As a 17-year-old senior, Alisson Wood is a bit of a loner who takes solace in writing. Alisson is getting extra help outside of class from Mr. North, a 27-year-old English teacher. Mr. North is constantly praising her writing, calling her special and gifted. Alisson is flourishing under his attention.
"Have you ever read Lolita?"
Mr. North gives Alisson a copy and tells her to read it, citing it as a beautiful love story. The book soon becomes the mirror to their relationship—it started as a crush and blossomed into a forbidden and scandalous romance, one that is only rivalled by Nabokov's masterpiece.
As Mr. North's hold on her tightens and the relationship becomes abusive, Alisson must take back her power and the pen, and rewrite her own narrative.
Being Lolita is a stunning piece of work. It is a study of Lolita itself, that is unfortunately at the expense of a young girl. A girl that should've been nurtured and protected, but instead became exploited and a victim of abuse. This is nothing new—men in positions of power that prey on women who have been taught that they should welcome the attention of a man, no matter in what form.
This coming-of-age memoir is powerful, gripping, and consuming. It is an unflinching look into an extreme abuse of power and consent. Alisson Wood is brave, she is a survivor who by telling her story, takes back her power. And while this book isn't anything new or fresh, Wood's writing was truly remarkable and inspiring.
ALISSON WOOD holds an MFA in Fiction from New York University. Alisson’s essays have been published in the New York Times, Catapult, and Epiphany. She was a winner of the inaugural Breakout 8 Award from Epiphany Magazine and Author’s Guild.
Wood holds an MFA in Fiction from New York University and teaches creative writing at her alma mater and at Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop.
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