Lead Review (The Vanishing Half)
- Book: The Vanishing Half
- Location: California, The American South
- Author: Brit Bennett
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE
LONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE
The novel opens in Mallard, a small town not too far from New Orleans. Essentially a black community, the inhabitants are generally lighter-skinned. Stella and Desiree are identical twins but when they turn 16, they decide to run away.
One sister returns, the other settles far away and passes herself off as white. Her husband has no inkling of her past.
This is such a wonderfully unique approach to a story essentially about family and racial identity. The story alights upon 3 generations and covers several decades in the second half of the 20th Century, and very much evokes the period.
It is a generously written tale, with interesting character development – especially the different characters of the twins. It is perceptive and insightful about identity and culture, spanning the full gamut of emotions. The writing is beautiful. The ending perhaps felt just a little sudden but nevertheless it is a book that is worth your time. It is an unusual and creatively told story.
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