Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Review: Fault Line by Christa Desir


Title: Fault Line

Author: Christa Desir

Rating: 4 Stars

For all that I live in a progressive, diverse community in the Northeast, this is still a town where nasty letters against the Gay Straight Alliance make the quarterly report and high school boys laugh at the thought that a girl wearing a short skirt isn't "asking for it." Needless to say, when a novel about rape is published and begins to garner mixed reviews, I am curious. Fault Line is a dark, gritty read, but I don't just use those terms to describe its subject matter. Desir's novel is physically uncomfortable, from the situations she describes to the lack of resolution by the end. Fault Line isn't a love story. It isn't a novel about a girl who becomes raped but finds romance to heal her. It isn't a story of a teenager who looks for help and digs herself out of the dark hole that rape has propelled her into. In fact, it's just the opposite.

When Ani moves into Ben's neighborhood, his entire world is turned upside down. Confident, sarcastic, and fiercely independent, Ani is nothing like the simpering females who fight for his attention. An excellent swimmer and handsome teen to boot, Ben has it all going for him and now, with Ani by his side, his life is perfect. Until, that is, Ben receives a frantic call from Kate, one of Ani's close friends, informing him that his girlfriend is at the hospital. Informing him that at the party he skipped out on last night, Ani was gang raped. Informing him that when Kate and Ani went to put together a rape kit at the hospital, the doctors needed to perform an ultrasound on Ani. Informing him that the boys who raped Ani left a lighter inside her.

Utterly distraught and blaming himself for Ani's predicament, Ben doesn't know what to do. And, the more and more he hears about what happened at the party the night Ani was raped, the more and more the lines blur. Ani asked for it. Ani danced on top of tables. Ani wasn't that drunk. Ani got off on a lighter in front of the group of guys she voluntarily went upstairs with. Yet, despite these rumors, Ben can see Ani disintegrate before his eyes. Suddenly, the creative, strong, and humorous girl Ben fell in love with has become a shell of her former self, refusing to reveal the truth of her rape to her mother, smothering herself in over-sized sweatshirts, and hiding from the barbs sent her way.

Ani - who cannot remember what happened the night she was raped, who does not know if her behavior was the product of date rape drugs or mere intoxication - begins to lose sight of herself. From the strangers around her to the close friends she once had, everyone ceases to see Ani for the brilliant girl she is, instead focusing on her assault. Needless to say, this is all Ani begins to see as well. Within a matter of weeks, Ani has emerged from her shell, convinced that all she is good for is sex. Where Fault Line shines, in my opinion, is in creating a destructive, alien, and unfathomable mechanism for Ani to cope with the loss of freedom and choice she suffered. Unlike most heroines who push away the world, converging in on themselves or pursuing suicidal tendencies, Ani becomes increasingly active sexually.

Ben, who witnesses first-hand how Ani spirals out of control, is rendered speechless by her decisions. While, on one hand, he respects Ani and understands that it is her choice to do as she pleases with her body, she is still his girlfriend. More than that, though, Ben is fueled by his own guilt at leaving her to attend that fateful party without him by her side and, as such, he aches to help her in any way he can. While Ani's sexual conquests increase, Ben phones a therapist, attends a healing group, and speaks to rape victims about their experiences.

In dealing with an issue as delicate as rape, Fault Line never falters. Not only does Desir emphasize the importance of putting together a rape kit, but she also covers a variety of organizations available to help both victims and their loved ones. Moreover, despite the blurred lines concerning Ani's rape and the unconventional - and, frankly speaking, unlikable - methods she resorts to in order to cope with her assault, Desir never places the blame of Ani's rape on Ani, Kate, or Ben. While all three blame themselves, Desir firmly stands her ground that rape is an action that only the rapists themselves are at fault for, though unfortunately they rarely suffer the consequences.

Fault Line is definitely not a book for most readers. Its ending is open-ended, leaving this issue largely unresolved, but it makes a strong statement nevertheless. For me, however, the most important decision that Desir makes with her debut is in molding Ani into a victim whose actions do not inspire sympathy. Whether it be in media, films, or novels, the symbol for rape is a downtrodden young girl whose vulnerability is a cry for help. More often than not, though, true pleas for help are messy, disgusting affairs. While Ani, doubtless, makes a series of mistakes following her rape, instead of criticizing those decisions, Desir enables us to see to the pain Ani hides beneath the facade of a slut. Young Adult rarely delves far enough in creating heroines who defy the lines of the boxes they are placed in the way Fault Line did, which enabled this novel to exceed my expectations in delivering a gritty read. Told from the perspective of Ben, Desir's debut is a brilliant, but difficult, story to read; one that I hope will leave readers thinking for the days to come.

21 comments:

  1. I think it would be too hard to read it ./

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  2. I have seen mixed reviews for this one and of course that got me curious. I mean it deals with tough issue as rape and with that it's not turned pink an fluffy. I need that book. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy it and that it's educational in a way. Great review, Keertana :)

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  3. This book sounds so gritty and uncomfortable, and you do a wonderful job of reviewing it without detracting from its darkness, Keertana. Not sure if I'll read it yet but your review makes me much more inclined to do so. I also appreciate how you openly state that some readers will not like its open ending, because that's a truth I'm seeing more often within YA fiction.

