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These Violent Delights
At Windemere School for Girls, one of America’s elite private schools, Dr. Gregory Copeland is the beloved chair of the English Department. A married father with a penchant for romantic poetry—and impressionable teenage girls—he operates in plain sight for years, until one of his former students goes public with allegations of inappropriate conduct. With the help of an investigative journalist, and two additional Windemere alumnae who had relationships with Copeland as students, the unlikely quartet unites to take him down.
Set in modern-day Los Angeles, These Violent Delights is a literary exploration of the unyielding pressures and vulnerabilities that so many women and girls experience, and analyzes the ways in which our institutions and families fail to protect or defend us. A suspenseful and nuanced story told from multiple points of view, the novel examines themes of sexuality, trauma, revenge, and the American myth of liberty and justice for all.
Set in modern-day Los Angeles, These Violent Delights is a literary exploration of the unyielding pressures and vulnerabilities that so many women and girls experience, and analyzes the ways in which our institutions and families fail to protect or defend us. A suspenseful and nuanced story told from multiple points of view, the novel examines themes of sexuality, trauma, revenge, and the American myth of liberty and justice for all.
243 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2017
10 people are currently reading
2133 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Namkung
5 books89 followersVictoria Namkung is a Los Angeles-based author and journalist whose work is featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, VICE, Washington Post, USA Today, and InStyle, among other publications. She's appeared at UNC Charlotte, LitFest Pasadena, Bad Advice From Bad Women, Mixed Remixed, and the Asian American Journalists Association, and on BBC World Report, SIRIUSXM, and That's Racist with Mike Epps. She's the author of the 2015 novel, The Things We Tell Ourselves (Standard Time Press), and These Violent Delights (Griffith Moon), published in the fall of 2017.
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February 25, 2018
My reviews can also be found at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
“In a single-sex school, a girl can comprehend her value and her capabilities in ways that have nothing to do with how she looks or whom she dates. She can be free to experiment and explore, trying out new things and trying on new roles. She can follow her ambitions without wasting a second thought or backward glance on how her male counterparts might perceive her. “
--National Coalition of girls’ Schools
Investigative journalist, Jane March arrives home, exhausted after a long day. However, after reading an email from her current intern, Caryn, Jane’s tiredness is instantly forgotten. Caryn Rodgers is a USC journalism student and has just started interning for Jane. The email is about an essay Caryn has written, a personal essay about something that happened years ago when she attended Windemere, an elite all-girls school. Caryn has written about something happened with a teacher that he was never punished for.
“Since finishing her first draft, my appetite has magically disappeared, and I know I won’t be sleeping well tonight, either. I guess even money can’t protect you from certain things.”
The teacher is, Dr. Gregory Copeland. Dr. Copeland has worked at Windemere School for Girls for many years. He’s popular with everyone…the staff, parents, and the students. He’s a married father of two and is currently chair of the English department at Windemere. However, Dr. Copeland is also a predator and has been using his position of power to take advantage of his young students for many years.
At first, Caryn isn’t sure if she wants to publicly name him. She knows her parents won’t be thrilled that she’s going public with this.
Jane gets a little pushback at first from some of her co-workers about publishing Caryn’s essay, but she quickly puts an end to that.
“Don’t you find it interesting that these crimes against women – whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape – are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
After the article is published, other former students come forward with their own allegations against Copeland. Two alumnae join up with Jane and Caryn and are determined to do something about Dr. Copeland. Will they be successful? Will Dr. Gregory Copeland finally get what’s coming to him? And what about the others that were complicit in keeping some of his secrets? Will they be brought to task as well?
I was really excited to get my hands on this novel. The description was intriguing and the beautiful cover didn’t hurt either. “These Violent Delights” wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This was a thought-provoking read that I read in just two sittings.
It’s scary how relevant and realistic the issues in this novel are and how often these things still happen. I don’t feel like anything was exaggerated or written for sensationalism. This novel highlights the failure of those involved in protecting young women. In what is supposed to be a safe place, they were targeted by a predator for years, where he was free to continue teaching and grooming even more young girls.
We also see what happens when social media gets involved in cases like this, often blaming the victims and/or offering excuses for the accused.
The story is told from multiple points of view. There were a few times that I got mixed up and wasn’t sure whose point of view I was reading, but for the most part I was able to keep things straight. These characters were well-written and my heart broke for them as I read about the long-term and lasting effects the abuse had on them.
Victoria Namkung has written a very realistic, relevant, and timely novel. At times it really felt like I was reading a non-fiction book. It has a powerful message and also tells an interesting story.
Thank you to Griffith Moon for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
“In a single-sex school, a girl can comprehend her value and her capabilities in ways that have nothing to do with how she looks or whom she dates. She can be free to experiment and explore, trying out new things and trying on new roles. She can follow her ambitions without wasting a second thought or backward glance on how her male counterparts might perceive her. “
--National Coalition of girls’ Schools
Investigative journalist, Jane March arrives home, exhausted after a long day. However, after reading an email from her current intern, Caryn, Jane’s tiredness is instantly forgotten. Caryn Rodgers is a USC journalism student and has just started interning for Jane. The email is about an essay Caryn has written, a personal essay about something that happened years ago when she attended Windemere, an elite all-girls school. Caryn has written about something happened with a teacher that he was never punished for.
“Since finishing her first draft, my appetite has magically disappeared, and I know I won’t be sleeping well tonight, either. I guess even money can’t protect you from certain things.”
The teacher is, Dr. Gregory Copeland. Dr. Copeland has worked at Windemere School for Girls for many years. He’s popular with everyone…the staff, parents, and the students. He’s a married father of two and is currently chair of the English department at Windemere. However, Dr. Copeland is also a predator and has been using his position of power to take advantage of his young students for many years.
At first, Caryn isn’t sure if she wants to publicly name him. She knows her parents won’t be thrilled that she’s going public with this.
Jane gets a little pushback at first from some of her co-workers about publishing Caryn’s essay, but she quickly puts an end to that.
“Don’t you find it interesting that these crimes against women – whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape – are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
After the article is published, other former students come forward with their own allegations against Copeland. Two alumnae join up with Jane and Caryn and are determined to do something about Dr. Copeland. Will they be successful? Will Dr. Gregory Copeland finally get what’s coming to him? And what about the others that were complicit in keeping some of his secrets? Will they be brought to task as well?
I was really excited to get my hands on this novel. The description was intriguing and the beautiful cover didn’t hurt either. “These Violent Delights” wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This was a thought-provoking read that I read in just two sittings.
It’s scary how relevant and realistic the issues in this novel are and how often these things still happen. I don’t feel like anything was exaggerated or written for sensationalism. This novel highlights the failure of those involved in protecting young women. In what is supposed to be a safe place, they were targeted by a predator for years, where he was free to continue teaching and grooming even more young girls.
We also see what happens when social media gets involved in cases like this, often blaming the victims and/or offering excuses for the accused.
The story is told from multiple points of view. There were a few times that I got mixed up and wasn’t sure whose point of view I was reading, but for the most part I was able to keep things straight. These characters were well-written and my heart broke for them as I read about the long-term and lasting effects the abuse had on them.
Victoria Namkung has written a very realistic, relevant, and timely novel. At times it really felt like I was reading a non-fiction book. It has a powerful message and also tells an interesting story.
Thank you to Griffith Moon for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2017
At first, I was not sure how to judge this book as a reader. It is well written, packs a powerful message and it held my attention, even though it has a distinct non-fiction feel. So, four stars it is! Plus, that gorgeous cover.
Chosen for its beautiful cover and title, I mistakenly assumed the book was a light mystery or domestic type thriller. It’s not. Note to self: start reading summaries carefully. I am really glad I continued reading, it was compelling and informative.
Here comes the dreaded “however”… reading this book feels exactly like watching a one hour episode of Law and Order. Da dum.
With spot-on relevancy to current events (#MeToo), I was expecting a great deal from this book. The story of different women that come forward, years later, to accuse a former high school teacher of horrible things was sadly dry, simply because of the way it was presented. We hear their stories in long rambling paragraphs of newspaper articles, letters, court testimony or social media posts.
We follow this story through all the different stages from initial public accusation, investigations and finally, the trial. Remember my Law and Order reference?
The book makes a strong statement for women and children’s rights and offers solutions to issues schools face when dealing with accusations against teachers. The author is deeply entrenched and knowledgeable with the American culture of rape and makes so many compelling arguments.
“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
I found it difficult to really connect to the protagonists in this story, much as I admired them for their courage. I was interested and cared about the characters. I just wanted to know them on a different level than as a victim.
The book is categorized in General or Women’s fiction. This is a difficult subject to serve as a thesis in a work of fiction. I think the author did a fantastic job of researching the facts and giving all the statistics involved in sexual abuse. It is insightful, valuable and educational for parents and older teens to read. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about what we can do to prevent more women from having to remain silent.
Sadly, the problem lies in the fact that this is so relevant and the stories are so real that this short book reads more like non-fiction. And I want more story.
Chosen for its beautiful cover and title, I mistakenly assumed the book was a light mystery or domestic type thriller. It’s not. Note to self: start reading summaries carefully. I am really glad I continued reading, it was compelling and informative.
Here comes the dreaded “however”… reading this book feels exactly like watching a one hour episode of Law and Order. Da dum.
With spot-on relevancy to current events (#MeToo), I was expecting a great deal from this book. The story of different women that come forward, years later, to accuse a former high school teacher of horrible things was sadly dry, simply because of the way it was presented. We hear their stories in long rambling paragraphs of newspaper articles, letters, court testimony or social media posts.
We follow this story through all the different stages from initial public accusation, investigations and finally, the trial. Remember my Law and Order reference?
The book makes a strong statement for women and children’s rights and offers solutions to issues schools face when dealing with accusations against teachers. The author is deeply entrenched and knowledgeable with the American culture of rape and makes so many compelling arguments.
“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
I found it difficult to really connect to the protagonists in this story, much as I admired them for their courage. I was interested and cared about the characters. I just wanted to know them on a different level than as a victim.
The book is categorized in General or Women’s fiction. This is a difficult subject to serve as a thesis in a work of fiction. I think the author did a fantastic job of researching the facts and giving all the statistics involved in sexual abuse. It is insightful, valuable and educational for parents and older teens to read. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about what we can do to prevent more women from having to remain silent.
Sadly, the problem lies in the fact that this is so relevant and the stories are so real that this short book reads more like non-fiction. And I want more story.
November 7, 2017
I found this book incredibly topical with all that’s been going on in the media at the moment. It’s staggering how many women will quietly relate to issues within this book. The prevalence of sexual assault and abuse is sadly all too common so books like these are incredibly important and relevant. I raced through this book, I enjoyed the fact that it was straight to the point, it’s not glossy or full of filler. It did feel less like a novel than an investigative journalistic piece though which did not deter me at all. Although some parts felt slightly rushed and incomplete. Still I was fully invested in this story and the characters. This book shows the lasting effects of abuse how devastating the impact whether the actions are considered big or small, the subtle forms of abuse can be just as damaging and how it can change someone’s life so profoundly, it made me feel intense emotions for all the women in this book. Also showing how the impact is different for every individual and no victim is cut from the same mould as another victim. The banding together and the support of the women towards each other was such a appealing part of why this book worked so well for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for my advance review copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for my advance review copy.
December 5, 2017
Let's address the obvious first... that title, that cover! Stunning. I received an ARC of this novel, but if I'd been browsing in a bookstore, that cover would have grabbed my attention right away. I would have been open to buying it before I even knew what it was about, and the blurb would have sealed the deal.
"Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?"
That quote features in the beginning of the book. I read it three times. I highlighted it. I shared it on Good Reads. When I'm highlighting five percent into a book, I know I'm in for something great.
This book is moving, powerful, and feels very topical. It details every last bit of a crime coming to light. An intern at a large newspaper named Caryn has a story to share, and it's personal. When she was only fifteen, her professor instigated a "relationship" with her. Because he wasn't punished, at first the reader may assume she didn't tell anyone, but she did. She told her parents, and they told the school. Still, nothing happened. That has never seemed right to her, and she thinks it's time the exclusive private school explains itself, and Dr. Gregory Copeland pay in some manner for his crimes.
She has help from a journalist she works with and greatly admires, Jane, who supports her every step of the way... and soon she has more allies in more women that were victimized by Copeland. Though their experiences vary in some ways, their stories are similar... clearly, this beloved English professor has a penchant for his teenage students and has had for years.
Not everyone believes the women, and of course the usual questions are raised. Why didn't they go to the police when it happened? Why wait until now? Why make such a public accusation? Maybe they have a personal vendetta against him, and are seeking to ruin his life for some other reason. Maybe the reporter just wants to make a name for herself. While this book is fiction, it doesn't read like it. It is extremely realistic about what the women have to deal with and the vitriol they face from the masses.
I think it's an important book and certainly worth the read. I'd rate it a 4.5 out of 5. My one niggle with it is the way the dialogue is written. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was speaking. I did really enjoy the different perspectives, but I think they could have been a little clearer. The story is told using everything from narrative to newspaper articles to comments and emails. That made it feel even more like something non-fiction you were watching unfold.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Griffith Moon Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
"Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?"
That quote features in the beginning of the book. I read it three times. I highlighted it. I shared it on Good Reads. When I'm highlighting five percent into a book, I know I'm in for something great.
This book is moving, powerful, and feels very topical. It details every last bit of a crime coming to light. An intern at a large newspaper named Caryn has a story to share, and it's personal. When she was only fifteen, her professor instigated a "relationship" with her. Because he wasn't punished, at first the reader may assume she didn't tell anyone, but she did. She told her parents, and they told the school. Still, nothing happened. That has never seemed right to her, and she thinks it's time the exclusive private school explains itself, and Dr. Gregory Copeland pay in some manner for his crimes.
She has help from a journalist she works with and greatly admires, Jane, who supports her every step of the way... and soon she has more allies in more women that were victimized by Copeland. Though their experiences vary in some ways, their stories are similar... clearly, this beloved English professor has a penchant for his teenage students and has had for years.
Not everyone believes the women, and of course the usual questions are raised. Why didn't they go to the police when it happened? Why wait until now? Why make such a public accusation? Maybe they have a personal vendetta against him, and are seeking to ruin his life for some other reason. Maybe the reporter just wants to make a name for herself. While this book is fiction, it doesn't read like it. It is extremely realistic about what the women have to deal with and the vitriol they face from the masses.
I think it's an important book and certainly worth the read. I'd rate it a 4.5 out of 5. My one niggle with it is the way the dialogue is written. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was speaking. I did really enjoy the different perspectives, but I think they could have been a little clearer. The story is told using everything from narrative to newspaper articles to comments and emails. That made it feel even more like something non-fiction you were watching unfold.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Griffith Moon Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
October 24, 2017
"This idea that an occasional false accusation is a more serious problem than thousands of actual instances of abuse or assault or rape enrages me like nothing else." <----- THIS.
This book is so important and so relevant. It focuses on numerous women who were sexually abused as teenagers by the same man. The story felt so realistic and the book itself was very gripping and addictive. I enjoyed reading this and I think everyone should read it.
We got a look into the different character's minds through different POV's but it felt like a very shallow look into their thinking and their life (outside of the sexual abuse). It was easy to see how the sexual abuse impacted them but I felt like I needed more because they didn't feel entirely three-dimensional. I also found it hard to connect with the main characters. Although I could sympathise with them, I felt quite distanced from them. The one really good thing about some of the characters is that you could feel the anger that they had, it was so palpable that it felt like it was just pouring out of the book. I feel like that anger was Namkung's and of course she is angry because I'm angry and women and men all over the world are also angry at the way society deals with sexual assault and harassment. So I felt like Namkung was good at putting that anger and frustration into some of the characters but the characters needed more.
The writing was very good. Namkung wrote quite logically about the facts of sexual abuse, rape, victim-shaming, etc but I could still feel her frustration and anger coming out. The book was a good blend of logic and emotion while still telling the story.
I would recommend it and I would read more books by Victoria Namkung.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women—whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape—are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
"He could claim that I made the entire thing up for attention, although why any young woman would want this type of attention is beyond me."
"Contrary to our society’s everyone-getsa-ribbon mentality, not all opinions need to be amplified."
"It’s so bizarre because I haven’t spent much time thinking about him in recent years, but I guess the past is always there, simmering."
"They also write to say that most sexual assault and rape accusations are false. They don’t cite studies or crime statistics from police agencies. They just know."
"I didn’t think anyone would believe me because in our culture, being a woman often means no one believes you until it is too late."
"I’m still furious. Furious on behalf of myself and other victims. Furious about a society that so easily casts doubt and blame on women as though we have nothing better to do than make up stories. Furious about the fact that men like this believe they are entitled to do what they please, regardless of laws, common sense, or decency."
“Sometimes getting the thing you want most feels different than you thought.”
"The stigma around sexual abuse, and child sexuality in general, is pervasive, and survivors often mention not coming forward sooner (or ever) due to deep shame, confusion, and an unyielding fear of not being believed."
This book is so important and so relevant. It focuses on numerous women who were sexually abused as teenagers by the same man. The story felt so realistic and the book itself was very gripping and addictive. I enjoyed reading this and I think everyone should read it.
We got a look into the different character's minds through different POV's but it felt like a very shallow look into their thinking and their life (outside of the sexual abuse). It was easy to see how the sexual abuse impacted them but I felt like I needed more because they didn't feel entirely three-dimensional. I also found it hard to connect with the main characters. Although I could sympathise with them, I felt quite distanced from them. The one really good thing about some of the characters is that you could feel the anger that they had, it was so palpable that it felt like it was just pouring out of the book. I feel like that anger was Namkung's and of course she is angry because I'm angry and women and men all over the world are also angry at the way society deals with sexual assault and harassment. So I felt like Namkung was good at putting that anger and frustration into some of the characters but the characters needed more.
The writing was very good. Namkung wrote quite logically about the facts of sexual abuse, rape, victim-shaming, etc but I could still feel her frustration and anger coming out. The book was a good blend of logic and emotion while still telling the story.
I would recommend it and I would read more books by Victoria Namkung.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women—whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape—are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
"He could claim that I made the entire thing up for attention, although why any young woman would want this type of attention is beyond me."
"Contrary to our society’s everyone-getsa-ribbon mentality, not all opinions need to be amplified."
"It’s so bizarre because I haven’t spent much time thinking about him in recent years, but I guess the past is always there, simmering."
"They also write to say that most sexual assault and rape accusations are false. They don’t cite studies or crime statistics from police agencies. They just know."
"I didn’t think anyone would believe me because in our culture, being a woman often means no one believes you until it is too late."
"I’m still furious. Furious on behalf of myself and other victims. Furious about a society that so easily casts doubt and blame on women as though we have nothing better to do than make up stories. Furious about the fact that men like this believe they are entitled to do what they please, regardless of laws, common sense, or decency."
“Sometimes getting the thing you want most feels different than you thought.”
"The stigma around sexual abuse, and child sexuality in general, is pervasive, and survivors often mention not coming forward sooner (or ever) due to deep shame, confusion, and an unyielding fear of not being believed."
