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The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half: A Novel | Brit Bennett
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. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. 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. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect? Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. 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. As with her New York Times-bestselling debut The Mothers, Brit Bennett offers an engrossing page-turner about family and relationships that is immersive and provocative, compassionate and wise.
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DebbieGrillo
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I enjoyed this examination of life, family, and race. It shows us how one life could be lived in so many different ways. It also highlights how lies about who you are, your truth, can resonate for a lifetime.

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Cvfrailing
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"The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett is a powerful exploration of identity, race, and the complexities of familial bonds. The novel centers on the lives of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree Vignes, who grow up in a small, Southern Black community. When Stella chooses to pass as white, it sets the stage for a profound rift between the sisters, leading them down starkly different paths.

Cvfrailing There are so many elements to this book from DA, SA, transgender and race. Amazing how she weaved all this into this story that spanned decades 2mo
2 likes1 comment
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PospyK
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Great story - suspenseful and gripping but not like a thriller.

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PageShifter

“There were many ways to be alienated from someone, few to actually belong.”

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BookedBeyondMeasure
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I enjoyed this book a lot and the many interesting themes that were present like “passing” not just in the racial/colorism context but in gender presentation too. There were layers upon layers to this book and I want a part two🤣

GHABI4ROSES Just starting this, thank you! It is this one @DieAReader and @Andrew65. I got the audio on Libby and the hardback in hand. 8mo
DieAReader 🥳Awesome! 8mo
DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 💃🏻🐓🤓📚 8mo
3 likes3 comments
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peanutnine
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this cover 💙💛🧡 8mo
Eggs Beautiful cover 🩵💛❤️ 8mo
46 likes2 comments
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asterese
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"A body could be labeled but a person couldn‘t, and the difference between the two depended on that muscle in your chest. That beloved organ, not sentient, not aware, not feeling, just pumping along, keeping you alive."

I finally got around to reading The Vanishing Half almost three years after I got my copy, and I loved it.

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Honeybeebooks
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Twins raised in a small town that values fair skin, even when light skin cannot protect them from racism. Two teen girls run away from home, but one gives up everything to pass and the other, after pain and heartache returns home. Two halves taking two paths that have unforeseen consequences for them and their families. A fascinating premise and intriguing characters made The Vanishing Half a 4 ⭐️ read for me.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️I did enjoy this book very much. But it wasn‘t as insightful as I needed it to be because of three lack of character development. I needed the author to go deeper into the twin experience more to really feel it. However I still recommend.

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LibraryCin
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Mehso-so

This was good. It was told from different points of view and also different years (primarily the 60s through 80s). It as a bit surprising where Stella ended up. The switch of viewpoints and timelines was easy enough to follow. I kept hoping for a twist or something, but that didn‘t really come. I also expected a sort of “big reveal” at the end that didn‘t happen, but maybe that‘s more true to life? Cont in comments...

LibraryCin It was nice to see a trans character written into the story. 13mo
5feet.of.fury I loved this book 13mo
LibraryCin @5feet.of.fury i think most people did! I suspect i am in a minority. 13mo
5feet.of.fury @LibraryCin the ending makes for some mixed opinions in particular. But it gives a lot to think about at any rate. 13mo
BookMaven9 I wanted it to go deeper into character development and more into their thoughts and feelings. It was lacking there 10mo
10 likes5 comments
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kissmehardy
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What an engrossing book. All the characters were fascinating, and the way they crossed paths and diverged again was so well done. And the way the cycles of behavior tracked from mother to daughter! Wish we had had more Stella and Kennedy at the end, but ultimately, whatever. (Also: REESE!!) #historicalfiction #literaryfiction

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REPollock
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I had high hopes for this author‘s second novel and it far exceeded them. Complex characters and a twisting plot that repeatedly surprises. Cannot recommend enough. 👍👍

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kricheal
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I thought the beginning of this book was slow, but after the cousins meet... I loved it from there on out! #14 #2023

61 likes2 stack adds
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kricheal

"You could drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief was the same."

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Judybskt
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Quick read - 4.5 ⭐️

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Judybskt
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Relaxing!!

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perfectsinner
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BookDee
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March-April fiction
Didn‘t finish any fiction book in march 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️.

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Hannah_11
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BookDee
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The story was beautifully written. I don‘t read book résumés therefore I was pretty surprised by the storyline. The story of two black lightskin twins, one decides to live as a white woman and another as a black woman. Different lives, different struggles and different journey. A mix of colorism,gender and sex identity and racism.

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Kshakal
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Eggs 🧡💙❤️💚 2y
34 likes1 comment
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kricheal
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Co-worker let me borrow this book. I haven't heard anything about it yet. I'm already in the middle of a bunch of book- so yeah I'll add it in to the mix 😬🤯😅

Ericalambbrown I really liked this one! 2y
KathyWheeler I ended up liking it but it was weird. I checked out the physical copy, renewed it twice and got less than halfway through. A month after I had to return it, I noticed the ebook was available from my library. I checked it out and finished the rest in less than a day. 2y
5feet.of.fury I LOVED this book. So good. 2y
67 likes3 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Identity, Prejudice, Privilege, Choice(?) and Consequences.
All credit to the author, given the subject matter I did not expect this to be as smooth and engrossing a read as it was for me. It definitely could have made for a brutal time, but even as it wove through various times in multiple lives, I felt like you had space to contemplate the characters' choices without feeling steeped in tragedy porn. ⚠️Racism, Colourism, Internalized Racism,Abuse

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Robotswithpersonality
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Definitely had this phase: is it a general privileged-20-something stupidity that gets knocked down by life?

