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stupidgoldfish's review against another edition
adventurous
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
Great book, good story and lots to keep you interested throughout. Great trans character who isn’t the focus of the book but good representation!
lovelyday2day's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful novel. Loved the characters and theme of identity.
jwoo10_4's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
aarushirathaur's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maddiebo97's review against another edition
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
4.5
teavani's review against another edition
4.0
4.3, read in 2 days
the vanishing half explores the lives of stella and desiree vignes, light-skinned black girls growing up in the town of mallard. the book explores themes of race, color, identities that may conflict with one another, and to a lesser extent, gender. bennett captures the complexity of wanting to fitting in and coming to terms with your true self, whatever that may mean. bennett’s style of writing makes it easy to understand which perspective and timeline we are following in the book. each character is quite interesting, has a purpose, and is given an appropriate amount of focus. i do slightly wish there was a more satisfying or complete ending, but perhaps that was bennett’s intention.
overall, i recommend!
the vanishing half explores the lives of stella and desiree vignes, light-skinned black girls growing up in the town of mallard. the book explores themes of race, color, identities that may conflict with one another, and to a lesser extent, gender. bennett captures the complexity of wanting to fitting in and coming to terms with your true self, whatever that may mean. bennett’s style of writing makes it easy to understand which perspective and timeline we are following in the book. each character is quite interesting, has a purpose, and is given an appropriate amount of focus. i do slightly wish there was a more satisfying or complete ending, but perhaps that was bennett’s intention.
overall, i recommend!
c0setteee_hasgonemadagain_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.75
"True Acting meant becoming invisible so that only the character shone through"
From this line you can actually get a overall briefing on thia book. This book was about four person and their life after making a *certain* choice(s?).
Personally I liked Jude's one, but Stella's constant character development? also made me awed, but I liked Desiree's one too
vmusing's review against another edition
5.0
I’m having a hard time rating this book, but for now have landed on a 5*
I think this book was a wonderful exploration of family, race, passing, etc. I really enjoyed being taken through this story starting with Desiree, Stella, and then their daughters. I really enjoyed Early & Reese as side characters and think they added so much to the story as well as helped Desiree & Jude jump off the page more.
The only issue I had with this book was the pacing. The first half was incredibly slow, then it picked up, and slowed back down again. I’m glad I stuck with it to the end, though, because thats what solidified it as a 5* for me.
I also read the authors note at the back, and highly recommend checking that part out. I liked reading about how she came up with this story and thought it was very interesting.
I think this book was a wonderful exploration of family, race, passing, etc. I really enjoyed being taken through this story starting with Desiree, Stella, and then their daughters. I really enjoyed Early & Reese as side characters and think they added so much to the story as well as helped Desiree & Jude jump off the page more.
The only issue I had with this book was the pacing. The first half was incredibly slow, then it picked up, and slowed back down again. I’m glad I stuck with it to the end, though, because thats what solidified it as a 5* for me.
I also read the authors note at the back, and highly recommend checking that part out. I liked reading about how she came up with this story and thought it was very interesting.
bjhenning's review against another edition
4.0
I’m rounding up to 4. I was left wanting more. There are multiple stories being told, but mostly at surface level. There were a couple times that I got confused about where the time went... seemed to skip a bit and not really explain how we got there or why. Not bad, not great. I think there was good potential to tell more of these stories.