Reviews tagging Rape

The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett

53 reviews

calais_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Early has made me feel that there is no problem dating a hitman. As a society we should just accept the profession.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Drug use

caitlinderocker's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, Death of parent, Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, and Cultural appropriation

storykat's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The Vanishing Half tells the interweaving stories of Desiree and Stella Vignes, light-skinned Black twins whose lives diverge drastically, Desiree returning home and Stella passing as white. As each twin starts a family, we see just how different their lives have become, as well as the ways they remain inextricably linked.

I enjoyed the perspective shifts throughout the story, as well as the wide-ranging timeline. The story felt expansive and intimate at the same time. Not everything was wrapped up neatly or narratively satisfying, which I think is part of what makes the characters' stories feel real. There's no perfect ending after the messy beginnings, only an attempt to pick up the pieces and make the most of what's left. Everyone goes on with their lives, and the impact of others on them varies as each character tries to do what's best for themselves.

I sometimes got confused with timelines towards the end - we jumped around between memories and the present, and it wasn't always clear to me what was happening when.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

sofiasky's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Transphobia

Minor: Rape, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, and Bullying

quinn12_'s review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Violence, Dementia, Racism, Injury/injury detail, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Murder, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, and Terminal illness

faythfarrar's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape

hayleygray's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

This book was different to anything that I have ever read before and I think it is something that a lot of people should read. I learned a lot from this book about the varying experiences of people of colour and the racism within communities. Bennett's writing is intriguing, heart-felt, honest and raw – which is what made me really like this book. There was no avoiding the issues at hand here: it was stated clearly and boldly... it was the life lived by millions of people. 
I highly recommend this book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Murder, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dementia

this_is_lee's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious 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

4.75

This was such A beautiful book. The story follows two intricate characters and the ways that their paths diverge, cross and meld. It is hard to read at times but it is incredibly worth it in the end. 
Very enlightening. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Medical content, Police brutality, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Addiction, and Classism

user429018's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment

suzannah's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Classism, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Dementia, Sexual assault, Rape, Chronic illness, Racism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation