Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

45 reviews

littlebells's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Racial slurs

nidzi_c's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault

mathildem's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 ⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story was so well thought out and executed, with a premise unlike any I've read before. I'm excited to read more from Brit Bennett!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Dementia

Minor: Alcohol, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

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 Kennedy

go 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.

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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

ruthmoog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

I was excited to read this based on the blurb, but it wasn't what I expected at all. Sister Sister it is not!

The reality of colorism and racism is laid out in the pages, and the impact of Stella's decision is greatly felt by her family, especially the children - who's own stories make up about half the narrative, if not more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pregnancy and Gaslighting

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

morganperks's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Classism, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Deadnaming, Dementia, Gaslighting, Racism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

karenmariscalo's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Classism

Moderate: Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Gaslighting, Racism, Physical abuse, Death, and Death of parent

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

maya_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Dementia, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Transphobia