October 4, 2017
I can't really give "These Violent Delights" anything less than 5* because it was a compassionate and insightful look at a very real problem that does get swept under random carpets again and again.
Using journalism and reality as a basis the novel explores what can happen when women come forward with tales of abuse from their formative years. In this we have a well known, well loved private school professor who is also a predator - involving many of his teenage pupils in sexual acts, preying on their emotions and then discarding them for the next. When a former student writes an essay at the paper she is interning for, it opens the floodgates. The novel follows the investigation, the profound effect this time in their lives has had on these women and explores the possible outcomes.
It was absolutely compelling. The different levels and layers of how victims can react is cleverly intertwined into their stories. The attempts to lessen the impact on the establishment, the way the system works, it is all in here, feeling very realistic and inducing an emotional reaction. The author writes in a beautifully impacting style with multiple viewpoints and reactions that builds to an incredibly tear inducing finale.
Overall this was an excellent read, one that will hopefully help continue the conversation that started way too late in our society - thought provoking and really brilliantly done.
Highly Recommended.
Using journalism and reality as a basis the novel explores what can happen when women come forward with tales of abuse from their formative years. In this we have a well known, well loved private school professor who is also a predator - involving many of his teenage pupils in sexual acts, preying on their emotions and then discarding them for the next. When a former student writes an essay at the paper she is interning for, it opens the floodgates. The novel follows the investigation, the profound effect this time in their lives has had on these women and explores the possible outcomes.
It was absolutely compelling. The different levels and layers of how victims can react is cleverly intertwined into their stories. The attempts to lessen the impact on the establishment, the way the system works, it is all in here, feeling very realistic and inducing an emotional reaction. The author writes in a beautifully impacting style with multiple viewpoints and reactions that builds to an incredibly tear inducing finale.
Overall this was an excellent read, one that will hopefully help continue the conversation that started way too late in our society - thought provoking and really brilliantly done.
Highly Recommended.
November 11, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There's no denying that in the current climate, this book serves a purpose. It's insightful, and promotes an area of abuse and sexual assault that is often swept under the carpet. These Violent Delights follows four women: a journalist and three victims of abuse from a former private school teacher, and their reactions following the exposure and subsequent re-exploration of their past.
The subject of sexual abuse is sensitively approached, and clearly researched well. All the women are from different social backgrounds (although granted, they're privileged enough to go to a private school) to cover the issue that sexual assault can affect anyone and everyone. The text itself is hard-hitting and to the point. Some of the scenes where the women are retelling what happened to them is uncomfortable to read. It also doesn't shy away from the psychological damage this abuse has caused these women, and how they have each dealt with their issues in their own way - whether it be turning to drugs, denial, or religion. I would have liked to have seen some more diversity in the characters however. Yes, they come from different walks of life - but they're all middle-class, white or mixed race (Asian/American).
I also didn't adjust well to the writing style. At times I found it clinical, with an almost secondhand feel to it in its retelling of the story. The characters felt devoid of any deeper affectional behaviour, and there's not much provided to flesh out their backstories that could make me feel any attachment towards them - aside from feeling sorry for what had happened to them. In particular, I didn't care for Jane's side story with her former co-worker. It felt very out of place and didn't really fit with the overall feel of the book- although I perhaps get the meaning behind it, offering up a 'normal' relationship as a parallel to the 'relationship' the girls had with their teacher.
I understand the importance of telling this kind of story, and can grasp that the author wrote this with the best of intentions. But unfortunately this just didn't work for me because of my disinterest in the main characters.
There's no denying that in the current climate, this book serves a purpose. It's insightful, and promotes an area of abuse and sexual assault that is often swept under the carpet. These Violent Delights follows four women: a journalist and three victims of abuse from a former private school teacher, and their reactions following the exposure and subsequent re-exploration of their past.
The subject of sexual abuse is sensitively approached, and clearly researched well. All the women are from different social backgrounds (although granted, they're privileged enough to go to a private school) to cover the issue that sexual assault can affect anyone and everyone. The text itself is hard-hitting and to the point. Some of the scenes where the women are retelling what happened to them is uncomfortable to read. It also doesn't shy away from the psychological damage this abuse has caused these women, and how they have each dealt with their issues in their own way - whether it be turning to drugs, denial, or religion. I would have liked to have seen some more diversity in the characters however. Yes, they come from different walks of life - but they're all middle-class, white or mixed race (Asian/American).
I also didn't adjust well to the writing style. At times I found it clinical, with an almost secondhand feel to it in its retelling of the story. The characters felt devoid of any deeper affectional behaviour, and there's not much provided to flesh out their backstories that could make me feel any attachment towards them - aside from feeling sorry for what had happened to them. In particular, I didn't care for Jane's side story with her former co-worker. It felt very out of place and didn't really fit with the overall feel of the book- although I perhaps get the meaning behind it, offering up a 'normal' relationship as a parallel to the 'relationship' the girls had with their teacher.
I understand the importance of telling this kind of story, and can grasp that the author wrote this with the best of intentions. But unfortunately this just didn't work for me because of my disinterest in the main characters.
November 6, 2017
These Violent Delights is a poignant story of three women who were sexually assaulted in the past, by a well loved English professor from their all girls private school, Windemere. In the present they come forward with their stories. The stories are gripping, and a very REALISTIC look at how a predator seeks out, grooms, and abuses a victim. It's also an all too real story of the failures of our justice system. Victoria Namkung does a fantastic job combining relevant message with entertaining story.
This story as a whole highlights the failure of our culture surrounding sexual assault. The shaming and blaming of victims. Raising young women to think that being assaulted is ok or their fault. That being sexually assaulted is a shame they should keep private. It is an extremely relevant story, and I hate giving it less than five stars because of that, BUT even though this story was told in multiple POV's I never really felt connected to any of the characters. Even though each characters stories were extremely emotional, outside of them it was hard to connect.
Do I think this book is a game changer? Yes. I think young women/people should read this, because it could make them feel brave, and realize that they are not alone. I think they should read this because it could open up their eyes to what they may have been naive to before. I think that this book gives a reality that is hard, but is REAL.
This book may cause tears. It may cause anger. You may even feel happy. It's worth every emotion.
https://instagram.com/p/BafFOSsACO6/
^Check out a fan edit I made on Instagram!
*ARC from NetGalley*
This story as a whole highlights the failure of our culture surrounding sexual assault. The shaming and blaming of victims. Raising young women to think that being assaulted is ok or their fault. That being sexually assaulted is a shame they should keep private. It is an extremely relevant story, and I hate giving it less than five stars because of that, BUT even though this story was told in multiple POV's I never really felt connected to any of the characters. Even though each characters stories were extremely emotional, outside of them it was hard to connect.
Do I think this book is a game changer? Yes. I think young women/people should read this, because it could make them feel brave, and realize that they are not alone. I think they should read this because it could open up their eyes to what they may have been naive to before. I think that this book gives a reality that is hard, but is REAL.
This book may cause tears. It may cause anger. You may even feel happy. It's worth every emotion.
https://instagram.com/p/BafFOSsACO6/
^Check out a fan edit I made on Instagram!
*ARC from NetGalley*
January 13, 2018
“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”
This book discusses child abuse and rape culture in general in one of THE BEST ways i have seen to date.
The author clearly did her research, clearly had a lot to say and a lot of real and honest and good options on the topic.
BUT it reads more like newspaper articles or very dry nonfiction. Which is not to say thats a bad thing. I actually enjoy both. BUT its marketed as something different. And so a lot of readers will be put of with the very, very dry writing and the not at all flowing style this story is told.
Of course that is not the most important thing about this book!
But it is an important factor that has to be mentioned when reviewing and rating a book like this. If its hard to read even if it talks about a topic everyone should read and talk about? That has to be mentioned and taken into consideration.
Because sadly?
This book is not for everyone. And not because of the topic. But because of how it is written.
Because the topic? That has to be for everyone, for the topic this book is a MOST READ.
But sadly the writing, the characters and the plot outside of the issues it discusses is pretty lacking sadly. And if it would have been about such an important topic as rape and abuse which i am personally very passionate about this book would have gotten a very low rating.
Still, because it discusses the topic of rape and abuse, especially in young children so wonderfully and from all sides? It deserves people to read it and give it a shot and work their way through the dry writing.
There should be more books like this, that take a real topic, a real issue and talk about it, point out the issues, point out the problems and make them relatable and realistic and available for more people.
Because as it is shown in the opening quote from the book and from other moments in the book: why is it that nobody cares for you to prove that you have been robbed? But if you say you have been violated you have to prove it? How come nobody speaks up positively for someone stealing in the same way they speak up for an abuser? How come ANYBODY speaks up positively for an abuser? And how come the abused ALWAYS have to defend themselves?
This book is an important read and i do think everyone should give it a try even if its a hard topic, but because of that its so important for many people to read it.
But i wish it would have been co-written with someone that knew how to completely suck you into the story and make you actually FEEL with the characters to take this story even deeper, make it more emotional and with that more unforgettable for the readers!
*Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review!*
November 24, 2017
Before we start, can we talk about this cover? It’s eye catching and elegant. Definitely attracts a reader to want to read the synopsis, IMO.
This story couldn’t be more relevant to what we have been experiencing as a society. In the wake of the increasingly alarming stories of sexual assault being shared this book provides perspective from the victims; it will make you pause and evaluate how you, and others around you, support victims – or lack thereof.
