Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - The Vanishing Half

Title: The Vanishing Half
Author: Brit Bennett
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4
Pub Date: June 2 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Reflective • Powerful • Necessary

📖 S Y N O P S I S

At the age of 16, twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes, run away from home in search of a better life in the city. Ultimately drifting apart, one day Stella disappears, and the sisters' lives take very different paths. Desiree, fleeing an abusive marriage with her daughter, ends up moving back to their small hometown. Meanwhile, Stella creates a completely different life passing as white, her true identity hidden from even her husband and daughter.

Spanning five decades, The Vanishing Half explores the lasting influence of the past on a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, all while providing an in depth look into why sometimes individual's feel compelled to live as something other than what they are. It considers family, race, identity and belonging.

💭 T H O U G H T S

The Vanishing Half was a book club selection, and I'm grateful it was because it sparked lots of fascinating discussions. It's just one of those books that makes you think and question. There are so many powerful themes throughout. First off, the theme of family is key to the plot, and explores the bonds over time and distance. Secondly, shedding an identity - the mere fact that Stella felt it necessary you make the choice she did is heartbreaking, yet eye-opening to the harsh realties of race. It drives home the privileges that come with looking, speaking and acting a certain way. Lastly, Brit Bennett has delivered a phenomenally written novel with exceptional character growth. The characters really came to life while reading, and the different journeys each character leads based on their decisions. While the story is slow to develop, here it seemed necessary to allow the reader to reflect on life, and challenges us to consider the harsh realties faced by people of colour. I particularly liked that everything wasn't tied up all neat in the end. This felt a whole lot more authentic to the realities of life. The twin concept is used to perfection, and conveys how each person is truly their own being, with Stella and Desiree's lives being completely different.

The Vanishing Half is an important and timely exploration of racism and colorism delving into the influence and hold the past has on generations of people. The topic of transgender identity takes a backseat throughout the story, but is all too important addition to this powerful story. While I didn't love it as much as everyone else, it's easy to see why it is such a success. It's certainly a unique take on historical fiction and a worthwhile read.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of multigeneration family sagas
• those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing and Ask Again, Yes
• Book clubs
• readers looking for an own voices or BIPOC read

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"She didn't like talking about Sam to Early, didn't even want to imagine both men existing within the same expanse of her life. Besides, Jude wasn't like Sam either. She was, in a way, like Stella. Private, like if she told you anything about herself, she was giving away something she could never get back."

"A body would be labeled but a person couldn't, and the different between the two depended on that muscle in your chest. That beloved organ, not sentient, not aware, not feeling, just pumping along, keeping you alive."

"'Well, maybe that's your problem,' Kennedy said. 'You tell yourself no before anyone even says it to you.'"

Content Warnings

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

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