Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

108 reviews

orlagal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Abandonment, Mental illness, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical content, Transphobia, Classism, and Vomit

clairew97's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

sperigo's review

emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

God, this book was incredible. Brit Bennett is a fantastic writer. She writes gorgeous prose, and the most compelling, well developed characters. This books follows an ensemble cast of family members, each with lives radically different from each other, as they find themselves and then eventually grapple with whether or not they want to find one another. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a novel longer than 300 pages, yet I couldn’t put this one down.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Dementia

Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Transphobia, and Deadnaming

Minor: Addiction

leckner_library's review

emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

Trying to find reasons not to give this 5 stars is very, very hard. I'm biased because immediately it reminded me of Toni Morrison's Paradise. Whether or not that was intentional, I'm not gonna look it up, but I love it even more for that.

Passing is a thing that happened and I'm sure there are still many, many quadroons and hexadecaroons walking around without a clue. I've always felt sympathy for the people who passed, and this book definitely gave me a new / another understanding. (I mean, who can be mad at you for wanting better for your life and your family?) To be moved so much by a book show just how good it is. That being said though I do not feel sympathy for Stella!

After what she did to Loretta and Reg?!

This one's definitely staying on my bookshelf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Grief, Racism, and Outing

Moderate: Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, and Gaslighting

Minor: Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Stalking, Blood, Deadnaming, and Medical content

glammster's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Dementia, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Minor: Dysphoria

Graphic description of lynching

something_magnetism's review

emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I loved how this book reflects on themes of identity across experiences such as race and gender. It contains nods to historical issues and generational trauma as well. 
I have finished this book and am still thinking about it, noodling if you will, continuing to find (new) meaning…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Grief, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Violence, Racism, and Death

lindseyhall44's review

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

As a someone who is biracial, the themes of racial identity really struck a chord with me. I loved how Bennett explored this theme, along with passing, familial and sisterly bonds, transitioning, and so many other important topics in such an engaging way. I would highly recommend the audiobook if interested, the narration was phenomenal. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Abandonment, Classism, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, and Transphobia

monloesco's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

So happy I finally got around to read this book, it was great and really heart-touching. I would’ve liked a different ending or

at least a little bit of update on Stella and Kennedy’s lives, not just Desiree and Jude’s lives. I would’ve also liked a little more confrontation and conversation when Stella goes back to Mallard, since it felt a little bit rushed and anticlimatic.

Overall great book, a great insight on race and identity without feeling academic or lecture-like. (Shoutout a @Coby por mi birthday gift).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Dysphoria and Murder

lpdx's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Dementia, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Homophobia

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Transphobia