Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

47 reviews

krtolley's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

imaginefishes's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The book delves into topics of racism and racial segregation, but my main takeaway from the story was about one's desire and attractedness to the possibility of change and metamorphosis. I deeply enjoyed the writing style and characterisation used in the story, and as the separate stories of each individual began to intertwine with each other, culminating in a grand intersection in the final few chapters, I teared up a little. Strangely enough, what stuck out to me most were the parents of the twins, and the two very different

deaths

they experienced,

one more violent and the other more melancholic

. I find this book, although fictive and possibly a little unrealistic, reflects well our human desires to be something more, or even to be someone else. I'm glad the book ended the way it did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying and Dysphoria

midnightrain_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Gaslighting

meganm1587's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

lahars_little_library's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is wonderfully written. I loved the exploration of race and identity and hate that I was sick on the night of  my book group. I know it would have I spired some great discussions. Only 2 things lowered my rating of this book. I don't tend to enjoy generational novels and prefer having one strong main character throughout the book. The Vanishing Half focused on four women in one family. That's just not my preference. Secondly, there were some strong content triggers for me in this book. I should have looked up the content warnings ahead of time. If neither of these things bother you or is truly a gripping story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

hihicass's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

jessicabobessica's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another kind of us-vs-them story with a very character-driven premise. This would be a good choice for those who liked Where The Crawdads Sing, but want a more diverse and complex read.

This book really tackles some tough territory in a way that feels accessible. The issues of class and race are presented without expectation from the author that people *already know* how these things work.

I enjoyed this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Gaslighting

elanilanella's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Classism

clairew97's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

jhbandcats's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of those bools that makes me say, “Wow. Just wow.” It’s a powerful story of people whose willfulness and early choices affect the rest of their lives. For whatever reason, I wasn’t fond of Bennett’s The Mothers. But I will always be singing her praises for this book. 

Bennett is able to show the difficulty and complexity of each life, showing less sympathetic characters in a way that sympathy grows for them. You wish so much that circumstances could have been different for these characters, that they hadn’t felt forced to make the decisions they had. 

The way Stella’s life plays out, ostensibly easier than Desiree’s, but with her always tense, never able to relax and be herself, living a lie and poisoning her relationship with her daughter, was just so tragic. Like lots of people who make poor decisions, Stella brought this all on herself. 

Desiree’s life is also difficult but she doesn’t have the trouble that comes from pretending to be what she isn’t. She has a loving and rewarding relationship with her daughter because she’s never had to lie. 

I read Nella Larsen’s book Passing a year ago but The Vanishing Half is the one I’ll always recommend. It’s astonishing, such a good book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism