What do You think about If Loving You Is Wrong: The Shocking True Story Of Mary Kay Letourneau (1999)?
I was surprised after reading this book to discover I had changed my mind somewhat about this whole incident. I was probably like most people offended and outraged at a teacher sexually abusing a student. However, I came to understand this was no ordinary case of molestation. I truly came to believe it was a love match between adult and child. Who was the child and who was the adult is the big question? I just feel the teacher in question was suffering from a mental illness and arrested emotional development. This does not excuse the teacher's bad behavior; she should have waited until the boy was older to consummate the relationship.
—Verna
Mary Kay's father was a chauvinist, anti-abortionist, homophobic, and adulterer. He was also unapologetic for his actions. Her mother was able to ignore everything unpleasant. Mary Kay was an apple that didn't fall from the tree. Although I followed the trial, this book was an eye opener.Vili Faulaau was a manipulator, Mary Kay was a manipulator, they were made for each other. Neither felt their actions were anything but TRUE love,and felt nothing they did could hurt anyone.The most amazing thing is family, friends, coworker and others sided with Mary Kay. If is was Mary Kay than it was OK. (Would they feel the same if it were their child?). In all of this Mary Kay wanted a movie deal, her lawyers wanted to be paid for interviews and Vili's mother wanted to be paid for pictures. These were real people, not fictional characters.The book goes through 1999. If you follow the news, Mary Kay is back in it. I can only say the back-story is amazing, amazing, amazing - my head is still shaking. Be sure to read the acknowledgements and update at the end. This is a must read - amazing.
—Quanita
Its not exactly well written, but its a decent enough documentary. The author does a good job of portraying different angles of the story, including the effect it had on their families, children, students, communities etc. You end up feeling sorry for both the main and secondary characters of this drama (especially her children) and its open ended as to drawing conclusions. Mary Kay is clearly very disturbed, so desperate for someone to love her. I came to believe its a true love story, as in it would not have happened between her and any other male student. Its not surprising, therefore, that they have gotten married since. However, she was certainly not an adult dealing with it emotionally, they could have waited. But then again, if she was more emotionally mature, it likely would not have happened in the first place...
—Natalya
