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A review by kierscrivener
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
4.0
This is exactly my kind of book. Intricate, omniscient third person shifting narration, story of human complexity and relational dynamics spanning decades. Slow, plotless and entirely character driven, without a cookie cutter or stuck on happy ending. And the way Brit Bennett writes is beautiful in its simplicity, I understand the characters, I understand their story in little but descriptive words and scenes. I cannot wait to read The Mothers and the books she will publish in the future.
This novel surprising didn't have any particularly heartwrenching, poignant or touching moments. It instead remained a similar pace throughout, steadily moving throughout the years, telling stories but more people in their quiet but important days, because our everyday life forms us much more than the grand moments. I liked this calm style, it was soothing, moments many would have made 'dramatic' like death, divorce, coming out, coming together are framed in the afterwards. Rather than building to a crescendo, we learn the fallout. The mutedness of grief. The light at the beginning of a romance. The aftershocks of trauma. The anger of insecurity.
Altogether beautiful. I would recommend to everyone, even though I know it is not everyone's style of book. It is beautiful, well written and discusses such important topics of racism, colourism, identity, race, gender, family and many more.
This novel surprising didn't have any particularly heartwrenching, poignant or touching moments. It instead remained a similar pace throughout, steadily moving throughout the years, telling stories but more people in their quiet but important days, because our everyday life forms us much more than the grand moments. I liked this calm style, it was soothing, moments many would have made 'dramatic' like death, divorce, coming out, coming together are framed in the afterwards. Rather than building to a crescendo, we learn the fallout. The mutedness of grief. The light at the beginning of a romance. The aftershocks of trauma. The anger of insecurity.
Altogether beautiful. I would recommend to everyone, even though I know it is not everyone's style of book. It is beautiful, well written and discusses such important topics of racism, colourism, identity, race, gender, family and many more.