(Untitled)

[nightgarden]

Lit nrrds and/or those up on their trauma lit: I have a query for y'all. Can anyone think of narratives (fiction, autobio, or thinly disguised autobio) by/about survivors of repeated sexual assault who were also consensually sexually active at the time that the abuse was taking place? I can only think of one (One on One, by Tabitha King)-and there

Comments

[amanda_mary]

Does the protagonist need to be in an otherwise conensual sexual relationship with the perpetrator of the assault? Oh, wait ... repeated sexual assault? Hmmm. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

[nightgarden]

No--I meant more along the lines of a consensual relationship with someone who is not the perpetrator. I think Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley fits, though it's been several years since I've read it (and I could really do without rereading that ending).

[amanda_mary]

Oh! I love Jim Grimsley's early work. (His first three books, up to My Drowning). I think Winter Birds is a nearly perfectly written novel. Now he seems to be into science fiction and fantasy, which generally isn't my cup of tea.

Would Scott Heim's Mysterious Skin fit? Again, that's more about the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse, although both of the main characters have consensual and non-consensual sexual encounters following their early-life experience.

[nightgarden]

I didn't even think of Mysterious Skin, but you're right: That might fit. That's another one I haven't read in several years: I did this hugely extensive project my senior year of college about narratives written by/about male survivors of sexual abuse/assault, so that's how I ran across Grimsley and Heim.

Did you see the film version of Mysterious Skin that came out a few months ago? It was well reviewed (and was playing a block from where I work!), and I am a schlub and didn't see it.

[amanda_mary]

Yep! I absolutely loved it, and would definitely recommend it (it's now available on DVD) with the caution that the scene in which Neil is raped by one of his johns is very brutal.

I used to correspond with Heim, via email, years ago, and still regularly read his wonderful blog. I haven't worked up the nerve to reintroduce myself though :)

[amanda_mary]

Uh "with the caution"? I sound like someone who has only recently been introduced to the English language!