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  4. I'm glad to see someone actually enjoy this one, Keertana. It didn't work as well for me, if only because the shock value aspects felt a bit too heavy-handed for me. It's nice, however, to see the flip side of that. Great review!

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  5. Nothing makes me angrier than the "she's asking for it" argument when it comes to rape. For me, the fact that the mere sight of a woman in a somewhat inebriated state and some sexy clothes somehow causes a man to lose the ability to control himself is far more alarming than a woman dressing provocatively in the first place. Sexy clothes may inarguably be an invitation in some cases, but never an invitation to rape. I think this book would make me angry on a number of levels, as I'm sure it's supposed to, so I don't think it's one for me even though I'm glad there are books like this out there that deal with the aftermath of an assault. Thanks for your thoughts Keertana!

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  6. Fault Line is definitely not an easy read.When I heard it deals about rape,I never cared to read the synopsis, but now after reading your review I would say it's right up my alley. Ani sounds like a strong girl. Wonderful review Keertana!!

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  7. Oh, holy cow. Poor Ani. I just want to hug her. Such a difficult subject to write about and, despite mixed reviews, I still applaud the author for tackling a story such as this.

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  8. Oh, holy cow. Poor Ani. I just want to hug her. Such a difficult subject to write about and, despite mixed reviews, I still applaud the author for tackling a story such as this.

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  9. Oh wow Keertana! What an incredible review. Although I'm not sure if I would read this book because it sounds like it would be too uncomfortable for me, it sounds like it's an important YA read.

    I think the way Ani deals with her life post Sexual Assault is a departure from the common approach YA novels take, so maybe that's why the book has garnered mixed reviews? What do you think?

    And I hear you about what you say when guys say girls wearing a mini-skirt are "asking for it." Talk like that makes me angry because nobody asks to get raped-men or women. It happens and it makes me angry when people pin the blame on the victim all the time. There have been so many teenage suicides because sexual assaults have been showed on social media. It's just so disheartening. I'm glad that this was a good read for you. I don't want to say 'enjoyed' because it seems inappropriate when I consider the subject matter.

    Wonderful Review as always dear :).

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  10. This seems like a very hard book to review, but you managed to do a great job with it. I am not quite sure I will pick this one up, at least not at this time in my life, but you have intrigued me. Thank you for giving such a well-rounded and informative review.

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  11. I hate open ending books, but I also see why it can be used effectively. I can see with such a heavy handed topic as rape that it would be effective here. I don't know if I could get through this one without having thrown the book across the room... especially when they start blaming the victim. Oh this does sound like a good book, but one I think I'll wait until I'm in the mood for something so emotionally rocking.

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  12. Sounds like a very dark, upsetting read. I for one wouldn't be able to handle it. Your review was very thoughtful and well done!

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  13. This book would definitely shake me up, but I do think it's one I could ultimately handle. Your words set the tone for this book perfectly, direct and passionate; I can feel how dark and heavy the subject matter is, but what impresses me more is your positive response to the presentation of the subject matter. Fault Line deserves to be read. I hope I can find the time for it, if not now then someday. Truly lovely review, Keertana. <3

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  14. ah...wow...
    okay I see what you mean that it's not for everyone. Not sure how I myself would really feel about the presentation but yea hum... I might read it, but it might not be up my ally.

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  15. Wow Keertana! That is such an inspiring review. I really want to read Fault Line so I can be relieved at finally having an Ani in YA. And a writer like Desir. Through your eyes, this book takes on an entirely different meaning than other reviewers have had. It's a tough subject but it sounds like Desir has done something new with it. Thanks for seeing it.

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  16. Whoa. This sounds like a very powerful book. I don't usually like open ended books, but I can kind of see how it might work in this case. This is something that just isn't ever really 'resolved' or 'fixed'. I hadn't paid any attention to this before but now I'm thinking I need to read this. At the right time though, cause this is going to be a tough one.

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  17. I decided not to read this one for trigger reasons (too many book fishes in the book sea to put myself through that), but I love reading reviews for it like yours and Steph's over at Cuddlebuggery. Thank you!

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  18. WOW. I can definitely see that this is a powerful novel that approaches the topic of rape and its aftermath realistically, as opposed to how I see it written about over and over again in other books with similar themes. However, this is definitely not the book for me. A moving and sobering review, K.

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  19. Brilliant review, Keertana! I've been very interested in reading this one myself as I saw more and more divisive reviews start getting published. It sounds as though Desir has presented an unconventional yet compelling story of rape culture. It doesn't sound like a pleasant book to read, but it does sound like an important one. Your positive review has convinced me more than ever to give this one a try, because I agree with so much of what you said here.

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  20. I have GOT to read this one. The cover of it has always fascinated me--but now that I know the meaning behind the image--wow. I love these really gritty, deeply personal and not always pretty YA contemps. It's nice to read the lighter, fluffier ones, but it's the darker books like this one that stick with you. This is a really great review, Keertana--you have given me a lot of background info on the book that other reviews haven't. Nice job:)

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  21. I have to admit, I had pretty mixed feelings about this one. I appreciated the author's approach to the story as well as the portrayal of the impact of sexual violence upon its victims, but somehow it didn't quite come together for me overall. I appreciated your review, though, and I agree the book certainly did make me think about it for some time afterwards.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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