Frightening reality after rape: repeating the story, feeling flayed alive

DARK CHAPTER Winnie M Li Loot.co.za (R338) Legend Press

Every single step of seeking justice involves exposing herself more and more

OPENING Dark Chapter, Winnie M Li’s debut novel, you will find: it is a work of fiction, but the book is “inspired by the author’s own rape in similar circumstances”. Dedicated to “all the victims and all the survivors – and most of us, who are somewhere in between”.

The story plays out in that “in between” space, and is a harrowing account of a woman’s attempt to come to terms with her new frightening reality after being raped. The circumstances Li describes are somehow unusual, the telling perhaps even more so.

The protagonist of Dark Chapter is Vivian Tan, 29, highly educated, and a professional American living in London on a visit to West Belfast as a George Mitchell Scholar to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the peace process.

She decides to explore a hiking trail recommended by her travel guidebook. Walking on her own, she is accosted by a teenager with evil on his mind.

The encounter ends in a brutal rape. It turns out that Johnny, the perpetrator, is only 15, illiterate, and lives in a nearby caravan park with his family of Irish Travellers.

“They say events like this change your life forever”, Li begins the novel, and then relates how Vivian and Johnny arrived at this point in their trajectories, what circumstances shaped them, and what happened in the aftermath of the attack.

Vivian immediately reports the rape to the police.

At first, Johnny goes on the run, but then is turned in by his family (who believe his sanitised version of events), so that he can attempt to clear his name in court.

Li explains in the introduction to the novel that Johnny’s part of the story is “completely made up” and that the trial in the book did not take place as the “real-life defendant pleaded guilty”.

Li imagines Johnny’s life and family and friends and writes the story, alternating between both perspectives.

Creating any character is a leap of the imagination but, as a rape survivor, putting yourself into the shoes of a rapist is an incredible act of empathy and courage.

Nowhere in the novel does Li excuse Johnny’s actions, but she allows him a credible voice.

Li had her own experience to draw on, but one of the greatest challenges that trauma poses for a survivor is the piecing together of a coherent narrative about what happened.

Dark Chapter is a portrayal of a woman’s journey to recovery as she holds the youngster accountable for the crime he committed against her, by entrusting her story over and over again, to the authorities.

“How many more times does she need to be flayed alive in this process? Every single step of seeking justice involves exposing herself, more and more.” There seems to be no other way.

Earlier this month, Dark Chapter won the Guardian’s Not the Booker prize. It is adifficult but important read.