The story follows 3 women who have been taken advantage of by their adult teacher: a family man who preys on 15 year-old students. They did not know each other then, but one’s story brings the unlikely group of friends together to expose a school’s beloved teacher and said school’s negligence in investigating previous complaints. It is such an important story, and the author did a great job of creating 3 different characters who experienced similar abuse but each were affected in different ways.
“Furious about a society that so easily casts doubt and blame on women as though we have nothing better to do than make up stories.” In reality most victims prefer to not speak out in fear of being shamed. Author, Victoria Namkung, takes you on a journey that will make you question what you would do, or how you would judge, in a similar situation.
The book is a quick read, and one I highly recommend to all.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
This was my first experience with a NetGalley book and I am very impressed.
This story couldn’t be more relevant to what we have been experiencing as a society. In the wake of the increasingly alarming stories of sexual assault being shared this book provides perspective from the victims; it will make you pause and evaluate how you, and others around you, support victims – or lack thereof.
The story follows 3 women who have been taken advantage of by their adult teacher: a family man who preys on 15 year-old students. They did not know each other then, but one’s story brings the unlikely group of friends together to expose a school’s beloved teacher and said school’s negligence in investigating previous complaints. It is such an important story, and the author did a great job of creating 3 different characters who experienced similar abuse but each were affected in different ways.
“Furious about a society that so easily casts doubt and blame on women as though we have nothing better to do than make up stories.” In reality most victims prefer to not speak out in fear of being shamed. Author, Victoria Namkung, takes you on a journey that will make you question what you would do, or how you would judge, in a similar situation.
The book is a quick read, and one I highly recommend to all.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
This was my first experience with a NetGalley book and I am very impressed.
October 30, 2017
4 ⭐️ to this incredibly moving read.
My reviews can also be seen at https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
I have to start out by saying that the cover of this book is gorgeous, and I'm sure it will look even better in person. That simple fact is what initially drew me to this book.
The subject matter of this book is incredibly relevant right now (#MeToo anyone?) and These Violent Delights gets straight to the point. The book focuses on 3 women that have had a relationship with a teacher at the private school that they went to, and one investigative reporter that is helping tell the world the story.
I don't want to say too much because I think it is best to read this book for yourself, but abuse is something that really makes me angry and we need books like this one to "get the word out" so to speak. I think it is incredibly important that girls and women alike understand that it is SO important not to stay silent when you have been abused. So many women say nothing and live in hell for the rest of their lives thinking they somehow brought it upon themselves. I know it can happen to men and boys as well, but this book is definitely more focused towards the women. That is not to say this book is bashing men either, but rather making you aware of what it is like for women that get abused as children or as adults.
This book read like a nonfiction book for me which made it even more moving than it already was. There was also a bit of humor as well which was a nice respite from the heavy subject matter.
The only thing I did not like about this book (and why I couldn't rate it past a 4) is because the dialogue in this book is incredibly confusing. I seem to be the only person that had an issue with this, but the way the author wrote the dialogue out made it very hard for me to understand who was speaking at times and it was very frustrating.
Other than that this book was hard-hitting, and the writing was easy for me to get into.
*This book is going to be published on 11/07/2017*
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book. My review is completely honest and unbiased
My reviews can also be seen at https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
I have to start out by saying that the cover of this book is gorgeous, and I'm sure it will look even better in person. That simple fact is what initially drew me to this book.
The subject matter of this book is incredibly relevant right now (#MeToo anyone?) and These Violent Delights gets straight to the point. The book focuses on 3 women that have had a relationship with a teacher at the private school that they went to, and one investigative reporter that is helping tell the world the story.
I don't want to say too much because I think it is best to read this book for yourself, but abuse is something that really makes me angry and we need books like this one to "get the word out" so to speak. I think it is incredibly important that girls and women alike understand that it is SO important not to stay silent when you have been abused. So many women say nothing and live in hell for the rest of their lives thinking they somehow brought it upon themselves. I know it can happen to men and boys as well, but this book is definitely more focused towards the women. That is not to say this book is bashing men either, but rather making you aware of what it is like for women that get abused as children or as adults.
This book read like a nonfiction book for me which made it even more moving than it already was. There was also a bit of humor as well which was a nice respite from the heavy subject matter.
The only thing I did not like about this book (and why I couldn't rate it past a 4) is because the dialogue in this book is incredibly confusing. I seem to be the only person that had an issue with this, but the way the author wrote the dialogue out made it very hard for me to understand who was speaking at times and it was very frustrating.
Other than that this book was hard-hitting, and the writing was easy for me to get into.
*This book is going to be published on 11/07/2017*
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book. My review is completely honest and unbiased
October 2, 2017
"Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?"
This short book packs a powerful punch. These Violent Delights focuses on three girls (Caryn, Eva, Sasha) who come forward years later about the inappropriate relationship they had with their English teacher in high school, all in different years. Jane, a reporter who Caryn interns for, champions their case, writing investigative pieces and being there for these women.
All three women came from such different backgrounds and yet their tragic events bonded them. I like that Namkung showed that sexual assault crimes don't only happen to the poor and destitute or those without support; it could happen to anyone you know and by anyone you know.
Copeland, their English teacher, is much beloved by parents, students, and the community. Windemere is an elite private school for girls who seems at times to care more about their image than their girls. When news breaks of these allegations and the evidence supporting them, many are shocked, some unbelieving.
"They want a perfect victim and a perfect perpetrator. Someone who jumps out of the bushes in a park in the middle of the night and drags you to the ground by your hair. They want witnesses and screams and blood. Anything short of that is considered murky or he-said, she-said, even when there's proof."
These Violent Delights takes a hard look at sexual assault culture and victim blaming and there were many times I was infuriating by how these women were being treated and talked about by people they didn't even know.
"These men don't know the first thing about the violent truths of being born female."
I will add a side-note here that this is not a "men are evil" book. On the contrary there are some amazing male side character in this book that show men can be compassionate, understanding, and respectful.
I'll end with a quote from the author's statement which I found apropos: "Abuse is rarely committed in a dark alley by a stranger, and to perpetuate that myth is irresponsible."
This short book packs a powerful punch. These Violent Delights focuses on three girls (Caryn, Eva, Sasha) who come forward years later about the inappropriate relationship they had with their English teacher in high school, all in different years. Jane, a reporter who Caryn interns for, champions their case, writing investigative pieces and being there for these women.
All three women came from such different backgrounds and yet their tragic events bonded them. I like that Namkung showed that sexual assault crimes don't only happen to the poor and destitute or those without support; it could happen to anyone you know and by anyone you know.
Copeland, their English teacher, is much beloved by parents, students, and the community. Windemere is an elite private school for girls who seems at times to care more about their image than their girls. When news breaks of these allegations and the evidence supporting them, many are shocked, some unbelieving.
"They want a perfect victim and a perfect perpetrator. Someone who jumps out of the bushes in a park in the middle of the night and drags you to the ground by your hair. They want witnesses and screams and blood. Anything short of that is considered murky or he-said, she-said, even when there's proof."
These Violent Delights takes a hard look at sexual assault culture and victim blaming and there were many times I was infuriating by how these women were being treated and talked about by people they didn't even know.
"These men don't know the first thing about the violent truths of being born female."
I will add a side-note here that this is not a "men are evil" book. On the contrary there are some amazing male side character in this book that show men can be compassionate, understanding, and respectful.
I'll end with a quote from the author's statement which I found apropos: "Abuse is rarely committed in a dark alley by a stranger, and to perpetuate that myth is irresponsible."
October 10, 2017
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'There are so many sharks circling around young girls- in the streets, online, and in their very own “safe” schools- it truly makes me sick!'
Dr. Gregory Copeland, chair of the English department, now a married father, beloved, popular with parents, staff and students and for many years seducer of young, lonely girls. The past is about to come calling, karma is ready to collect from Dr. Copeland a pound of flesh! Caryn is an intern working at a newspaper, under her idol Jane, she composes an essay, exposing a secret from her past as a student at the prestigious school Windmere and the sexual abuse she suffered while there. They want to go forward and publish the essay in the paper, and Caryn is struggling, she knows it will ruin a life, divide the community. She isn’t a victim in the sense of the usual word, you can’t see her wounds, she wasn’t left bleeding to death somewhere in an alley or ditch. Just what is a victim composed of? She feels sorry for her abusers children, wife, and for all those people who are going to see their favorite teacher’s darkest side. Is it worth ruining so many lives over such a small transgression, one she feels complicit in, as so many young girls are made to feel? But what about the school, Windmere and it’s own complicity in turning a blind eye? What will her family think? Shouldn’t she have just put this all behind her?
Sometimes it takes one person to give other victims the courage to speak. Dr. Copeland has an eye for the girls that need something, whether it’s praise, attention, a shoulder to cry on, literature, and he knows how to manipulate them into sexual favors. 15 seems to be his lucky number, girls on the cusp of womanhood, still unsure in their developing bodies, just noticing male attention, both unwanted and sometimes welcome. Some stay silent, even from affluent families, hesitant to ‘bring shame’ upon their grand family name. Others know maybe they won’t be believed, but too- the girls believe this is love, deceived into thinking the shame is solely their burden.
Eva is a mother now, has kept her shameful secret from even her husband, and she must face the repercussions of omission in her life. It’s an interesting spin, I think, for the author to take on. That on top of carrying around the shame of having been manipulated as a young girl, Eva as a wife must too feel shame for ‘not being completely honest’ with her husband, appearing again as ‘deceptive’ through omission. Of course he feels wounded, spouses are supposed to share everything, no? But how is a woman to share all when she hasn’t come to terms with it herself? Jesse is a good man, there are good men in this novel, it’s not a ‘man- hating’ story. Of course, not all women are so lucky in real life. Many cultures over, the shame always seems the woman’s to wear.
Sasha’s fury is fueling her on. Far more angry than the others, the pain radiates off her skin still. He knew just how to work each girl into giving in. With Sasha’s bookish ways, lonely home-life, and lack of friends, Copeland knew how to win her trust. Sasha enjoyed it, the attention, the forbidden love that made her finally feel special, struggling with guilt because she began to seek him out too. He brought literature to life, those deep love stories with his words. That is how they hide, these abusers, knowing how to leave young naive victims hungry, both enthralled and disgusted with themselves. When things got too real for Sasha, a problem very ‘adult’ he tucked tail, shut her out and left her with the aftermath. The taint of it is still staining her soul, it’s time to see him brought down, it’s time to come together with other victims.
This special ‘club’ of victims, one no one ever wants to be a member of, come together under the support of Jane, a reporter whose big story becomes personal. The community is divided, and the support some people feel for Dr. Copeland, rallying behind him, is like a gut punch, like being victimized all over again. As the investigation picks up steam, it seems everyone has something to say, more stories come out from other former students, and it becomes eye-opening just how many girls are victimized, but let it go, seeming like such a ‘small thing’, like a creeping hand on the knee, or intimate, inappropriate private conversations. In a time when we teach our children to speak up if something happens, so much still does, because navigating an adult’s world and actions can get muddy in a young child’s mind. Women have a hard enough time exposing abuses, how much worse is it when a young girl is lured in and shamed by the pleasure she feels of attention? How does a girl expose and label something when she isn’t even sure anything has happened? Maybe in her naive mind she just ‘misinterpreted’ what the adult intended to say? Abusers know just how to lurk on the edge, they test the waters, they are always keeping themselves safe until they know they have control of the situation, then the arrogance is shocking, as with Sasha and her encounters with Dr. Copeland.
Why do cover-ups even happen, in the most progressive and prestigious institutions? Sometimes, the silence is worth keeping dirt off the illustrious school’s name, even if it means leaving a wolf in the mix. Some victims heal, some were broken before being further victimized by life and where it takes them. There is triumph, and tragedy. The important thing this novel does is open a conversation, it’s chilling to think that a mother or father may read this novel, and their own child could be experiencing such a seduction by a teacher, a coach, etc. These things are happening more than we think, just turn on the news.
Most women can remember being in school and I think at least one girl who bragged about being with an ‘older guy’, which seemed ‘star-crossed’ or exciting maybe. Maybe some of you were shocked, disgusted, envious? Ask any two people, male or female, if they think the young girl is complicit? There will be many who think she is, because we’ve forgotten how insecure and needy the young are. How adult they trick themselves into feeling, but an evolved mind should know adults should never cross that line. That with young girls, and let’s not forget boys too, it’s easy for someone more experienced to manipulate them, what place in time is lonelier and more confusing than your teenage years? It’s exciting to play at being a grown up. It happens to the wealthy and the poor, every ethnicity and social standing, there isn’t a child alive that it couldn’t happen to.
Sexuality can feel powerful too, in both boys and girls. Adult attention can feel both humiliating and empowering, it’s a strange time in life. To be both a child and adult, in everything happening with hormones, the mind becoming so much more aware, testing their sexuality, flirting with the edge, some get too far ahead before they are aware of the danger they’re in. But what of that adult, guiding them over the cliff? You hear it all the time, ‘well look how old he/she looks and acts.’ As if a teen with an adult body is game. Let’s really think about the victims here, because it is not the ‘adult.’
Provocative, a wonderful selection for any reading group. As important today as it will be tomorrow.
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
Griffith Moon Publishing
'There are so many sharks circling around young girls- in the streets, online, and in their very own “safe” schools- it truly makes me sick!'
Dr. Gregory Copeland, chair of the English department, now a married father, beloved, popular with parents, staff and students and for many years seducer of young, lonely girls. The past is about to come calling, karma is ready to collect from Dr. Copeland a pound of flesh! Caryn is an intern working at a newspaper, under her idol Jane, she composes an essay, exposing a secret from her past as a student at the prestigious school Windmere and the sexual abuse she suffered while there. They want to go forward and publish the essay in the paper, and Caryn is struggling, she knows it will ruin a life, divide the community. She isn’t a victim in the sense of the usual word, you can’t see her wounds, she wasn’t left bleeding to death somewhere in an alley or ditch. Just what is a victim composed of? She feels sorry for her abusers children, wife, and for all those people who are going to see their favorite teacher’s darkest side. Is it worth ruining so many lives over such a small transgression, one she feels complicit in, as so many young girls are made to feel? But what about the school, Windmere and it’s own complicity in turning a blind eye? What will her family think? Shouldn’t she have just put this all behind her?
Sometimes it takes one person to give other victims the courage to speak. Dr. Copeland has an eye for the girls that need something, whether it’s praise, attention, a shoulder to cry on, literature, and he knows how to manipulate them into sexual favors. 15 seems to be his lucky number, girls on the cusp of womanhood, still unsure in their developing bodies, just noticing male attention, both unwanted and sometimes welcome. Some stay silent, even from affluent families, hesitant to ‘bring shame’ upon their grand family name. Others know maybe they won’t be believed, but too- the girls believe this is love, deceived into thinking the shame is solely their burden.
Eva is a mother now, has kept her shameful secret from even her husband, and she must face the repercussions of omission in her life. It’s an interesting spin, I think, for the author to take on. That on top of carrying around the shame of having been manipulated as a young girl, Eva as a wife must too feel shame for ‘not being completely honest’ with her husband, appearing again as ‘deceptive’ through omission. Of course he feels wounded, spouses are supposed to share everything, no? But how is a woman to share all when she hasn’t come to terms with it herself? Jesse is a good man, there are good men in this novel, it’s not a ‘man- hating’ story. Of course, not all women are so lucky in real life. Many cultures over, the shame always seems the woman’s to wear.
Sasha’s fury is fueling her on. Far more angry than the others, the pain radiates off her skin still. He knew just how to work each girl into giving in. With Sasha’s bookish ways, lonely home-life, and lack of friends, Copeland knew how to win her trust. Sasha enjoyed it, the attention, the forbidden love that made her finally feel special, struggling with guilt because she began to seek him out too. He brought literature to life, those deep love stories with his words. That is how they hide, these abusers, knowing how to leave young naive victims hungry, both enthralled and disgusted with themselves. When things got too real for Sasha, a problem very ‘adult’ he tucked tail, shut her out and left her with the aftermath. The taint of it is still staining her soul, it’s time to see him brought down, it’s time to come together with other victims.
This special ‘club’ of victims, one no one ever wants to be a member of, come together under the support of Jane, a reporter whose big story becomes personal. The community is divided, and the support some people feel for Dr. Copeland, rallying behind him, is like a gut punch, like being victimized all over again. As the investigation picks up steam, it seems everyone has something to say, more stories come out from other former students, and it becomes eye-opening just how many girls are victimized, but let it go, seeming like such a ‘small thing’, like a creeping hand on the knee, or intimate, inappropriate private conversations. In a time when we teach our children to speak up if something happens, so much still does, because navigating an adult’s world and actions can get muddy in a young child’s mind. Women have a hard enough time exposing abuses, how much worse is it when a young girl is lured in and shamed by the pleasure she feels of attention? How does a girl expose and label something when she isn’t even sure anything has happened? Maybe in her naive mind she just ‘misinterpreted’ what the adult intended to say? Abusers know just how to lurk on the edge, they test the waters, they are always keeping themselves safe until they know they have control of the situation, then the arrogance is shocking, as with Sasha and her encounters with Dr. Copeland.
Why do cover-ups even happen, in the most progressive and prestigious institutions? Sometimes, the silence is worth keeping dirt off the illustrious school’s name, even if it means leaving a wolf in the mix. Some victims heal, some were broken before being further victimized by life and where it takes them. There is triumph, and tragedy. The important thing this novel does is open a conversation, it’s chilling to think that a mother or father may read this novel, and their own child could be experiencing such a seduction by a teacher, a coach, etc. These things are happening more than we think, just turn on the news.
Most women can remember being in school and I think at least one girl who bragged about being with an ‘older guy’, which seemed ‘star-crossed’ or exciting maybe. Maybe some of you were shocked, disgusted, envious? Ask any two people, male or female, if they think the young girl is complicit? There will be many who think she is, because we’ve forgotten how insecure and needy the young are. How adult they trick themselves into feeling, but an evolved mind should know adults should never cross that line. That with young girls, and let’s not forget boys too, it’s easy for someone more experienced to manipulate them, what place in time is lonelier and more confusing than your teenage years? It’s exciting to play at being a grown up. It happens to the wealthy and the poor, every ethnicity and social standing, there isn’t a child alive that it couldn’t happen to.
Sexuality can feel powerful too, in both boys and girls. Adult attention can feel both humiliating and empowering, it’s a strange time in life. To be both a child and adult, in everything happening with hormones, the mind becoming so much more aware, testing their sexuality, flirting with the edge, some get too far ahead before they are aware of the danger they’re in. But what of that adult, guiding them over the cliff? You hear it all the time, ‘well look how old he/she looks and acts.’ As if a teen with an adult body is game. Let’s really think about the victims here, because it is not the ‘adult.’
Provocative, a wonderful selection for any reading group. As important today as it will be tomorrow.
