Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Vanishing Half

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

843 reviews

dreamer626's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.0

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adisiki's review against another edition

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4.5

I loved this! It was beautifully written and a really compelling story. I liked how it followed the twins throughout their lives and how they connected again through their kids. I thought it really handled tough topics well like racism, colorism, segregation, white-passing, trans rights, etc. and I actually loved Reese’s story and his relationship with Jude.

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ynaiita_5896's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

Identical twins Desiree and Stella were born and raised in Mallard, Louisiana where the residents are obsessed with people with light skin. At 16 years old, they run away from home, leaving behind their widowed mother. After choosing to go their separate ways, they also end up choosing completely different lives as adults. Ten years later, one sister returns with her black daughter to the same town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, despite being separated by miles and lies, their fates continue to remain intertwined.

Bennett beautifully paints a historical fiction that intelligently navigates race, identity, colourism, culture and sexuality with careful nuance — highlighting the varied layers in each of these themes through the eyes of something as ordinary as identical twins. A story written so intricately with elements of thrill, suspense and emotional intensity, that you just can't stop reading.

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