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mezzarella's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Like most family sagas, Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half feels as long and slow as the river. Two Black twins, one who is light-skinned and the other who is dark-skinned, forge their own ways into adulthood. One woman grows into a Black woman living through the racism and hardship of the mid 20th century. The other is able to pass as a white woman, and raises a family without even her husband ever knowing the truth. While the twins parted ways long ago, as they raise their own families and live their own lives, time brings memories surging to the present often. This story is reflective on its subject material, looking at how race and truth affect their families (both near and far away).
I truly loved watching the twins grow older and watch how their level of privilege affected their lives. Tough questions were asked about racial injustice and colorism as well as the extent that living comfortable is worth lies and forgetting who you are. This would make a great book club read, where all the details and histories can be written down and unwoven.
I truly loved watching the twins grow older and watch how their level of privilege affected their lives. Tough questions were asked about racial injustice and colorism as well as the extent that living comfortable is worth lies and forgetting who you are. This would make a great book club read, where all the details and histories can be written down and unwoven.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Racial slurs
annareads9898's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I found this book to be a quick read because I was so engrossed in the progression of the story of these characters'. I only knew the basics of the book before I read it so I was excited to discover that not only the twins relationship was explored but that the repercussions of their actions through their children was also explored. Jude is an amazing character. The overarching discussion on race and identity was absolutely heart breaking and fascinating and the rhetoric/dialogue on it in this text adds something different to the discussion of racial identity. Overall. the books exploration of identity is at the core of it and I loved every page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
mamademics's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
So many people hyped up this book that I was expecting more. Unfortunately, it ended up being a huge disappointment. The Vanishing Half is like the Great Value version of Passing by Nella Larsen. I really had to go check to see if the author was Black while reading because it was dripping with colorist throughout.
It's like they wanted us to all know that if you're light enough to pass, you should definitely do so because then you'll get the nice loving husband. But if you don't pass, make sure you don't marry a super dark skin man because your kid will be so dark and it will be mentioned every time the character is discussed. Oh, and of course the dark skin Black man was abusive.
There was so much potential for this storyline but it ended up being clearly written for the gaze of middle class white women who want to feel good about reading books with Black characters.
It's like they wanted us to all know that if you're light enough to pass, you should definitely do so because then you'll get the nice loving husband. But if you don't pass, make sure you don't marry a super dark skin man because your kid will be so dark and it will be mentioned every time the character is discussed. Oh, and of course the dark skin Black man was abusive.
There was so much potential for this storyline but it ended up being clearly written for the gaze of middle class white women who want to feel good about reading books with Black characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
sunpuddles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ writing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ insightfulness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ readability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ plot development
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ character
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pace
This book is incredible on all levels. The characters are well-developed, the writing is gorgeous and the plot is nuanced and intriguing while the pacing is perfect to pull you in and along. Stella and Desiree are developed originally as almost one character. With nuanced differences, they are never apart and shown always speaking and thinking as one whole. Then the split. The rift in the narrative as you first follow Desiree with no mention of Stella, then Stella with no Desiree is the perfect literary device. The characters of their daughters - Jude and Kennedy are so opposite, the dichotomy of Black and white are felt strongly and yet the personalities also feel natural and in no way extreme. Like two more twins twice removed. I love the characters of Reese and Barry as well. The way Bennett adds a transgender and transvestite character so honestly and yet unapologetically without massive drama and with love and acceptance around them is beautiful and sadly rare. There was no plot points around misgendering, discovery, or deadnaming. However, Bennett does show the daily burden of hormones, the danger and cost of top surgery and the barrier to marriage and family. There is a strong theme of reinvention and becoming who you are despite the barriers you were given at birth. I really appreciate the layers and levels Bennett was able to bring to this book while first and foremost focusing on skin color and race in America.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ insightfulness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ readability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ plot development
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ character
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pace
This book is incredible on all levels. The characters are well-developed, the writing is gorgeous and the plot is nuanced and intriguing while the pacing is perfect to pull you in and along. Stella and Desiree are developed originally as almost one character. With nuanced differences, they are never apart and shown always speaking and thinking as one whole. Then the split. The rift in the narrative as you first follow Desiree with no mention of Stella, then Stella with no Desiree is the perfect literary device. The characters of their daughters - Jude and Kennedy are so opposite, the dichotomy of Black and white are felt strongly and yet the personalities also feel natural and in no way extreme. Like two more twins twice removed. I love the characters of Reese and Barry as well. The way Bennett adds a transgender and transvestite character so honestly and yet unapologetically without massive drama and with love and acceptance around them is beautiful and sadly rare. There was no plot points around misgendering, discovery, or deadnaming. However, Bennett does show the daily burden of hormones, the danger and cost of top surgery and the barrier to marriage and family. There is a strong theme of reinvention and becoming who you are despite the barriers you were given at birth. I really appreciate the layers and levels Bennett was able to bring to this book while first and foremost focusing on skin color and race in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
Moderate: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Death and Drug use
vlram's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Dementia, and Emotional abuse
quiteawful's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
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