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
Griffith Moon Publishing
December 15, 2017
*3.5 stars*
This timely novel is about Windemere, an elite all girl's high school, whose beloved English teacher has been accused of sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior, and much more. Caryn, a journalist intern, begins this fictional tale of #metoo with a first-person piece of how Windemere brushed aside her allegations against Dr. Copeland. It soon becomes clear that Caryn is just one of many girls Dr. Copeland behaved illegally toward. These Violent Delights follow the POVs of Caryn, two other women assaulted by Dr. Copeland, and Jane March, an acclaimed journalist at the newspaper Caryn interns at. We see what happens as the accusations are brought forward to the school, and then to the LAPD. There are supporters, and there are those anonymous voices who claim the women are doing this "for attention" or "were asking for it."
There are a lot of very good, poignant aspects about this book. It is a frank discussion of how this happens every day, both in public and private schools, and how often the schools do nothing to protect their female students. It is easier to pretend that the students are lying, instead of actually delving deeper into the accusations. Victoria Namkung has a background in journalism, and there is a very journalistic tone to this novel, which makes her points very crisp and clear. I appreciated that; this is a conversation that our culture, so insistent on victim-blaming, desperately needs to have. I also really liked how diverse the characters are -- Caryn is part Korean-American, and Eva is Hispanic. Sexual harassment/assault happens to women regardless of race, which this novel highlights.
What keeps me from giving it a higher rating is this same journalistic tone. Instead of really feeling close to our characters, they seem less like full-bodied people, and more like distilled subject matter. Even their way of speaking are often nearly identical, although these women come from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. I also wanted to feel the age differences between these women. Jane March is approaching her 40th birthday, while Caryn, the youngest protagonist, is still in college. Yet all the voices felt very much the same.
That said, I do believe that These Violent Delights is worth reading. Cases of teachers overstepping boundaries and harassing/intimidating/assaulting students pop up in the news every day. This novel is a good way to begin having conversations about why this keeps happening, why victims are vilified, and what we can do to stop it.
*Thank you to Griffith Moon Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC*
This timely novel is about Windemere, an elite all girl's high school, whose beloved English teacher has been accused of sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior, and much more. Caryn, a journalist intern, begins this fictional tale of #metoo with a first-person piece of how Windemere brushed aside her allegations against Dr. Copeland. It soon becomes clear that Caryn is just one of many girls Dr. Copeland behaved illegally toward. These Violent Delights follow the POVs of Caryn, two other women assaulted by Dr. Copeland, and Jane March, an acclaimed journalist at the newspaper Caryn interns at. We see what happens as the accusations are brought forward to the school, and then to the LAPD. There are supporters, and there are those anonymous voices who claim the women are doing this "for attention" or "were asking for it."
There are a lot of very good, poignant aspects about this book. It is a frank discussion of how this happens every day, both in public and private schools, and how often the schools do nothing to protect their female students. It is easier to pretend that the students are lying, instead of actually delving deeper into the accusations. Victoria Namkung has a background in journalism, and there is a very journalistic tone to this novel, which makes her points very crisp and clear. I appreciated that; this is a conversation that our culture, so insistent on victim-blaming, desperately needs to have. I also really liked how diverse the characters are -- Caryn is part Korean-American, and Eva is Hispanic. Sexual harassment/assault happens to women regardless of race, which this novel highlights.
What keeps me from giving it a higher rating is this same journalistic tone. Instead of really feeling close to our characters, they seem less like full-bodied people, and more like distilled subject matter. Even their way of speaking are often nearly identical, although these women come from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. I also wanted to feel the age differences between these women. Jane March is approaching her 40th birthday, while Caryn, the youngest protagonist, is still in college. Yet all the voices felt very much the same.
That said, I do believe that These Violent Delights is worth reading. Cases of teachers overstepping boundaries and harassing/intimidating/assaulting students pop up in the news every day. This novel is a good way to begin having conversations about why this keeps happening, why victims are vilified, and what we can do to stop it.
*Thank you to Griffith Moon Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC*
October 28, 2017
#MeToo quickly became the top trending Twitter hashtag Sunday night as women spoke up to show the world just how common sexual harassment and sexual assault are.
I found it slightly ironic that I started reading this book when the #MeToo hashtag started trending. This book is about sexual assault and how many women it affects, but also how many women seem to believe they are alone in it. (If you have been a victim of sexual assault, of any kind, you are not alone. Please reach out for guidance and support.)
The writing style was easy to read and it was a well rounded story. That's all this was for me. I made no special connections with any of the characters, even though they came to form special friendships with one another. They were all hollow and lacked any sort of distinguishing attributes, as did the story over all.
The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either. It lacks so much depth. There is no hidden meaning in the words at all. What you read is all you get.
This in no way takes away from the importance of the subject matter. I sympathize with that aspect of the book, but it did nothing for me past that point.
I have no intention of recommending this book and I'll probably forget all about it sooner rather than later. The premise sounded so good, but this was another novel that just disappointed me.
P.S. Me too.
Thank you to NetGalley, Griffith Moon Publishing and Victoria Namkung for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I found it slightly ironic that I started reading this book when the #MeToo hashtag started trending. This book is about sexual assault and how many women it affects, but also how many women seem to believe they are alone in it. (If you have been a victim of sexual assault, of any kind, you are not alone. Please reach out for guidance and support.)
The writing style was easy to read and it was a well rounded story. That's all this was for me. I made no special connections with any of the characters, even though they came to form special friendships with one another. They were all hollow and lacked any sort of distinguishing attributes, as did the story over all.
The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either. It lacks so much depth. There is no hidden meaning in the words at all. What you read is all you get.
This in no way takes away from the importance of the subject matter. I sympathize with that aspect of the book, but it did nothing for me past that point.
I have no intention of recommending this book and I'll probably forget all about it sooner rather than later. The premise sounded so good, but this was another novel that just disappointed me.
P.S. Me too.
Thank you to NetGalley, Griffith Moon Publishing and Victoria Namkung for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2017
"These violent delights have violent ends" is one of my favorite lines from Romeo and Juliet, and so I knew I was going to love this book! Of course the author is alluding to how quickly teen love can flourish and often--just as quickly-- implode, as the young lovers in Shakespeare's play commit suicide believing the other is dead. When Caryn, a young intern for the Daily Journal brings her story to Jane, the seasoned and well-respected journalist, Jane realizes it is a story that must be told for Caryn has accused her ex high-school English teacher, Dr. Copeland of attempting to seduce her. When the story hits, several other young women come forward and things get messy--as they always do in a scandal such as this involving underage girls and older men. So relevant to today in the wake of the Cosby and Weinstein debacles, the novel is gritty, realistic and pulls no punches. It's a truly accurate portrayal of the guilt, regret, pain, sadness--and often poor mental health--suffered by the victims. This is a book that every parent and adolescent should read as it sheds light on a subject all too common in today's society!
September 20, 2017
These Violent Delights is a well-written, fast paced novel. I could not put this book down and couldn't wait to see if Copeland would be held accountable for his actions or how his victims weathered through the discovery phase. I love Namkung's gift to build believable characters and suspense. I identified with the victims and found myself rooting for them and hoping they would make it through the media circus stronger despite the wavering support from some members in their community. This novel would make an excellent book club choice to discuss such issues as classism, the way media or branding can affect our opinions of situations or people, how certain cultures handle conflict, as well as how sexual abuse victims can so often be penalized for speaking out in our society.
November 26, 2017
Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.
This book was very disappointing to me. The subject matter it deals with is very important and while it does bring across some crucial messages I really struggled to get through it.
1) It doesn't really read like a story. It reads more like non-fiction on the sexual assault on teenagers or like a summary of the author's political views, neither of which I was expecting or wanting going into this. In this case, the book's ideas simply were not "novelised" enough, in my opinion. Especially towards the beginning the reader is confronted with extremely long stretches of exclusively dialogue, in which the characters basically describe their situations. None of that reads like anything a real person would ever say and more like a list of things the author thinks are relevant to mention when discussing the topic.
2) The author's own political view point was way too obvious and only hidden behind a flimsy layer of story on top. And in my opinion, her views are often misguided. There's a lot of propagating the idea that men are inherently a threat to women and of „all men do xyz“ types of thinking. Here's one sentence that particularly annoyed me: „a gift from his wife, I'm sure, as men don't do sentimental things like that on their own“. Like what.
And another gem: „Even with our male friends we have to ask, is he dangerous? Is he going to hurt me? Will he freak out if I say no?“ Um no I don't have to ask myself that. If you do, then you should seriously reconsider who you surround yourself with.
This problem is compounded by the fact that there are barely any positively presented male characters in this book and the ones that do exist have zero personality and will say things like „It's honestly amazing women still want anything to do with us.“They are basically just there as support for the female cast. Now the reverse of that has famously been a problem throughout many years in the media industry, but let's not perpetuate this sort of stereotyping please.
3) Worst of all, this is a spoiler but who cares because I hope you decide not to read this book anyway: I feel like if you're going to write a book about adults abusing their power to have sex with underage kids and rightfully demonise the perpetrators if they're male but barely mention the thing if they're female... then maybe you should have saved yourself the time and energy to write the book at all. It's bad enough that this book essentially perpetuates „man hate“, but to also gloss over rape and sexual assault when perpetrated against men and boys is just not okay.
4) And finally, because the author spent so much time indoctrinating us to her political views you end up barely caring about the characters. At some point she tries to give them some semblance of a personality and whatnot, but by then I had zero interest in what even happened to them so I'd just skim read or entirely skip those sections. They seemed superfluous and somehow disconnected from the rest of the story.
Overall this was a very disappointing book that should never have been published as a work of fiction. If you're going to write fiction you need to give the book an actual story and actual characters to care about. Her political views aside, the author just didn't manage to fulfill the potential a premise like this could have had – to send a positive message and to do it subtly, creatively, embedded in an engrossing story and well crafted characters.
This book was very disappointing to me. The subject matter it deals with is very important and while it does bring across some crucial messages I really struggled to get through it.
