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.My Thoughts: Journalist Jane March is planning a new story when her intern, Caryn Rodgers, approaches her with a very secretive assignment. She has written an essay detailing events in a private girls’ school years before, and has included supporting e-mails from the perpetrator.Once they have cleared the way with their legal team, and verified the facts, they decide to publish the essay in the Sunday paper. What Jane and some of the other women notice immediately is how quickly the male staff want to discredit the events…wondering why the young girl (fifteen at the time) hadn’t gone to the police. These reactions pave the way for what they will face down the road.Publication leads to more girls coming forward, though, and while this sounds like a good thing, it also leads to more pain for the victims. They are supported by some, but vilified by others. The long road ahead will be even more brutal for Sasha, one of the girls, whose own personal background had been abusive. Her fragility led to stunning and painful events.A story that could have been ripped right out of today’s headlines,  These Violent Delights: A Novel  gripped me and kept me glued to the pages. The multiple narrators offered the opportunity to feel the experiences of the characters, which made for compelling reading. Recommended for those who enjoy books based on flawed individuals making bad choices, and the consequences that literally change their lives. 5 stars.

Though this is a novel, thus fiction, the subject matter that's dealt with by the main characters couldn't be more timely. A depiction of what happens when a female high school student comes forward years after being preyed upon by a male teacher, and how she is viewed by different groups of people from her professional peers, to the prestigious school's parent advisory board, and the world at large. A sadly realistic telling of how sexual abuse affects three different women in similar but also very different ways. Filled with beautifully written prose, Namkung's sophomore novel contains a divserse and interesting cast. The main character is a woman of mixed Korean ethnicity. Her race is a well drawn detail and it's refreshing to see it as a part of her identity but not the focus of the story.

If you want a book that is nothing more than weak story writing, coupled with liberal feminist shtick and boring rhetoric, then look no further friend. Namkung missed a golden opportunity to highlight a very real social problem. Too bad she clearly let her own bias and personal hangup write the story. I didn't even get halfway through it. Don't waste your time!!

Incredibly timely and eye-opening. Don't assume this book is just for women only, it rings true and makes you feel uncomfortable, but in a good way. Highly recommended.

The book was captivating but at the same time a bit too stereotypical. Loved the message though. Would recommend. D

What a great read.

I thought the story line was done well. There were some b lines that i wish were closed but overall a very captivating read.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for my honest review.The story follows 3 women who have been taken advantage of by their adult teacher, who preys on 15 year old students. It is such an important story, and the author did a great job of showing what a victim may go through and how in reality most victims prefer to not speak out in fear of being shamed."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."As the author had presented in the story: if you hear from someone that their cell phone was stolen, you don't cast doubt and believe them with no questions - why was it different when one of the characters told their story of sexual assault? There were so many questions to address the validity of her claim. This is why I feel the story is a powerful one to be told, and the author did a great job of presenting in a way that made 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.