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A review by michaelion
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
Trying to find reasons not to give this 5 stars is very, very hard. I'm biased because immediately it reminded me of Toni Morrison's Paradise. Whether or not that was intentional, I'm not gonna look it up, but I love it even more for that.
Passing is a thing that happened and I'm sure there are still many, many quadroons and hexadecaroons walking around without a clue. I've always felt sympathy for the people who passed, and this book definitely gave me a new / another understanding. (I mean, who can be mad at you for wanting better for your life and your family?) To be moved so much by a book show just how good it is. That being said though I do not feel sympathy for Stella!After what she did to Loretta and Reg?! This one's definitely staying on my bookshelf.
Passing is a thing that happened and I'm sure there are still many, many quadroons and hexadecaroons walking around without a clue. I've always felt sympathy for the people who passed, and this book definitely gave me a new / another understanding. (I mean, who can be mad at you for wanting better for your life and your family?) To be moved so much by a book show just how good it is. That being said though I do not feel sympathy for Stella!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dementia, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic