Vivian is a cosmopolitan Taiwanese-American tourist who often escapes her busy life in London through adventure and travel. Johnny is a 15-year-old Irish teenager, living a neglected life on the margins of society.
On a bright spring afternoon in West Belfast, their paths collide during a horrifying act of violence.
In the aftermath, each is forced to confront the chain of events that led to the attack.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of the dark chapters and chance encounters that can irrevocably determine the shape of our lives.
My Thoughts:
Dark Chapter is the remarkable debut novel of Winnie M. Li. All the more remarkable because although it is a work of fiction it was inspired by the very personal events that happened to her.
Vivian is confident, professional, outgoing and good at her job. She loves to relax by going hiking, which has always been a passion of hers, it holds a sense of adventure and a thrill for her. A chance to let her hair down and spend some time out of her hectic life on her own. Her trip to Ireland should have been no different but the tranquil escape that she anticipated was anything but and her life is irrevocably changed by her encounter with Johnny.
Johnny is from the travelling community. He is marginalised and his childhood has lacked stability, he is a very mixed up young man. He almost seems to be an adult in a child's body, Pornography, alcohol and a lack of parental support has lead to a life of stealing and disrespect for others.
The events of the day in question and the sexual assault change both the lives of Vivian and Johnny and as a reader we are spared no details in this often brutal and graphic account of what happened. Interestingly the story is told from both the points of view of the victim and the perpetrator. The story deals with events before, during and after the ordeal.
Not for the faint hearted, this book is quite harrowing and at times had me in tears at the injustice of it all. I think that the author has told an important story with great honesty and compassion, the narrative was gripping and the accounts from both sides were realistic and plausible.
I think the author has been bold and brave in writing this story about a subject matter that is often shied away from. I have complete and utter admiration for her in the telling of this story and I believe it to be an important and literary work of fiction.
Moving, absorbing and extremely emotive, I can recommend it whole heartedly.
Dark Chapter is the remarkable debut novel of Winnie M. Li. All the more remarkable because although it is a work of fiction it was inspired by the very personal events that happened to her.
Vivian is confident, professional, outgoing and good at her job. She loves to relax by going hiking, which has always been a passion of hers, it holds a sense of adventure and a thrill for her. A chance to let her hair down and spend some time out of her hectic life on her own. Her trip to Ireland should have been no different but the tranquil escape that she anticipated was anything but and her life is irrevocably changed by her encounter with Johnny.
Johnny is from the travelling community. He is marginalised and his childhood has lacked stability, he is a very mixed up young man. He almost seems to be an adult in a child's body, Pornography, alcohol and a lack of parental support has lead to a life of stealing and disrespect for others.
The events of the day in question and the sexual assault change both the lives of Vivian and Johnny and as a reader we are spared no details in this often brutal and graphic account of what happened. Interestingly the story is told from both the points of view of the victim and the perpetrator. The story deals with events before, during and after the ordeal.
Not for the faint hearted, this book is quite harrowing and at times had me in tears at the injustice of it all. I think that the author has told an important story with great honesty and compassion, the narrative was gripping and the accounts from both sides were realistic and plausible.
I think the author has been bold and brave in writing this story about a subject matter that is often shied away from. I have complete and utter admiration for her in the telling of this story and I believe it to be an important and literary work of fiction.
Moving, absorbing and extremely emotive, I can recommend it whole heartedly.
About the Author:
Winnie M. Li is a writer and producer, who has worked in the creative industries on three continents. A Harvard graduate, she has written for travel guide books, produced independent feature films, programmed for film festivals, and developed eco-tourism projects. After graduating with Distinction in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths (where she was shortlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize 2015), she now currently writes across a range of media (including a column for The Huffington Post), runs arts festivals, and is a PhD researcher in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She was Highly Commended for the CWA Debut Dagger 2015 and also shortlisted for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. She lives in London yet is somewhat addicted to travel. Dark Chapter is her first novel.
Follow Winnie online at winniemli.com or on Twitter @winniemli
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