". NPR.org.
  7. Egan, Elisabeth (April 2, 2020). "Oprah's Book Club Dropped Her Novel. It Still Became a Best Seller". The New York Times.
  8. "My Dark Vanessa | Book Marks". Book Marks. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  9. Roiphe, Katie (March 6, 2020). "Girl, Interrupted". The New York Times.
  10. Gilbert, Sophie (March 25, 2020). "What Is the Point of 'Lolita' From Lolita's Point of View?". The Atlantic.
  11. Zinovieff, Sofka (April 4, 2020). "My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell review – a powerful, shocking debut". The Guardian via www.theguardian.com.
  12. "Kate Elizabeth Russell's debut novel is an unsettling tale of abuse". The Economist.
  13. Liggett, Kim. "Review | 'My Dark Vanessa' is being described as 'Lolita' for the #MeToo era. It's more than that". Washington Post.
  14. Ovenden, Olivia (April 4, 2020). "Kate Elizabeth Russell On Writing Her Explosive Debut Novel, 'My Dark Vanessa'". Esquire.
  15. "The Delicate Art of Writing a Believable Sexual Predator". MEL Magazine. April 5, 2020.
  16. Barry, Aoife (31 March 2020). "Writing in the #MeToo era: 'It was intimidating taking on something in fiction that was happening in real time'". TheJournal.ie.
  17. "Kate Elizabeth Russell on My Dark Vanessa and the 'Early Aughts Lolita Complex'". Pictorial. 12 March 2020.
  18. "My Dark Vanessa". Book Marks. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  19. "My Dark Vanessa Reviews". Books in the Media. Archived from the original on 27 Nov 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  20. "My Dark Vanessa". Bookmarks. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  21. "My Dark Vanessa". Bibliosurf (in French). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  22. "Shortlist for Dylan Thomas Prize Is Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  23. Sturges, Fiona (March 13, 2020). "Is My Dark Vanessa the most controversial novel of the year? Author Kate Elizabeth Russell speaks out". The Guardian via www.theguardian.com.
  24. 1 2 Shapiro, Lila (February 18, 2020). "My Dark Vanessa Is Not a Love Story". Vulture.
  25. Sturges, Fiona (March 13, 2020). "Is My Dark Vanessa the most controversial novel of the year? Author Kate Elizabeth Russell speaks out". The Guardian via www.theguardian.com.
  26. Gay, Roxane [@rgay] (January 21, 2020). "This must feel so infuriating. I'm sorry that this other book is co-opting your story without acknowledgment. It's wrong" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 22, 2020 via Twitter.
  27. Ortiz, Wendy [@WendyCOrtiz] (January 22, 2020). "Thank you, Roxane 🖤" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 22, 2020 via Twitter.
  28. Ortiz, Wendy C. (January 29, 2020). "Adventures in Publishing Outside the Gates". Medium.
  29. 1 2 3 "Oprah Winfrey dropped 'My Dark Vanessa' book club pick after online controversy". USA TODAY.
  30. Grady, Constance (January 29, 2020). "American Dirt's publisher cancels the rest of the book's tour, citing threats". Vox.
  31. Hampton, Rachelle (February 1, 2020). "Why My Dark Vanessa Is the New Book Everyone's Angry About". Slate Magazine.
  32. Russell, Kate Elizabeth (February 1, 2020). "A Note to Readers". kateelizabethrussell.com.