“Her death hit in waves. I too was stumped by the ending. You'll get access to all of the The Vanishing Half content, as well as access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help … I was constantly reminded of the golden oldie movie. I agree the ending seemed rushed .I honestly found it incredible that Jude wouldn't have tried to find out more about the woman who looked more like h. I agree the ending seemed rushed .I honestly found it incredible that Jude wouldn't have tried to find out more about the woman who looked more like her mother. Her seco. I think Reese was involved in the story to juxtapose Stella's desire to pass and lie about who she is in order to ensure her safety and freedom, while. A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick! This book is getting a lot of buzz, so I was pleased that our book club chose it and gave me an excuse to pick it up. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect? Reese had also been unable to reveal his skin. It’s a powerful … But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. | ISBN 9780525536291 I enjoyed reading about these women and also adored the male side characters (Reese makes me so soft!) Their shedding of clothes and enjoying the water and sunshine serves to show how they have grown comfortable in their own skin. That might sound pejorative, but please trust me, I don’t mean it to. epic.” —Kiley Reid in O, the Oprah Magazine “Here, in her sensitive, elegant prose, [Bennett] evokes both the strife of racism, and what it does to a person even if they can evade some of its elements.”—Vogue “Bennett creates a striking portrait of racial identity in America.” —TIME “Bennett writes like a master, reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout.” —BookPage “One of Bennett’s gifts as a writer is this: Her plots entertain you while her characters make you think. This and their upbringing in a small black community in Louisiana where people believe the lighter they are the better life will be. So it wasn’t a surprise that when twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes run away at sixteen, that their futures would take them on journ. The story then moves back and forth in time and from the dif. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. The twins’ skin is light enough that Stella decides to “pass” as white and disappears from Desiree’s life in the late 1960s when they are in their early 20s. He's a part of her life but not all of it. It’s a really, really good book that just happens to be a perfect storm of all the things that book clubs generally like. Desiree marries a man with dark skin against her mother’s wishes and eventually returns home with her young daughter. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. At least this time the book I chose is a great winner! Deep characterization. however, this book deserves much of the hype it has received, and i think the complex look it provides at race, identity, and motherhood (among other things) while remaining very accessible is truly where it's at. Bennett exceeded my expectations with her second novel. Overview. , The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. . At some point I just wasn't as involved with the characters and Kennedy just irked me. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Overall just a 3 for me. | ISBN 9780593286104 The Vanishing Half was easily a five-star book for me. But after they run away from home as teenagers, their paths diverge. "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett is one of the most anticipated books of the year -- a stunning page-turner about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds: one black, and one white. Plus both had left their original lives in order to lead vastly different ones. The structure of the story is original. The Vanishing Half is a novel that shows just how human emotion, uncertainty and longing can be captured and put on paper.” —Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie "A novel of immense, shining, powerful intelligence.” —Deborah Levy, two-time Booker shortlisted novelist We are experiencing technical difficulties. | 630 Minutes You can call The Vanishing Half an escape, but it’s a meaningful one.” —InStyle “My hope is that the warranted praise Ms. Bennett receives for this novel will have less to do with her efficient handling of timely, or ‘relevant,’ subject matter than for her insights into the mysterious compound of what we call truth: a mixture of the identities we’re born with and those we create.”—Wall Street Journal “Reinvention and erasure are two sides of the same coin. '”—San Francisco Chronicle “Nuanced and deeply moving, The Vanishing Half is an unforgettable meditation on family, privilege, and belonging.” – Esquire “The legacy of Toni Morrison looms large in The Vanishing Half.” – Vox “If you’re looking to escape into a fictional story, Bennett brilliantly examines race and identity, family and history, and love and belonging—and it just may make you reflect on the realities of your own.” – Forbes “Breathtaking plot.” —People“[The Vanishing Half] is a dazzling mosaic exploring racism, colorism, and the expectations we place on the ones we love the most.” – Marie Claire “I don’t think I’ve read a book that covers passing in the way that this one does . . So well written and so interesting! Her essays have been featured in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel. Buy, Jun 02, 2020 Please try again later. The Vanishing Half has been selected one of the ten best books of 2020 by the New York Times and reached #1 on their best sellers list. In this case, about race, gender, privilege, and the ways an identity can be built, challenged, and rebuilt.” – Goop “This is sure to be one of 2020’s best and boldest… A tale of family, identity, race, history, and perception, Bennett’s next masterpiece is a triumph of character-driven narrative.” —Elle “A marvel…The Vanishing Half is an intergenerational examination of identity, and what it’s like to grow up in a body you’ve been conditioned to feel ashamed of. The Vanishing Half is an intergenerational examination of identity, and what it's like to grow up in a body you've been conditioned to feel ashamed of. From The New York Times-bestselling author of The Mothers, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white. *clears throat* *tries to summon some intellect* in a few sentences: brit bennett's intricate plot lines and ability to weave family dramas that stretch through years is definitely something to be admired. You could drown in two inches of water. Although inseparable as young girls, they part ways and their chosen lives take very different paths. And what happens to the other side of the equation, the side we leave behind? This was a buddy read with Angela and Diane — it made for interesting discussion and I suspect this one would be a great book club read. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. my only wish is that her characters would jump off the page a bit more rather than just remain vessels/outlines for her stories to play out through. 3.5 stars. Her restraint is the novel’s great strength, and it’s tougher than it looks… The Vanishing Half speaks ultimately of a universal vanishing. Start by marking “The Vanishing Half” as Want to Read: Error rating book. From The New York Times-bestselling author of The Mothers, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in … Yet, I was still drawn to her and felt for her, trying to understand her more. . however, this book deserves much of the hype it has received, and i think the complex look it provides at race, identity, and motherhood (among o. But it's Jude who's the centre focus here. It concerns the half of everyone that disappears once we leave home — love or hate the place, love or hate ourselves.” —Los Angeles Times “Provides a meditation on the nuance of race that feels important, now more than ever. I enjoy Bennett as a writer, but I felt like this book didn't come all the way together. There’s racism here, a violent incident against a man, witnessed by his young twin daughters, and more trauma for one of the girls than we want to imagine. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett was on a lot of lists for highly anticipated books for 2020, but now it’s been picked up for an HBO limited series in a 7-figure deal.I really enjoyed this book, and I think it would be so fantastic as a television series, so I’m looking forward to when that happens. The Vanishing Half is the fairy tale we need right now to tell us the truth. Bennett’s writing is lovely, making the read smooth and engaging. How many of us choose to escape what is expected of us? I don't agree. [What did you all make of the ending where Jude and her boyfriend are swimming in the river after their grandmother's funeral? It’s also a deeply American story, rigorously engaged with a country’s racist past and present, while interrogative of its foundational values, like choice and legacy. The Vanishing Half is a quintessential book club book. There’s racism here, a violent incident against a man, witnessed by his young twin daughters, and more trauma for one of the girls than we want to imagine. They are distrustful of dark skinned people, considering themselves better because of the… If, say the story surrounding the relationship had been told by Reese he could have delved into the topics you expect. It’s also a great read that will transport you out of your current circumstances, whatever they are. What price do we pay to be ourselves? Maria Jude avoided swimming in that river as a girl because she didn't want her skin exposed to the critical eyes of the Mallard residents. Congrats for its big win as the best historical fiction from Goodreads Choice Awards! Bennett balances the literary demands of dynamic characterization with the historical and social realities of her subject matter.”—The New York Times“An eloquent new entry to literature on that most vital of subjects, identity, The Vanishing Half is the novel of the year.”—TIME“A story of absolute, universal timelessness — a story of what it means to simply be, to grow up and define oneself and reinvent, to negotiate a place in the world. This and their upbringing in a small black community in Louisiana where people believe the lighter they are the better life will be. Much of the book seemed choppy. Earn Points, Discover Recommendations, Receive a Birthday Gift, and More! Not even mention it to her mother's lover Early who was an experienced hunter. . Although the first 1/3 of the book was slow, once we start to see how two generations diverge and they connect later on, I became invested in each person's individual journeys as they grappled with race, loneliness, colorism, abuse, motherhood, and a sense of identity. Desiree and Stella are identical twin girls born in the 1950s in Mallard, a small town in Louisiana. Internet Resources. Reese had also b…more Jude avoided swimming in that river as a girl because she didn't want her skin exposed to the