Scan barcode
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brit Bennett’s haunting second novel is carried on the shoulders of a robust cast of characters—namely, Stella and Desiree Vignes, twin sisters born in 1940s Louisiana, Black but pale as can be. Soon after running away to New Orleans, they separate for the first time in their lives. Stella begins passing every day as a white woman; Desiree marries a dark-skinned man and has an ever darker daughter. Decades pass, and children leave home, wondering about where they came from just as much as where they’re going. But some secrets aren’t meant to be kept.
As if Bennett’s rich storytelling wasn’t enough, I was absolutely hooked by the Black trans joy represented in this book. A future classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Dementia
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
elisabethjoe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Transphobia, and Death of parent
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Rape
Minor: Deadnaming
chonkeyhong's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder
madde's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So I started listening to this on audiobook right after I moved (I’d been waiting for it on Libby and happened to get it at not a great time for me). Because I was so busy and couldn’t get into the novel at first, I almost returned it to just read it later on. But then I got drawn in. I had only heard amazing things about this book and I understand why—it’s so good! I love the shifting pov and how it moves throughout generations (okay like all of my favorite books do this).
I definitely want to reread this from a physical copy.
I definitely want to reread this from a physical copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
anika_the_reader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
This book was really different to what I usually read, but I enjoyed it a lot! It's about 2 twins that grew up in a town where everyone was black but so light they could pass for white. After they run away, one twin lives life as a white woman while the other marries a black man. The author weaves family, colorism, and fate together to create a beautiful story that spans multiple generations and perspectives. While the plot is interesting, the phenomenal writing was the best part. Everything was expressed so skillfully that I needed to read some parts out loud to fully experience how beautiful it was. I'd definitely recommend, but bear in mind that it is a little intense and not suitable for younger readers. It doesn't really follow a traditional plot structure so there were definitely some moments that left me wondering what the point was. However, the storyline was so fascinating that I'm willing to excuse that. I loved how each of the 4 main characters contrasted each other so well and how if it weren't for fate, their lives would be entirely different. I loved Jude's character and the hardships she faced in Millard almost made me cry. Kennedy and Stella annoyed me quite a lot, but I could see why they made the decisions they did. Reece was a great boyfriend and I loved the trans rep that was woven into the story!
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Death of parent
kelseyland'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
5.0
An incredible novel about family and history and the question of whether you can ever really separate yourself from either. I loved the way the storylines of each character evolved and connected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Medical content, and Grief
nocturnalreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Setting: Mallard | Themes: Self-Identity and Racism | Plot: Medium paced
Author: @Britbennet
Content Warning: Domestic abuse, sexual assault, and racial slurs
The Vanishing Half is an intriguing tale of two twin sisters, Stella and Desiree, who were once indivisible now chose different paths to run away from their community of light skin.
During their break free, Stella cast aside Desiree to live her life as a white woman, and Desiree chooses to embrace her true identity as a Black woman. Desiree returns to her community with her daughter after 14 years.
The author has astutely weaved the timeline shift through three generations exploring the tussles to blend in the white society by hiding the true identity and the choices that keep haunting both the sisters until they met.
Though one may find the plot complex, the author ensures to provide justice to all the characters and their voice reach the readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Dementia
saidthestory's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Vanishing Half follows twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes, the choices they make, and all the lives connected to theirs that their choices have affected. At its heart this story is about finding yourself, but it’s also about how the actions and reactions of people can change lives.
The Vignes twins are identical to the eye, but vastly different in personality. One is fiery, one is quiet. One speaks her mind, the other obeys. But both sisters went missing from their small southern Black community when they were sixteen, together. Now, years later the twins haven’t seen one another in over a decade. One is living with her Black daughter in the small town she always wished to escape, and the other is secretly passing for white, with a white daughter.
I have always, and likely will always, be a fan of the generational novel. Or any novel that has a ‘six-degrees-of-seperation’ theme to it. I love the art of threading lives and stories into one another, seeing how one person’s choices can affect so many. How connected people can be, even from across the country.
This is one of those novels where the plot itself doesn’t feel that important, but the way the plot helps portray the characters is extremely important.
There were moments where the prose was so powerful, so meaningful, and so well-written, I had to take a second just to soak it all in.
This novel is about being Black, it’s about your family, your past, your future. It’s about the difference between finding yourself and making who you want to be - or rather whether there is a difference at all. It’s about connection in its many forms.
I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. If you’re in the mood for a well-written literary fiction, this is it.
cw: Racism, lynching, rape, domestic abuse, transphobia.
The Vignes twins are identical to the eye, but vastly different in personality. One is fiery, one is quiet. One speaks her mind, the other obeys. But both sisters went missing from their small southern Black community when they were sixteen, together. Now, years later the twins haven’t seen one another in over a decade. One is living with her Black daughter in the small town she always wished to escape, and the other is secretly passing for white, with a white daughter.
I have always, and likely will always, be a fan of the generational novel. Or any novel that has a ‘six-degrees-of-seperation’ theme to it. I love the art of threading lives and stories into one another, seeing how one person’s choices can affect so many. How connected people can be, even from across the country.
This is one of those novels where the plot itself doesn’t feel that important, but the way the plot helps portray the characters is extremely important.
There were moments where the prose was so powerful, so meaningful, and so well-written, I had to take a second just to soak it all in.
This novel is about being Black, it’s about your family, your past, your future. It’s about the difference between finding yourself and making who you want to be - or rather whether there is a difference at all. It’s about connection in its many forms.
I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. If you’re in the mood for a well-written literary fiction, this is it.
cw: Racism, lynching, rape, domestic abuse, transphobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, and Transphobia