A review by ggwillmott
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

lighthearted 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

4.0

I loved the characters in this book, and how their relationships with one and other was really what drove the story. The discussion of race and white-passing was so vivid, and the trans representation was great too. I loved how almost all the narrative perspectives were from women but none of the story was centered around the fact that they were women. The dialogue was natural and well written -- a real sense of the different settings throughout the novel. 
However, I didn't find the language particularly beautiful in its style, it was more just realism than anything particularly decadent. I'm sure this was a very intentional choice, as it would have quite changed the personalities of the characters should they have started speaking in beautiful, elegant speeches; however I do think its worth noting that the linguistic style of this book did not feel particularly interesting in itself. But this did suit the plot and the characters well so definitely did not detract from the book as a whole -- if anything it really added to the realistic and vivid sense of character and place. 
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