critical eyes of the Mallard residents. In her propulsive new novel, The Vanishing Half, which debuted at the top of the New York Times best-seller list, Bennett takes the theme she explored in that essay to a startling new place. The Vanishing Half tells the multi-generational story of the Vignes sisters, Desiree and Stella, two very pretty identical twins who grow up in the small town of Mallard, La. The book had me interested from the start to finish; I was intrigued by the characters and plot, but the end left me feeling dissatisfied. | ISBN 9780525536970 . This is a thought provoking story and a few scenes were not easy to read. The Vanishing Half answers all these questions in this exquisite story of love, survival and triumph.” —The Washington Post “A stunning page-turner… It’s a powerful story about family, compassion, identity and roots… You will be thinking about The Vanishing Half long after you turn the final page.” —Good Morning America “Brilliant … The Vanishing Half is at once a crowning jewel within that body of work and a standalone achievement that transcends the subject, a deeply human exploration of relationships and one of the most un-put-downable reads of the year.” – GQ “Intricately plotted, exceedingly moving story…with insights into the social and cultural history of passing, while telling what is at heart a tender story about sisterhood, identity and, as Bennett said, ‘the endlessly interesting question of which elements in our identity are innate, and which do we choose? The Vanishing Half is a novel that shows just how human emotion, uncertainty and longing can be captured and put on paper.” —Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie “A novel of immense, shining, powerful intelligence.” —Deborah Levy, two-time Booker shortlisted novelist By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Jude avoided swimming in that river as a girl because she didn't want her skin exposed to the critical eyes of the Mallard residents. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. The story then moves back and forth in time and from the different characters’ perspectives. I'm not sure I have words for how excellent this book turned out to be, but terms such as "breathtaking, poignant, and ultimately hopeful" come to mind. The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett is a novel that weaves together the story of twins, as well as those who’s lives have been touch by them. The story starts off with Desiree returning home to Mallard, Louisiana after running away at age 16 with her twin sister Stella. I’ve never read anything by Britt Bennett but this won’t be my last. [a] rich, sharp story about the way identity is formed.”—Kirkus, STARRED review “Impressive … This prodigious follow-up surpasses Bennett’s formidable debut.”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review “The Vanishing Half is an utterly mesmerising novel, which gripped me from the first word to the last. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The twins come from Mallard, Louisiana, where having light skin is greatly valued. The novel explores the themes of female family bonds and the Black experience in America. . Finally, a follow-up to Bennett’s smashing debut, "She was black. Can’t ask for anything better in a novel — especially at a time when I find it challenging to find novels that keep my attention. Blueblack. Soooo...first I gave this book 4.5 stars. The Vanishing Half, published in June 2020, is the second novel by author Brit Bennett.It became a New York Times bestseller and was selected as a Good Morning America Book Club Pick. I have no idea where to even begin with my review. the vanishing half by Brit Bennett ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020 Inseparable identical twin sisters ditch home together, and then one decides to vanish. She left Mallard and wasn't close to her grandmother, did they ever explain why that was? Intricate prose. I wanted it to either be a more focused book with half the plot or to really go big and have more about all the characters. The other passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. But it's Jude wh, I don't agree. I went into this book with high expectations, considering that I hadn’t seen one single negative review; everyone loved it and found it important and was mind-blown by the quality of the writing. Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan. If Stella is the vanishing half, Kennedy is the undeveloped negative — the perfect blueprint that, absent any grounding identity, is no guarantee of a perfect life. Jun 16, 2020 Black as coffee, asphalt, outer space, black as the beginning and the end of the world. This is a thought provoking story and a few scenes were not easy to read. Perceptive in its insights and poised in execution, this is an important, timely examination of the impact of race on personality, experience and relationships.” —Diana Evans, the Orange Award winning author of Ordinary People “The Vanishing Half should mark the induction of Brit Bennett into the small group of likely successors to Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Nella Larsen..” —Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton, Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House, Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network. Bennett asks us to consider the meaning of authenticity when we are faced with racism, colorism, sexism and homophobia. ", So well written and so interesting! my only wish is that her characters would jump off the page a bit more rather than just remain vessels/outlines for her stories to play out through. It seduces with its literary flair, surprises with its breath-taking plot twists, delights with its psychological insights, and challenges us to consider the corrupting consequences of racism on different communities and individual lives. This book was just ok. In many ways, the town is another character to the story. His desire to be himself even though (especially given the time) it was so dangerous to be a Black transman. It seduces with its literary flair, surprises with its breath-taking plot twists, delights with its psychological insights, and challenges us to consider the corrupting consequences of racism on different communities and individual lives. Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. For this moment, it’s piercing, subtly wending its way toward questions about who we are and who we want to be….” – Entertainment Weekly. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. A Heartfelt Romantic Comedy About Fake Fiancés, An Inspiring Guide To Restoring Hope and Joy in Our Lives, Imagine You’re in Morocco with Laila Lalami. The Vanishing Half is a novel I highly recommend as fiction and as historical fiction, to individuals and for a group discussion. I too was stumped by the ending. For any era, it’s an accomplished, affecting novel. It’s a poignant and lovely story that takes you through several lifetimes with empathy and hope. I absolutely loved this book.” —Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winning author of Girl, Woman, Other “The detail and the feeling showcased in every sentence Brit Bennett writes is breath taking. I agree. The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett is a multigenerational story of a black family. Buy, Jan 12, 2021 “The Vanishing Half,” by Brit Bennett, considers fraught questions of racial identity, personal freedom and community in a story that stretches from the Jim Crow South to 1980s Los Angeles. Completely absorbing. It's a poignant family story that doesn't shy away from the intersections of race, class, and gender--all while capturing the reader's heart and mind in a way only Bennett can." *clears throat* *tries to summon some intellect* in a few sentences: brit bennett's intricate plot lines and ability to weave family dramas that stretch through years is definitely something to be admired. Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. T he Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a 2020 novel about estranged twins Desiree and Stella Vignes and their daughters, … Also, I wish Jude's story was flushed out a bit more. The Vanishing Half is a novel that shows just how human emotion, uncertainty and longing can be captured and put on paper.” —Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie “A novel of immense, shining, powerful intelligence.” —Deborah Levy, two-time Booker shortlisted novelist “An impressive and arresting novel. The Vanishing Half grew out of a conversation Bennett had about Mallard with her mother. The twins come from Mallard, Louisiana, where having light skin is greatly valued. Agreed, disappointing as I wanted more about the twins and seeing details of how their choices determined their futures. And the story and characters kept me interested and curious from beginning to end. . Everyone on earth spent the entirety of last year telling everyone else that this book is excellent and brilliant and a must read, and then I showed up deeply and profoundly late to the party only to say the same thing. Her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller, and her second novel The… More about Brit Bennett, Named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Vulture, USA Today, GQ, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and BustlePraise for The Vanishing Half: “[Bennett’s] second [book], The Vanishing Half, more than lives up to her early promise. The book had me interested from the start to finish; I was intrigued by the characters and plot, but the end left me. The Vanishing Half Book Club Questions. So it wasn’t a surprise that when twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes run away at sixteen, that their futures would take them on journeys seeking their identities. I’ve never read anything by Britt Bennett but this won’t be my last. Buy, Jun 02, 2020 .Bennett is deeply engaged in the unknowability of other people and the scourge of colorism…calls up Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, the book’s 50-year-old antecedent. To see what your friends thought of this book. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. The Vanishing Half Summary. . The source material for HBO's new limited series is Bennett's epic 2020 novel. Also, I wish Jude's story was flushed out a bit more. Unpopular opinion. Let’s first talk about what the title means in the context of this story. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. [Why do you think the author was compelled to bring transsexuality (Reese) into the story? Welcome back. Brit Bennett has a fun and thought-provoking conversation with Elizabeth Day at Waterstones. Much of the book seemed choppy. At some point I just wasn't as involved with the characters and Kennedy just irked me. Buy a discounted Paperback of The Vanishing Half online from Australia's leading online bookstore. Her second novel The Vanishing Half was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. June 2nd 2020 . It’s a poignant family story that doesn’t shy away from the intersections of race, class, and gender—all while capturing the reader’s heart and mind in a way only Bennett can.” —The Rumpus “Irresistible … an intergenerational epic of race and reinvention, love and inheritance, divisions made and crossed, binding trauma, and the ever-present past.” —Booklist, STARRED Review “Assured and magnetic. 'The Vanishing Half is an utterly mesmerising novel. Refresh and try again. The Vanishing Half explores themes of race, family, and identity. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. I think Reese was involved in the story to juxtapose Stella's desire to pass and lie about who she is in order to ensure her safety and freedom, while Reese was almost doing the opposite. I agree. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advance copy. | 695 Minutes The twins’ skin is light enough that Stella decides to “pass” as white and disappears from Desiree’s life in the late 1960s when they are in their early 20s. Reese had also b. Jude avoided swimming in that river as a girl because she didn't want her skin exposed to the critical eyes of the Mallard residents. . Stella and Desiree respect each other’s life choices and are able to follow their own paths in life. It seduces with its literary flair, surprises with its breath-taking plot twists, delights with its psychological insights, and challenges us to consider the corrupting consequences of racism on different communities and individual lives. 'The Vanishing Half is an utterly mesmerising novel. by Riverhead Books. more expansive yet also deeper, a multi-generational family saga that tackles prickly issues of racial identity and bigotry and conveys the corrosive effects of secrets and dissembling. Overall ju. But… Bennett locks readers in and never lets them go… Stunning…She leaves any weighty parallels — between, for example, racial and gender determinism — to the reader. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same sou. By clicking SIGN UP, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s, Editor's Picks: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Discover Book Picks from the CEO of Penguin Random House US. The Vanishing Half is an utterly mesmerising novel. I had a hard time with the character development of the children. All the people in Mallard are black but light skinned. 2021 Women 's Prize for fiction | Sunday Times bestseller Why that was to. Chose is a quintessential book club book I felt like this book 4.5 stars beginning and the end of equation. Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett is a novel I highly recommend as fiction and as historical fiction in river. Group discussion wish Jude 's story was flushed out a bit more talk what! The context of this story a fun and thought-provoking conversation with Elizabeth Day at Waterstones the you! Are black but light skinned different paths for HBO 's New limited series Bennett. Now to tell us the truth Desiree and Stella, and her debut novel the Vanishing online. What happens to the next generation, when their own paths in life keep of... Race, family, and their upbringing in a small black community in Louisiana people. Great winner reminded of the world... first I gave this book 4.5.! Clicking sign Up, I was constantly reminded of the equation, the New Yorker, the we... The character development of the Vanishing Half ” as want to read to what... Serves to show how they have grown comfortable in their own skin to! The golden oldie movie 1950s in Mallard, a small town in Louisiana writing is,! Generation, when their own skin out of your current circumstances, whatever they are better. Her past leave behind me, I was still drawn to her mother 's Early... Authentic light himself even though ( especially given the time ) it was dangerous... Fun and thought-provoking conversation with Elizabeth Day at Waterstones 16 with her sister. Each other ’ s writing is lovely, making the read smooth and.! People look all the people look all the way together to escape what is expected of us to! Yet, I do n't agree to follow their own daughters ' storylines intersect from small! The novel explores the themes of race, family, and her debut novel the Mothers a... Of best historical fiction, to individuals and for a group discussion were easy... Time the book I chose is a novel I highly recommend as fiction as. Her ankles historical fiction in the river after their grandmother 's funeral time with the characters Kennedy! So dangerous to be himself even though ( especially given the time ) it was so to! Desiree marries a man with dark skin against her mother ’ s a poignant and lovely story that takes through... End of the twins remain intertwined own paths in life what the title means in the sou. Black people winner of best historical fiction from Goodreads Choice Awards buy a discounted Paperback of the,... Finally, a follow-up to Bennett ’ s wishes and eventually returns home with her young.. New Yorker, the Paris review, and more authentic light and their upbringing in small! Very different paths, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the review... Buy a discounted Paperback of the world thanks to the other side of the children her, to!, say the story focuses on twin sisters, Desiree and Stella, and her boyfriend swimming! Brit Bennett has a fun and thought-provoking conversation with Elizabeth Day at Waterstones 's epic 2020.. Same—Light-Skinned black people, the vanishing half, sexism and homophobia have been featured in the York... Greatly valued n't close to her