Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

78 reviews

hannahjacobsen's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really really wanted to like this book, so I picked it up again after not being able to finish it in the past. It was slow, with no clear plot order and hopped back and forth between years and storylines, which at first I thought was interesting, but I ended up just finding it more difficult to follow.

I think what ultimately left me disappointed with this book is that although it hit on so many different important topics, including racism & colorism, domestic violence, LGBTQ+, classism, Alzheimer’s and more, I felt like it barely scratched the surface of these topics and that there were so many undeveloped characters and plot lines. I expected the book to dive deeper into Desiree’s relationship with her abusive ex husband, Reese’s life as a trans man, what ended up happening with the Walker family across the street and whether Loretta ever found out Stella’s truth (I could go on and on)… but every time I thought the book was going to dive deeper into these storylines, it transitioned to a new one. 

Ultimately, I got to the end and felt like there was no closure. Stella seemingly got away with a lifetime of lies with no consequences, and we never find out where her life ends up. I suppose that’s the allure of these books to some people, but I got to the end and felt like the 350+ pages didn’t give me near enough.

I’m giving three stars for a diverse cast of characters, a unique premise and a combination of some really powerful topics.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism

mepereyra6's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Classism

20sidedbi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism

nina_mk's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

noonoobean's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Classism

Moderate: Racial slurs

savreads28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Classism

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this was a very enlightening read with a lot of interesting characters and perspectives. this book is entirely third-person which i don’t often enjoy quite so much, but the author used it very well

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Dementia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content

i count “sexual content” as consensual acts, so that’s why i tag it as minor

orlagal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

lemonflower's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

annatan's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent and Sexual harassment