The Vanishing Half

“She’d lived a life split between two women--each real, each a lie.”

“Like leaving, the hardest part of returning was deciding to.”

It’s been a while (perhaps on account of I avoided reading for a LONG time) since I’ve read a book that I didn’t want to put down.  I will admit, though, that I am not a stay-up-all-night-to-finish reader.  I love an early bedtime and a solid eight hours of sleep and I’m not ashamed.  BUT, if i were such a reader, The Vanishing Half would have kept me up all night to finish it.  This book has gotten so much praise, and rightfully so.  Most recently, it was named one of the top ten books of the year by The New York TImes.  Sometimes I think I force myself to like a book because everyone else likes it and I’m supposed to like it, but that was not the case with this one.

Identical twin sisters, the Vignes sisters, spent their childhood together in Mallard, Louisiana, until they decided to leave the town behind, running away together as teenagers.  As years pass, the sisters find themselves living very different lives under very different circumstances.  Stella lives her life in California, passing as a white woman--her true identity known not even by her husband and daughter.  Desiree returns home to Mallard with her much darker skinned daughter, Jude, after fleeing an abusive relationship.  An unexpected link to her mother’s long lost sister is forged after Jude begins her studies at UCLA, and it threatens to bring down Stella’s entire new life.  Caught between ignoring her past forever or confronting it head on, Stella has a big decision to make.  This novel explores race, identity, and the many choices that determine one’s path in life.

There is so much to love about this book, but the thing I love the most are the characters.  Each one brought something new and special to the story, and each was essential to the complete experience of the novel.  And I think that’s the perfect word to describe The Vanishing Half--an experience.  You’ll find yourself immersed in two worlds, one Stella’s and one Desiree’s, and it will be worth every minute of your time.

Brit Bennett wowed me with this book, which should come as no surprise.  I loved her debut novel, The Mothers, and I think I might reread that soon since I now have a new “mother” lens through which to view it.  Can’t wait for more of Brit’s talent to be in the world.  I’ll definitely be pre-ordering whatever is next from her.

Don’t forget to shop local for The Vanishing Half and The Mothers!

Outfit Details:  Sweatshirt - Target; Jeans - Abercrombie

Happy Reading!

-Amy-