Welcome to Litsy!

A remarkable memoir. So well written.

I just wanted to hug teenage Alisson and tell her that none of this was okay.

I really liked that Alisson didn't romanticise her "relationship" with her teacher. She knows it was wrong, and she now understands that he groomed her.

Such an important memoir, especially for young women.

Part Memoir, part literary analysis, this book is heartbreaking. The writing is gorgeous, but the subject is painful and you ache for young Alisson. An important, but tough read.

“I learned how not special I am after all.”

I had a different reaction after reading this the 2nd time. First, the parallels to & criticism of Lolita are quite good, IMO. Second, any girl can become a victim of abuse & sexual coercion, but I think a teen with Alisson‘s history of mental illness (ECT-worthy depression) is especially at risk for predation. As more women come forward with abuse of power stories, I think the above quote is more true.

Another book I've been meaning to get to.

Full review here: http://girlwellread.blogspot.com/2020/07/being-lolita-by-alisson-wood.html.

Interesting memoir! 📖📚Filled one of my free spaces on my #bookspinbingo board. #bookspin

Alisson‘s high school writing teacher groomed her and seduced her into an abusive relationship. He gifted her Lolita and taught her the novel was about a bad, irresistible young girl.

This is both a memoir of her time with her teacher and how her evolving understanding of the book Lolita reframed her understanding of their relationship. 4⭐️

TW: abusive relationships, sexual assault

#bookspinbingo update 🎉

#bookmail and a blooming crepe myrtle!

#bloominglitsy @Eggs almost the end of the season ☹️

I‘m 25 pages into the tagged book. Too soon to tell.