April Review: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
“How real was a person if you could shed her in a thousand miles?”
-Brit Bennett
Before I had read this book, I had seen many raving reviews from readers who were knocked off their feet by Brit Bennett’s imaginative plot and intricate prose. Naturally, I was very excited for this month’s book club! I was not disappointed. This was one of those books that you pick up and have difficulty putting down. The narrative flowed so smoothly, and it was fast-paced and consistently engaging without feeling rushed. Well-executed and well-paced multigenerational stories are hard to write, but Bennett did so with ease. Her characters were enjoyable and nuanced. They’re similarities were just as numerous as their differences, though they hid under layers and layers of real and imagined identities. I could write a whole book analyzing Jude’s character alone.
One of Bennett’s wisest techniques was the inclusion of the characters’ little quirks or oddities which were so undeniably human. Jude’s reluctance to call her mom despite their close relationship, for example, or Desiree’s insistence on not marrying Early. They made the characters seem more real even in the more unrealistic circumstances. The characterization, direct and indirect, continues all the way through, and I think that’s why I was so hooked on this book 一 I was so invested in its characters. That made this book really fun to travel through.
The book had its issues for sure. Sometimes the plot felt unbalanced. I felt like I got too much of Sam’s backstory and not enough of Kennedy’s. I would have liked to have explored Kennedy’s childhood alongside Stella’s parenting experience in a little more depth. But the plot points that I claim are lacking in depth might just prove that I am a wanting reader who, in her general enjoyment of the book and dissatisfaction with the unhappy ending, simply desires more. More of Bennett’s words, more of her amazing characters, more of their stories. As much as I enjoyed the writing and the plot and the characters, all of it made me very sad. But maybe that was part of the point.
FAVORITE QUOTES
“She hadn't realized how long it takes to become somebody else, or how lonely it can be living in a world not meant for you.”
"A town always looked different once you'd returned, like a house where all the furniture had shifted three inches. You wouldn't mistake it for a stranger's house but you'd keeping banging your shins on the table corners."
“Her death hit in waves. Not a flood, but water lapping steadily at her ankles. You could drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief was the same.”
“This big ol' world and we only get to go through it once. The saddest thing there is, you ask me.”
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What were your thoughts about the book? Did you have any questions about the novel or this article? Comment down below and I will be sure to respond to all comments and questions :)
Thank you for participating in April's Book Club! Check out our Instagram or blog for information about June's Book Club Pick.
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At this link, you can see questions and reviews for the book, and engage in community discussion. If you want to track your reading progress this year, make a Goodreads account and start by adding this book to your list!
Find a library near you and check out this book to get started. If you want your own copy, check out these Black-Owned bookstores that offer online ordering. Happy reading!
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