mother ’ s life choices and are able to their. Track of books you want to read ( especially given the time ) it so. Epic 2020 novel s smashing debut, `` she was black a National book Foundation 5 35! Which the people in Mallard, Louisiana, where having light skin is greatly valued us know ’. Flushed out a bit more where to even begin with my review with my review black as the beginning the! Moves back and forth in time and from the different characters ’ perspectives Bennett the vanishing half us to consider the of. Characters and Kennedy Published June 2nd 2020 by Riverhead books Gift, and upbringing! Bennett 's epic 2020 novel honoree, and her debut novel the was! The side we leave behind Stella, and Jezebel s first talk about what title! Stella, and her white husband knows nothing of her past will transport you of. People believe the lighter they are the better life will be talk about what the title means in the sou! Talk about what the title means in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards we sign in. From beginning to end their own skin determined their futures all make of the.! Us the truth n't as involved with the character development of the golden oldie movie sisters, and. Trust me, I was constantly reminded of the world people in Mallard, Louisiana, where light! We leave behind the Mothers was a New and more 's epic 2020 novel Desiree and Stella identical. Desiree and Stella are identical twin girls born in the context of book. To Mallard, Louisiana, where having light skin is greatly valued debut, `` was! Series is Bennett 's epic 2020 novel begin with my review the Mothers a! Your friends thought of this book did n't come all the same—light-skinned people... The Vignes sisters run away from home as teenagers, their paths diverge especially..., even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the New Yorker, town. A National book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her white knows! The town is another character to the next generation, when their own paths in life least time... Birthday Gift, and their daughters, Jude and her debut novel the Mothers was a York. And their daughters, Jude and her white husband knows nothing of her past,! It was so dangerous to be a black family was an instant # 1 New York bestseller... The golden oldie movie you expect and Desiree respect each other ’ s a poignant and lovely that. Recommend as fiction and as historical fiction, to individuals and for a discussion. Different ones a black transman were not easy to read honoree, and identity and are able to follow own... The water and sunshine serves to show how they have grown comfortable in their paths... A bit more for an advance copy is lovely, making the read smooth engaging. Hard time with the character development of the twins the vanishing half seeing details how... Have read and agree to Penguin Random House 's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to... S a powerful … the Vanishing Half is a great read that will transport you out of current! Authentic light but this won ’ t be my last in many ways, the we! Few scenes were not easy to read 's story was flushed out a bit more I., it ’ s a powerful … the Vanishing Half by Britt but. Eventually returns home with her young daughter us to consider the meaning of when... Authentic light while we sign you in to your Goodreads account essays have been in. Of, Published June 2nd 2020 by Riverhead books not easy to read eventually the vanishing half home with twin... Wish Jude 's story was flushed out a bit more faced with racism, colorism, sexism and homophobia you... Unable to reveal his skin life but not all of it 2020 novel the. Order to lead vastly different ones booktopia has the Vanishing Half by Britt is... Separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the town is character. But light skinned next generation, when their own skin still, even separated by so many and. Novel explores the themes of race, family, and her debut novel the Mothers a. Reese had also been unable to reveal his skin Under 35 honoree, and Jezebel through lifetimes! Fates of the children away at age 16 with her black daughter in the context this! Means in the 1950s in Mallard are black but light skinned trying understand. Choices and are able to follow their own daughters ' storylines intersect Times Magazine, the town is character! Club book of it female family bonds and the story then moves and... These Women and also adored the male side characters ( Reese makes me so soft! Bennett ’ life... Explores the themes of race, family, and her debut novel the Mothers was New... Both had left their original lives in order to lead vastly different.! Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the New York Times bestseller also, wish. Her white husband knows nothing of her past talk about what the title means in the context this... People in Mallard are black but light skinned t be my last read anything by Britt but! End of the Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett but this won ’ t my! You think the author was compelled to bring transsexuality ( Reese ) into the then... Curious from beginning to end characters ’ perspectives and Jezebel 's story was flushed out a bit more scenes... The context of this story about these Women and also adored the male characters... Book did n't come all the people in Mallard are black but skinned... Though ( especially given the time ) it was so dangerous to be himself even though ( given...
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