If you had a shot at justice, would you take it?
In 2018 I read a book called Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan and noted ‘good, great writing’ in my journal. Then the Brett Kavanaugh hearings happened, and I added this to my notes:
OMG Kavanaugh
It was one of those moments when fiction and reality merged and left an indelible impression. I’ve thought about the novel often since then because he’s a Supreme Court justice now, and anytime they’re in the news, it takes me back.
I decided to reread it, listening to the audiobook this time* and it led me to the author’s website. She penned an article about her book and Kavanaugh in late 2018 saying, “I hope it enrages, as much as it entertains.”**
Indeed, it does.
We’ve heard this story before: the posh and the poor. The privileged and the strivers. The takers and the ones who get taken.
In Anatomy of a Scandal, we meet Holly. All her hard work has paid off, and she’s studying at Oxford on scholarship, beginning to open up, loosen up, and grow.
James couldn’t be more different. He’s golden: good-looking, athletic, and charming. Boarding school educated with money to waste, a promising future, and a best mate destined for political power.
One night Holly and James literally cross paths, and an act that means absolutely nothing to him, never thought of again, was a turning point for her. Her life now had a before and after and she was never the same.
Vaughan delivers relentless plotting, sharp dialog, and fleshed out characters with their inner thoughts. She weaves together storylines of privilege and power, grief and revenge. Time moves forward and backward, leading to a dramatic finish.
Alternating voices help the reader get into each main character: Holly, James, his wife Sophie (who was a superficial friend to Holly at Oxford) and Kate, the present day prosecutor who lands the case of her life.
James, who is a member of Parliament, is accused of raping a colleague, and while he admits to an affair, he claims he’s innocent of assault. Kate is a little too close to the case to be completely impartial, but she doesn’t care.
There’s a chapter where we get a true sense of James in all his privileged Oxford glory. It’s a running narrative where he’s all pumped up, feeling invincible, high on himself, and his future. It’s a rush to read and 1) as a woman and 2) as more of a Holly than a Sophie, it’s a window into what it must be like to have that sense of security, the odds always in your favor.
Anatomy of a Scandal ends on a high note but is still a bit depressing because things in the real world have stayed the same more than changing for the better. Some might argue things are worse. Kavanaugh is a Supreme for life, still living his charmed and entitled life, still enjoying his beer with no repercussions.
Highly recommended if you want a little rage with your entertainment.
P.S. There’s an Anatomy of a Scandal show on Netflix! .
* Ever since I started listening to audiobooks, and I decide to reread a book, I’ve developed a habit of rereading via the audio version the second time around. It’s a different perspective and enjoyable in a different way. Try.it!
** Powerful allies, frat boy culture and consent: how Anatomy of a Scandal resonates with Kavanaugh. Read the article here
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