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A review by silverliningsandpages
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
5.0
“At first, passing seemed so simple, she couldn’t understand why her parents hadn’t done it. She hadn’t realised how long it takes to become somebody else, or how lonely it can be living in a world not meant for you.”
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Why are the most impressive books sometimes the hardest to describe?! I hope to do some justice to The Vanishing Half.
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This multi-generational story masterfully weaves many threads over several decades. Identical twin girls grow up together in a black community in the Deep South. The inhabitants of the village embrace and strive for lightness of skin, and over generations have married to ensure that children are fair, blonde, red-headed and “no swarthier than a Greek”. Increasingly frustrated and stifled by the constraints of their conservative village, the girls run away at the age of sixteen. One sister later returns with her black daughter, but the other, deeply affected by a childhood trauma, rejects her racial identity and secretly passes for white, hiding her past from her wealthy white husband.
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This is a captivating, intriguing story that boldly explores many themes such as: race, colourism, class, domestic abuse, authority, free will, gender and identity. Beyond these issues it is a heartfelt portrait of family, loyalty and desires, depicting how the past and experiences can a have long lasting impact on decisions, leading to trajectories that cannot be easily changed.
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It is a special, tenderly written novel, and now one of my favourite reads of this year. Britt Bennett is deserving of all the praise she’s receiving and I intend to go on and seek out her debut, The Mothers. I have learnt a lot in reading this book, and recommend it on so many levels, but it is especially relevant right now in amplifying the message that #blacklivesmatter . I hope you’ll pick up a copy soon!
.
Why are the most impressive books sometimes the hardest to describe?! I hope to do some justice to The Vanishing Half.
.
This multi-generational story masterfully weaves many threads over several decades. Identical twin girls grow up together in a black community in the Deep South. The inhabitants of the village embrace and strive for lightness of skin, and over generations have married to ensure that children are fair, blonde, red-headed and “no swarthier than a Greek”. Increasingly frustrated and stifled by the constraints of their conservative village, the girls run away at the age of sixteen. One sister later returns with her black daughter, but the other, deeply affected by a childhood trauma, rejects her racial identity and secretly passes for white, hiding her past from her wealthy white husband.
.
This is a captivating, intriguing story that boldly explores many themes such as: race, colourism, class, domestic abuse, authority, free will, gender and identity. Beyond these issues it is a heartfelt portrait of family, loyalty and desires, depicting how the past and experiences can a have long lasting impact on decisions, leading to trajectories that cannot be easily changed.
.
It is a special, tenderly written novel, and now one of my favourite reads of this year. Britt Bennett is deserving of all the praise she’s receiving and I intend to go on and seek out her debut, The Mothers. I have learnt a lot in reading this book, and recommend it on so many levels, but it is especially relevant right now in amplifying the message that #blacklivesmatter . I hope you’ll pick up a copy soon!