1) It doesn't really read like a story. It reads more like non-fiction on the sexual assault on teenagers or like a summary of the author's political views, neither of which I was expecting or wanting going into this. In this case, the book's ideas simply were not "novelised" enough, in my opinion. Especially towards the beginning the reader is confronted with extremely long stretches of exclusively dialogue, in which the characters basically describe their situations. None of that reads like anything a real person would ever say and more like a list of things the author thinks are relevant to mention when discussing the topic.
2) The author's own political view point was way too obvious and only hidden behind a flimsy layer of story on top. And in my opinion, her views are often misguided. There's a lot of propagating the idea that men are inherently a threat to women and of „all men do xyz“ types of thinking. Here's one sentence that particularly annoyed me: „a gift from his wife, I'm sure, as men don't do sentimental things like that on their own“. Like what.
And another gem: „Even with our male friends we have to ask, is he dangerous? Is he going to hurt me? Will he freak out if I say no?“ Um no I don't have to ask myself that. If you do, then you should seriously reconsider who you surround yourself with.
This problem is compounded by the fact that there are barely any positively presented male characters in this book and the ones that do exist have zero personality and will say things like „It's honestly amazing women still want anything to do with us.“They are basically just there as support for the female cast. Now the reverse of that has famously been a problem throughout many years in the media industry, but let's not perpetuate this sort of stereotyping please.
3) Worst of all, this is a spoiler but who cares because I hope you decide not to read this book anyway: I feel like if you're going to write a book about adults abusing their power to have sex with underage kids and rightfully demonise the perpetrators if they're male but barely mention the thing if they're female... then maybe you should have saved yourself the time and energy to write the book at all. It's bad enough that this book essentially perpetuates „man hate“, but to also gloss over rape and sexual assault when perpetrated against men and boys is just not okay.
4) And finally, because the author spent so much time indoctrinating us to her political views you end up barely caring about the characters. At some point she tries to give them some semblance of a personality and whatnot, but by then I had zero interest in what even happened to them so I'd just skim read or entirely skip those sections. They seemed superfluous and somehow disconnected from the rest of the story.
Overall this was a very disappointing book that should never have been published as a work of fiction. If you're going to write fiction you need to give the book an actual story and actual characters to care about. Her political views aside, the author just didn't manage to fulfill the potential a premise like this could have had – to send a positive message and to do it subtly, creatively, embedded in an engrossing story and well crafted characters.
October 9, 2017
Brilliant! Must read! I highly recommend this book.
Read
February 26, 2018After completing my own novel featuring a predatory prep school teacher I expected to like this book, but found Copeland’s hand on thigh approach too crude for a serious and dangerous abuser. Like Mill Valley in Most Dangerous Place on Earth, Windermere makes no pretense of any moral or spiritual values or formation except to get girls into elite colleges, nor do their parents show any other concern. And the book is narrated in flat journalistic prose, Someone should tell Caryl that her account of the teacher’s attempted seduction is not a “personal essay” as Joan Didion would understand it. The topic is a good one and things like this really happen, but the treatment is annoyingly inept.
March 7, 2018
I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The fact that we worry more about the damage to a potential abuser’s or rapist’s reputation than we do about a child or teenage victim has dire consequences for all of us and our society.“
As someone who has suffered at the hands of a serial sexual abuser, this novel spoke to me on so many levels. It made me feel things I have not felt in years. Fears became real again and thoughts of what could I have done differently? So needless to say, there are triggers here for anyone who has encountered such things.
I believe the author perfectly described the viewpoints of victims and the effects of the world around them with their unwarranted opinions of your sexual abuse. I do not think you will find a novel out there that you will be able to relate to as much as this one.
It is a real, modern day story set it LA with fully relatable characters. It is fiction but for so many women it is real life. If you yourself have never been a victim of sexual abuse I believe it is an eye opener and would be a beneficial read to all.
“The fact that we worry more about the damage to a potential abuser’s or rapist’s reputation than we do about a child or teenage victim has dire consequences for all of us and our society.“
As someone who has suffered at the hands of a serial sexual abuser, this novel spoke to me on so many levels. It made me feel things I have not felt in years. Fears became real again and thoughts of what could I have done differently? So needless to say, there are triggers here for anyone who has encountered such things.
I believe the author perfectly described the viewpoints of victims and the effects of the world around them with their unwarranted opinions of your sexual abuse. I do not think you will find a novel out there that you will be able to relate to as much as this one.
It is a real, modern day story set it LA with fully relatable characters. It is fiction but for so many women it is real life. If you yourself have never been a victim of sexual abuse I believe it is an eye opener and would be a beneficial read to all.
October 25, 2017
I received a free copy from NetGalley for my honest review. This was my first experience with NetGalley and I am very pleased.
These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung hit home for me. Victoria Namkung did a wonderful job on portraying how society acts when dealing with rape or assault. I related to the characters and the frustration and pain they felt.
From the moment I started reading I could not put this book down. As the story went on I just kept getting frustrated with the fact that the school did nothing for these poor girls. Which is another part I can relate to. How women are meant to feel at fault or put all the blame on the girls. I’m so happy that there was justice in the end. Only negative thing I have to say is I wish there was more of an ending, I would love to know what happens further into the future with the characters and know if Mr Copeland ever got that letter or his reaction to the letter.
Overall, this book was a perfect read. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.
These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung hit home for me. Victoria Namkung did a wonderful job on portraying how society acts when dealing with rape or assault. I related to the characters and the frustration and pain they felt.
From the moment I started reading I could not put this book down. As the story went on I just kept getting frustrated with the fact that the school did nothing for these poor girls. Which is another part I can relate to. How women are meant to feel at fault or put all the blame on the girls. I’m so happy that there was justice in the end. Only negative thing I have to say is I wish there was more of an ending, I would love to know what happens further into the future with the characters and know if Mr Copeland ever got that letter or his reaction to the letter.
Overall, this book was a perfect read. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.
October 28, 2017
3.5 stars
“Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women - whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape - are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case of their own innocence before even investigating?”
When I read the summary for These Violent Delights, my first reaction was how incredibly timely this story is …. My second thought was that I needed to read it.
Windmere School for Girls is an elite girl’s private school in LA. Dr. Copeland, chair of the English Department is loved by all. He’s a romantic at heart and has found his home at Windmere. Parents loved him, the administration loved him, and his students loved him too.
What many don’t know is that he has a penchant for young girls… the ones who are intelligent, yet quiet and for years and years he preys on them with no one the wiser. That is until one former student decides she can no longer keep quiet.
I really appreciated the story Namkung tells, and the way it unravels. After the first student shares her story, several others come forward and unlikely friendships are made and dismantled, families are torn apart and lives are ruined.
Namkung’s journalist background is very much apparent through the telling of this story. Told in multiple points of view, as a reader you get facts/perceptions from the girls affected as well as the journalist telling the story. The one person we never hear from though, Dr. Copeland, is a bit frustrating, and I suppose that is life… so many of us want to know why someone does something and will never get the answers we need. With These Violent Delights, Namkung really delves into the ways that those who are meant to protect us fail and how that can affect us in the end.
Overall, this was an interesting story, but I never really connected with the characters on the level that I typically like to. While I sympathized with the characters, I wanted a bit more depth to them and I wanted more depth to the relationships.
This is an important novel because of what it explores and Namkung presents it in a way that is thought-provoking and honest. While there were aspects I didn’t love, I think it’s absolutely worth a read to understand the #metoo movement as well understand the long lasting impacts abuse can have for those who have experienced it.
“Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women - whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape - are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case of their own innocence before even investigating?”
When I read the summary for These Violent Delights, my first reaction was how incredibly timely this story is …. My second thought was that I needed to read it.
Windmere School for Girls is an elite girl’s private school in LA. Dr. Copeland, chair of the English Department is loved by all. He’s a romantic at heart and has found his home at Windmere. Parents loved him, the administration loved him, and his students loved him too.
What many don’t know is that he has a penchant for young girls… the ones who are intelligent, yet quiet and for years and years he preys on them with no one the wiser. That is until one former student decides she can no longer keep quiet.
I really appreciated the story Namkung tells, and the way it unravels. After the first student shares her story, several others come forward and unlikely friendships are made and dismantled, families are torn apart and lives are ruined.
Namkung’s journalist background is very much apparent through the telling of this story. Told in multiple points of view, as a reader you get facts/perceptions from the girls affected as well as the journalist telling the story. The one person we never hear from though, Dr. Copeland, is a bit frustrating, and I suppose that is life… so many of us want to know why someone does something and will never get the answers we need. With These Violent Delights, Namkung really delves into the ways that those who are meant to protect us fail and how that can affect us in the end.
Overall, this was an interesting story, but I never really connected with the characters on the level that I typically like to. While I sympathized with the characters, I wanted a bit more depth to them and I wanted more depth to the relationships.
This is an important novel because of what it explores and Namkung presents it in a way that is thought-provoking and honest. While there were aspects I didn’t love, I think it’s absolutely worth a read to understand the #metoo movement as well understand the long lasting impacts abuse can have for those who have experienced it.
dnf
November 6, 2017DNF - I had a difficult time getting passed the writing style and how much I disliked it. I may try this book again since the subject matter interests me, but of what I've read, it was not executed well.
September 2, 2017
An irresistibly savvy thriller that intertwines conflicted investigative journalism with the rarified world of an exclusive L.A. girls school, These Violent Delights is smart, suspenseful, unsettling, and only too relevant. I promise you won’t be able to put it down. Just don’t forget to breathe!
