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A review by yvespiders
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
"The only difference between lying and acting was whether your audience was in on it, but it was all a performance just the same."
The Vanishing Half is the perfect title for this novel. It explores the nuances of identity and the powerful impact of privilege, experienced trauma, generational trauma, social constructs around race and gender, colorism, and our country's long and ongoing history of racism (explicit, implicit, and internalized) on each individual's path in life and emotional well being. Bennett crafted each main character in a way that made me emotionally invested in each one. Even with the less likeable characters, I felt frustrated about their choices and how they treated others. But Bennett set them up so well that I can trace back to why they ended up the way they did.
I borrowed this book from my local library, but have decided to purchase it. It is the type of book that I would like to reread to catch any character details I may have missed, even if that means my heart will break again.
The Vanishing Half is the perfect title for this novel. It explores the nuances of identity and the powerful impact of privilege, experienced trauma, generational trauma, social constructs around race and gender, colorism, and our country's long and ongoing history of racism (explicit, implicit, and internalized) on each individual's path in life and emotional well being. Bennett crafted each main character in a way that made me emotionally invested in each one. Even with the less likeable characters, I felt frustrated about their choices and how they treated others. But Bennett set them up so well that I can trace back to why they ended up the way they did.
I borrowed this book from my local library, but have decided to purchase it. It is the type of book that I would like to reread to catch any character details I may have missed, even if that means my heart will break again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Racism
Moderate: Dementia