The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

What an incredibly powerful book. Each character faced with human experiences we are entitled to have and should have the space to process, but society will not let us. A true reflection of the necessity to just keep existing despite the times and situations. Inherent self preservation at every turn. I loved how we don’t get the characters of Jude and Kennedy because of the sacrifices their mothers made AND in spite of them. I loved that Reese is not made a spectacle. That we are not entitled to his every experience because he is not given the luxury or time to and instead just gets to live a self. A self that despite a world born to hate him he can find light and happiness. The powerful ending of frolicking and floating as dark skinned parties in a town made for light skinned people who aren’t yet quite white - finding their place but begging to forget the past is so real and raw to human experience. Expecting people to come back together at the end after a life built on division and hatred is fake and there would never be anything fake about Desiree and Jude. The symbolism, the development of characters, it was beautiful

one of my favorites for february!

This novel follows the lives of twin sisters, Desiree & Stella Vignes, who grow up in a small, Southern black community. At 16, they run away & lead very different lives. Desiree returns to their hometown years later, living with her black daughter, while Stella passes for white, hiding her past from her white husband. Despite their divergent paths, the twins' fates remain connected. The book explores themes of identity, race, family & the impact of their choices on the next generation, as the storylines of their daughters intersect. *** Read this for my virtual book club, and there was a general feeling that the book was a little too long for the plot that was presented, and I have to agree. Additionally, the synopsis is a little misleading, or maybe the book was marketed poorly? I don't want to give away any potential spoilers, but if you have any questions before opening the book, reach out to me - specifically, I think certain characters were highlighted more than others, which isn't (IMO) apparent from the description. Otherwise, even though it was almost 350 pages, I found it to be a fairly quick read.

It starts off pretty slow but then picks up but the ending wasn’t quite as interesting as I thought it would be but overall this book was well written

"The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett is a poignant story that reveals its true power only after you peel away the delicate façade it presents. The novel revolves around two twin sisters—one who chooses to pass as white to be free and to forget, the other who reluctantly returns to the hometown they once escaped only to reclaim it. As you read, you may find yourself swiftly moving through the first half of the book, yet struggling to fully grasp the profound impact of trauma, abuse, fear, bigotry, and deep loneliness. The characters do not scream, fight, or protest; their silent strength and ability to endure without complaint become their curse. It's a just story if you want it to be—or a profoundly moving experience if you allow it to be.