November 17, 2017
https://inkedbookdragon.blogspot.com
Wow! What a book! These Violent Delights is intense. It focuses on subjects that most people would shy away from. The author didn't shy away from anything. Instead, she paraded it around in from of the readers.
This book felt as though it was taken directly from the headlines. What does a school do when one of their own turns out to be a predator? Do they remove the monster or do they sweep the issue under the rug and pretend it never happened? How are the victims treated? What happens when the school in question is full of the children of the rich and powerful? All these were addressed in this book.
Thank you Netgalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for giving me a ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was very well written and maintained a decent speed. The characters developed nicely. It was a beautiful piece of work and I would love to read more by the author. I am giving this book Four Stars because it was very well done but I had to stop and set it aside at times because of the subject matter.
InkedBookDragon
Wow! What a book! These Violent Delights is intense. It focuses on subjects that most people would shy away from. The author didn't shy away from anything. Instead, she paraded it around in from of the readers.
This book felt as though it was taken directly from the headlines. What does a school do when one of their own turns out to be a predator? Do they remove the monster or do they sweep the issue under the rug and pretend it never happened? How are the victims treated? What happens when the school in question is full of the children of the rich and powerful? All these were addressed in this book.
Thank you Netgalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for giving me a ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was very well written and maintained a decent speed. The characters developed nicely. It was a beautiful piece of work and I would love to read more by the author. I am giving this book Four Stars because it was very well done but I had to stop and set it aside at times because of the subject matter.
InkedBookDragon
September 28, 2017
A book right out of today's headlines an elite for girls only private school in la a predatory male teacher.He convinces young naive girls that they are special he knew it from the minute he saw them .He starts relationships with thes young innocent girls even so far as convincing some of them he would leave wife for them.
When one of his victims complains to the school shows them personal emails the teenage students& teacher exchange the school did nothing .They insisted he was a very popular teacher.Years later one of these students decides to expose him&the school &at his intense novel takes off.Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy for honest review.
When one of his victims complains to the school shows them personal emails the teenage students& teacher exchange the school did nothing .They insisted he was a very popular teacher.Years later one of these students decides to expose him&the school &at his intense novel takes off.Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy for honest review.
March 27, 2018
The Windemere School for Girls finds itself at the center of controversy following the publication of an explosive piece accusing a popular teacher, Dr. Gregory Copeland, of inappropriate behavior with a student. The former student, Caryn Rodgers, claims Windemere neglected to take appropriate action, effectively enabling Copeland to abuse other students; something Windemere denies. With the help of reporter Jane March, the investigation into Copeland and the school's actions turns up more accusers, each one determined to have the truth come out, at last, about their former teacher.
We hear stories about such things on the news all the time, but—as Namkung points out in her statement at the end of the book—it's estimated that at least 80% of child sexual abuse cases are never reported to the authorities, and 90% of these crimes are committed by someone the child knows and trusts. That's a horrifying statistic, and These Violent Delights drives home that point in this fictional tale of three former students who were abused by a trusted, respected teacher.
This book isn't always easy to read, and not just because of the focus on what the former students went through. It was almost worse, sometimes, seeing how Jane's male colleagues immediately doubted Caryn's story—'Why did she wait so long to report it?' 'Maybe she's just looking for attention.' 'An accusation like this can ruin someone's life.'—it was infuriating to read. It's exactly the sort of thing that happens to accusers in real life, though, unfortunately.
The ending came with a revelation that left me shocked and more than a little disturbed. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it, to be honest., but I'm betting it's something I'll never forget.
We hear stories about such things on the news all the time, but—as Namkung points out in her statement at the end of the book—it's estimated that at least 80% of child sexual abuse cases are never reported to the authorities, and 90% of these crimes are committed by someone the child knows and trusts. That's a horrifying statistic, and These Violent Delights drives home that point in this fictional tale of three former students who were abused by a trusted, respected teacher.
This book isn't always easy to read, and not just because of the focus on what the former students went through. It was almost worse, sometimes, seeing how Jane's male colleagues immediately doubted Caryn's story—'Why did she wait so long to report it?' 'Maybe she's just looking for attention.' 'An accusation like this can ruin someone's life.'—it was infuriating to read. It's exactly the sort of thing that happens to accusers in real life, though, unfortunately.
The ending came with a revelation that left me shocked and more than a little disturbed. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it, to be honest., but I'm betting it's something I'll never forget.
These Violent Delights is a very good book; its subject matter is distressing, but it's meant to be. While this won't be a book everyone feels comfortable reading, I feel it makes an important statement about the very real problem we have of teachers who prey on their students, and the lack of a federal registry listing teachers who have been fired and/or disciplined for sexual misconduct with a student, which I was completely unaware of before reading this book. I don't anyone can read this book without feeling outraged that we, as a nation, haven't taken steps to better protect our children from sexual predators in schools. (Yes, this is a novel, but a great deal of truth is often found in fiction. Such is the case here.)
I definitely recommend this book, and I'll be eagerly waiting for Namkung's next book!
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Griffith Moon via Netgalley.
September 23, 2018
First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. The material in this is all too familiar with everything going on right now. Sexual abuse allegations are popping up left and right, and one quote in this hits the nail on the head.
"Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?"
If that isn't a good freaking question, I don't know what is. It goes on to say:
"If someone told you their car or iPhone was stolen would you believe them and try to help, or make them prove it to you? I'm serious. If someone walked in the office right now and said they were hurt and needed help, would you need an investigation and a prosecutor to bring charges and a judge or jury to convict them before you attempted to assist them? Why do you think this is?" More silence. "I mean, really, why do you think this is? Do I have to spell it out?"
Victims of sexual assault are more likely to keep the secret than come forward. And it's because they become the ones on "trial". What were they wearing? Were they drinking? Why were they at that place alone? She probably just regrets doing it so now she's trying to make herself look like a victim. She will sleep with anyone and has slept with everyone, she's just lying. And yes, sometimes even....he's a guy, guys always want it. He wasn't raped.
It's disgusting. And it disgusts me.
It's not just men who say these things either. Women constantly tear each other down and apart. How can we expect men to respect us when we barely even respect each other?
I'm getting off topic of the book, but this is such an important topic that I can't help but ramble a bit. This happens to be a story about a teacher exerting his power over teenage girls. It's told from the viewpoint of 3 of his victims and a reporter who is breaking the story. It's wonderfully told. I highly recommend this to everyone.
Wow. The material in this is all too familiar with everything going on right now. Sexual abuse allegations are popping up left and right, and one quote in this hits the nail on the head.
"Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?"
If that isn't a good freaking question, I don't know what is. It goes on to say:
"If someone told you their car or iPhone was stolen would you believe them and try to help, or make them prove it to you? I'm serious. If someone walked in the office right now and said they were hurt and needed help, would you need an investigation and a prosecutor to bring charges and a judge or jury to convict them before you attempted to assist them? Why do you think this is?" More silence. "I mean, really, why do you think this is? Do I have to spell it out?"
Victims of sexual assault are more likely to keep the secret than come forward. And it's because they become the ones on "trial". What were they wearing? Were they drinking? Why were they at that place alone? She probably just regrets doing it so now she's trying to make herself look like a victim. She will sleep with anyone and has slept with everyone, she's just lying. And yes, sometimes even....he's a guy, guys always want it. He wasn't raped.
It's disgusting. And it disgusts me.
It's not just men who say these things either. Women constantly tear each other down and apart. How can we expect men to respect us when we barely even respect each other?
I'm getting off topic of the book, but this is such an important topic that I can't help but ramble a bit. This happens to be a story about a teacher exerting his power over teenage girls. It's told from the viewpoint of 3 of his victims and a reporter who is breaking the story. It's wonderfully told. I highly recommend this to everyone.
January 4, 2018
“Don't you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women - whether it's violence, sexual assault, rape - are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case of their own innocence before even investigating?”
These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung is a novel about three women who team up with a journalist to seek justice for the inappropriate relationships they were lured into by their high school English teacher when they were just 15 years old.
Namkung has done a great job of respectfully exploring this extremely sensitive topic, not only looking at sexual assault and rape, but also of the blame culture that surrounds these issues. Whilst the subject matter within this book is extremely important, and seems to be very well researched, I found the first two-thirds to be slightly underwhelming. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the novel, because I really did. I just thought that the characters and their relationships could have been explored a bit more in-depth, as at times some of the characters felt somewhat superficial. But what really made this novel enjoyable for me was Sasha’s narrative and her struggle to cope in adult life because of what had happened to her as a child.
Overall, I think that this is such an important novel because of what it explores, and whilst not everything about the writing and character development was to my particular taste, I would definitely recommend it.
[Note - this book deals with difficult topics including rape.]
I was give a free copy by Netgalley for reviewing purposes in exchange for my honest review.
These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung is a novel about three women who team up with a journalist to seek justice for the inappropriate relationships they were lured into by their high school English teacher when they were just 15 years old.
Namkung has done a great job of respectfully exploring this extremely sensitive topic, not only looking at sexual assault and rape, but also of the blame culture that surrounds these issues. Whilst the subject matter within this book is extremely important, and seems to be very well researched, I found the first two-thirds to be slightly underwhelming. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the novel, because I really did. I just thought that the characters and their relationships could have been explored a bit more in-depth, as at times some of the characters felt somewhat superficial. But what really made this novel enjoyable for me was Sasha’s narrative and her struggle to cope in adult life because of what had happened to her as a child.
Overall, I think that this is such an important novel because of what it explores, and whilst not everything about the writing and character development was to my particular taste, I would definitely recommend it.
[Note - this book deals with difficult topics including rape.]
I was give a free copy by Netgalley for reviewing purposes in exchange for my honest review.
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