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Robotswithpersonality
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Rich in knowledge: makes me happy.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Oof, self-hatred fed by prejudice as thesis statement.

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Erin.Elizabeth10
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There‘s nothing like reading a good book on the beach! This story really sucked me in, and I loved all the twists.

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vonnie862
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I finally finished this book from #LMPBC #15 😄

Though it was a slow read for me, I did enjoyed it. I was engrossed with the characters and I really wanted more. The ending was a bit unsatisfactory for me but it did not affect how I felt about the book.
4⭐️

This will go out next week.
@Readergrrl

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guidosophia
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I really enjoyed the format of this book, kept me wanting to read more and more. It wasn‘t what I expected, but it was better. I would definitely recommend it to anyone

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Scochrane26
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Read most of this in November, it‘s my #doublespin for Nov. I was concerned I wouldn‘t like it after the hype when it was published, but it quickly drew me in. The different lives people choose, the different ways they “pass”, & how the characters connect we‘re all interesting. Really good book.

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Shaaaannnn
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Got some good finds at goodwill today. Stoked to read them both! Also stoked to have hard copies. My last 5 reads have been ebooks!

Jensol77 An American Marriage was awesome and thought provoking 2y
10 likes1 comment
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Jaimelire
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Good story, the characters were well developed and I really enjoyed the story. Was a book club pick. I am looking forward to the discussion about this one.

5feet.of.fury Loved this one! 2y
24 likes1 comment
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IuliaC
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A beautiful novel dealing with race, identity and gender issues and past-related trauma. At age 16 two identical twins leave their small hometown and one of them, Estelle, abandons her sister in an attempt to erase her haunting past and live as a white person. Despite the sisters being separated by distance and the different worlds they each live in, their daughters' lives become interlaced and Estelle can no longer ignore her past and origins.

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vonnie862
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Just letting my team know that I received the last book. I'll start reading it tonight so it can go back to its original owner soon.

#LMPBC15 @BookishBelle
@Kimzey @Readergrrl
#GroupT. @suvata

Readergrrl Hi @vonnie862 Don‘t rush on my account. I hope you enjoy it! 2y
Kimzey I'm reading my last one also: The Bloodprint.

2y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BaBaBaBillyAndTheBooks
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Mehso-so

When Stella takes on a new identity in California, or her daughter Kennedy leaves for New York, or Stella‘s sister Desiree runs away from her hometown, they each pursue a kind of freedom, a new potential. For the less sensitive, running is easy and leads to a comfortable life. The journey is tougher for those who can‘t help but turn around toward those they love, who choose not to forget.

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BookishBelle
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I really enjoyed this book. It was emotional and such a good story. I wanted to know what happened next. I‘m so glad I decided to read it even though it was a little difficult for me. I‘m thinking that since I already have the next read for #LMPBC #Round15 #GroupT, I will read ‘I Am The Messenger‘ asap and get them in the mail together. This is my last week at a job I‘ve had for 14 years so I‘m prob not making it to the PO until next week anyway.

25 likes1 comment
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BookishBelle
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I‘ve been absent recently. Life has been heavy. I‘m not sure this read is going to help but it‘s next on my TBR. I received it Saturday for #LMPBC #Round15 #GroupT. Here goes ladies! @Kimzey @vonnie862 @Readergrrl

Readergrrl Honestly, I loved this book, but if you are feeling the weight of the world right now, don‘t force yourself to read it. Just send it on its merry way! Read something to bring you joy or help you escape for awhile. My feelings will not be hurt one bit!! I enjoyed this book, but it is a heavy read that I wouldn‘t want to read either if I weren‘t in the right frame of mind. Zero pressure! Reading should be a pleasure, not a burden! 2y
BookishBelle Thank you @Readergrrl ! I‘m going to give it a try. 2y
18 likes2 comments
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Kimberlone
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Storygraph September wrap-up. Not a great reading month - I read only 2 books that were 4⭐️ and everything else was pretty middling. It was really only in the second half of the month that I got into a better reading groove.

BekaReid I seriously love StoryGraph and all the charts & graphs! 2y
Kimberlone @BekaReid yes they are great! 2y
Hedon Just made an account on StoryGraph. Didn‘t know it yet. Thanks! 2y
Kimberlone @Hedon I still track on Goodreads, but the Storygraph has so many more features for rating and all the fun graphs for tracking your reading stats! 2y
Hedon I‘m a statistics freak so I will definitely double track. Twice the fun :-) 2y
42 likes5 comments
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elisebarker
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Thank you @DimeryRene for letting me borrow this one! A beautiful, devastating book about sisters and race. This one will stick with me for a while…

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Kimberlone
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4⭐️ This one has been sitting on my TBR since I picked it for my #BOTM back in 2020 (gasp!). I‘m so glad I finally got to it because this is an excellent book. Following the decades-long consequences of the decisions that twins Stella and Desiree Vignes make upon escaping their tiny Louisiana town, The Vanishing Half depicts the diverging paths of the twins and their daughters from 1950s Louisiana to 1980s Los Angeles.

Kimberlone I thought the writing was really beautiful, but my one criticism is that I was somewhat underwhelmed by the ending. (edited) 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Still on my tbr shelf! 2y
Kimberlone @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I still have so many to get to!! 2y
5feet.of.fury I loved it 2y
69 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Kimberlone
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My #audiowalk led me to a local coffee shop and bakery. Not pictured is the ham and cheese croissant I already devoured. I‘m trying to finish this book, plus one other before the end of the month. I want to be able to start fresh for #Scarathlon in October!