Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

19 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Such a fascinating premise for a setting and for a storyline of a book. I knew that colorism existed, even among Black folx, but never thought about how far a group of people could take it. The main characters are all so different and yet so glaringly similar, even if they refuse to see it. The secrets we carry as daughters, sisters, mothers are complex and  many.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Toxic relationship

pamelakluna's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Bullying

Minor: Dementia, Classism, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Deadnaming

veronicats's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, Medical content, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dementia

Minor: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content

galexy_brain's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and War

steppecreature's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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: Abandonment, Deadnaming, Dementia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Transphobia

Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma

janadeschildre's review against another edition

challenging sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship

sj_54's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

It's immediately obvious why this is such a popular title, it is an incredibly timely book and beautifully written.

Highly recommend the audiobook, spot-on narrator.

While the jumps across timelines and the flashbacks may be confusing to some readers, (it requires some added effort and focus), it felt neither over the top nor unnecessary. It added to the mysteries of the story and allowed unique insights into each storyline.

I found there was never a dull moment, but can understand why some have described being 'bored' - it is not fast-paced and there is not a lot of 'action'. If you're in the mood for character-centered stories this is a great choice.

I particularly appreciated the approach this book took to including a trans character without immediately putting romantic feelings into question. It gets demoralizing to always see the inclusion of trans characters in a way that their existence is problematic to the main character, or that it is a reason in and of itself to affect the relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Rape

Minor: Deadnaming

papercraftalex's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

I really disliked the way the trans character was written. I also found issues with pacing and the time jumps were confusing and the ending was unsatisfying, but my overall issue is that the author really didn't handle the queer characters with care at all. It had some really good parts and is good for reflection on colorism and the idea of passing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

vmgonzalez1003's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Medical content, Sexual violence, Grief, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Dementia and Adult/minor relationship