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livslib's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
The Vanishing Half has easily become one of my favorite books. The storytelling is unmatched—being able to be inside of the heads of so many characters (even side/miscellaneous characters) was a joy to experience. Love and identity were the true players in this story. What you would do for love vs what you would do for yourself. What you feel vs what you believe. This story is so complex yet also so delicious—such a great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
oritayy's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
It was slow in the beginning, but this book is so good. I love how intricate the plot was, and that it still came together nicely. The audiobook was a great experience. I will definitely read this again one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
vanhook's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my new favorite books ever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Racial slurs
keliza23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
Minor: Transphobia and Abandonment
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Domestic abuse
amylynnknitsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
midnightmarauder's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Even though The Vanishing Half is a work of fiction, a lot of the subject matter can overlap into issues many of us still face today: racism/colorism/featurism, identity issues, the overwhelming desire to become someone other than yourself, etc. This book covers in all in just under 400 pages.
Some of the things I loved include the insertion of a trans man in a time period where they didn't really exist, nor are they mentioned often in historical fiction (Reese quickly became one of my favorite characters in the story; he and Jude's love story was a beautiful thing to watch unfold), how colorism and racism can lead to such big consequences amongst the black community, and the nonlinear writing structure; a style that left me staying up, just to see what would happen next.
Some things I would've liked to know more about include Stella, Kennedy, and Blake's fates. Did Stella and Kennedygo to Adele's funeral? I know that Jude was the one to call Kennedy and tell her that she died, but she wasn't mentioned ever again.
As for Stella,she is last seen leaving Mallard after placing her wedding ring into Early's palm and telling him to "take care of her Mama." There is a part afterwards that shows Blake brushing off Stella's missing ring and telling her that he's going to replace it, but, that's all. Did they choose not to call Stella, or did Stella simply go back to make herself feel a little better for leaving her family, relished in their grief, only to disappear again and cut off all contact like before?
Lastly, Blake:Did Stella ever come clean about her past, or did she come home and act as though nothing had happened? She couldn't leave behind the life that she had built for herself—the money, the marriage, the privilege—for a family she had known much longer than Blake. No, ma'am.
All in all, this book was one that was very hard to put down. All I can really say is wow. Brit Bennet is a marvelous writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.
Some of the things I loved include the insertion of a trans man in a time period where they didn't really exist, nor are they mentioned often in historical fiction (Reese quickly became one of my favorite characters in the story; he and Jude's love story was a beautiful thing to watch unfold), how colorism and racism can lead to such big consequences amongst the black community, and the nonlinear writing structure; a style that left me staying up, just to see what would happen next.
Some things I would've liked to know more about include Stella, Kennedy, and Blake's fates. Did Stella and Kennedy
As for Stella,
Lastly, Blake:
All in all, this book was one that was very hard to put down. All I can really say is wow. Brit Bennet is a marvelous writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Sexism
notartgarfunkel's review against another edition
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, and Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content
lalu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm really on the fence about this one...
We follow two coloured sisters with very light skin. One of them vanishes, tells everyone that her family is dead, and lives her life as the white wife of a rich white man. The other one marries a black man who becomes abusive, so she takes her daughter and returns to her mother. The story also focuses on their then-grown up daughters - the white daughter being completely clueless about her mother's life of lies, the black one struggling with racism and poverty - and how they find each other by chance.
I really liked the concept and where the author was going with this. Her ability to say so much with just a few words is incredible. The characters were well fleshed out and I was particularly invested in the black daughter's story and that of her boyfriend, who is a trans man.
But then the book suddenly ended. And I don't think it should have ended there. There were so many more things I wanted to know about the characters and how their lives continued. I've rarely been so bummed about finishing a book.
We follow two coloured sisters with very light skin. One of them vanishes, tells everyone that her family is dead, and lives her life as the white wife of a rich white man. The other one marries a black man who becomes abusive, so she takes her daughter and returns to her mother. The story also focuses on their then-grown up daughters - the white daughter being completely clueless about her mother's life of lies, the black one struggling with racism and poverty - and how they find each other by chance.
I really liked the concept and where the author was going with this. Her ability to say so much with just a few words is incredible. The characters were well fleshed out and I was particularly invested in the black daughter's story and that of her boyfriend, who is a trans man.
But then the book suddenly ended. And I don't think it should have ended there. There were so many more things I wanted to know about the characters and how their lives continued. I've rarely been so bummed about finishing a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Dementia, and Racial slurs
carlytenille's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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, Physical abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Hate crime, and Domestic abuse