This movie freaks me out in the end. I’m on my phone and it’s a pain to write a lot. Loretta represented all she left behind. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite book, it was a good read. I love to analyze a book, and there was a lot to unpack here without it feeling too much like a "literary novel" where you feel like maybe you only got 5% of the book unless you write a 15-page paper on it. A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick! The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett got a lot of hype (The New York Times Book Review listed it on their top ten books of 2020), but I don’t see it. By Lisa Page. Life has been crazy. Was it inevitable, after their growing up so indistinct from each other? As for the book, I just finished it about 30 minutes ago. I loved the book but it made me so damn sad. The scene in which Stella adopts her White persona is a tour de force of doubling and confusion. For the next week, I'm hoping we'll be able to respond to these questions and build off of each other's responses. What series of events and experiences leads to this division and why? Quick Recap and Chapter-by-Chapter Summary for The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett is one of the most anticipated books of the year -- a stunning page-turner about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds: one black, and one white. It’s a powerful … Writer-director Alice Wu breaks down the ending of her Netflix movie, The Half Of It, and reveals why this is an especially hopeful ending for Ellie. June 1, 2020 at 9:11 p.m. UTC. Stella and Desiree respect each other’s life choices and are able to follow their own paths in life. What is the author saying about the roles we perform in the world? But curious for what others thought! I found it eminently readable and was interested by the story within the first few pages; it also never dragged on for me. That might sound pejorative, but please trust me, I don’t mean it to. What does the depiction of Mallard say about who belongs to what communities, and how those communities are formed and enforced? I loved this book. The book tracks their lives across generations, as their lives branch away from each other and yet remain intertwined. Do you ever feel you are performing a role rather than being yourself? Consider the distinction between performance, reinvention, and transformation in respect to the different characters in the book. Quick Recap and Chapter-by-Chapter Summary for The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick! There was enough action and character development that the book held my attention (thankfully). He could have easily chosen to pass as a white man but didn’t. I wasn’t surprised that Desiree returned to Mallard. December 18, … When: 6 p.m. Pacific time Aug . Her journey towards reconciliation at the end seemed a little too tidy and contrived. She epitomized a strong woman coming from a very dark and troubled childhood. Free UK p&p over £15. Do you think Stella ultimately regrets her choices? Synopsis. Where else do you see this theme of identity and identification in the book? How much does the past matter in each case? So, it's the end of the month and hopefully everyone's had time to read the book. T he Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a 2020 novel about estranged twins Desiree and Stella Vignes and their daughters, … On page 100, he is "golden brown and handsome" though he's later described as having light hair (maybe dyed?). Fiction Book of the day Langston Hughes Do you understand why Desiree decides to return there as an adult? Discussion: The Vanishing Half So, it's the end of the month and hopefully everyone's had time to read the book. Colorism, a bias against people with darker skin from others within the same race, has a fraught and painful history in America. Book club questions for The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett will take an in-depth look at this engaging novel about race, family and fate. I could more casually pick up on the themes of identity while also falling into just reading if I needed to. The Vanishing Half Summary. LyndsaysLitReviews says nah. The Vanishing Half is itself a novel that deals with the past, specifically the 1940s through the early 1990s. The plot, briefly: Twin sisters grow up in Mallard, a fictional, experimental town that only allows light-skinned black populants. The Vanishing Half, The Queen's Gambit, Soul: Obama's Year-End Favorites List Has Arrived ... Obama's Year-End Favorites List Has Arrived. What does Stella feel she has to lose in California, if she reveals her true identity to her family and her community? Press J to jump to the feed. In spite of knowing the traumas she lived through as a person of color, I couldn’t get my head around how she could viciously deny her own blackness, when her twin was so intertwined with their hometown, network and culture. I like to see how choices can impact someone many years into the future. I think it showed just how interconnected the twins were. The Vanishing Half is itself a novel that deals with the past, specifically the 1940s through the early 1990s. It didn't grip me, but I kept coming back to it. I’m not familiar with this book but I can relate to the premise you’ve described. Later, they are not only separated, but lost to each other, completely out of contact. Anyone have any thoughts to what Stella/Desiree would look like in real life if played by an actress? In the creation of an individual identity or sense of self, how much influence do you think comes from upbringing, geography, race, gender, class, education? I thought it was interesting how Jude’s personality was more like Stella as a child (quiet and smart) and Kennedy was more like Desiree (outgoing). There’s a brutal scene half-way through The Vanishing, director Kristoffer Nyholm’s “what if?” take on the Flannan Isle mystery. I don’t think it would have been as easy for them to both pass as white together. For instance, I felt so sad for the people that Stella left behind with no explanation. The story felt very “of the moment” and educational about race relations and black perspectives, but didn’t veer into moralizing. Three lighthouse keepers on the remote Flannan Isles find a hidden trunk of gold, leading to their mysterious disappearance. by Brit Bennett. It’s being made into a series so will be interesting to see who they cast. There will be spoilers so for more context about the story, check out my spoiler-free review. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. It's a great book. Stories like this have so many lessons versus a story that is just about perfect people. Or maybe Sylvia was having an affair with both Jonathan and Elena, via a three-way thing going on. That might sound pejorative, but please trust me, I don’t mean it to. TIA! by Brit Bennett. I think the cracks began between the twins when they were cleaning for the white family and Stella didn’t tell Desiree what happened to her. I was wondering what other folks thoughts were on this. Free UK p&p over £15. That might sound pejorative, but please trust me, I don’t mean it to. THE VANISHING HALF #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. I myself am mixed black and white, but not a full 1/2 and 1/2, so depending on a variety of factors such as how I wear my hair, how I dress, sun exposure, I could pass for a light skinned Latina or a tan, italian looking white woman. HBO won a reportedly intense auction among 17 bidders to turn Brit Bennett's acclaimed second novel, "The Vanishing Half," into a limited TV series. Fiction Book of the day Langston Hughes He used this privilege on behalf of those in his community who needed it. And caring about the characters, what happens to them, and/or if you can’t stop thinking about them once you put the book down...these are my litmus tests for 5-star fiction reads. Colorism, a bias against people with darker skin from others within the same race, has a fraught and painful history in America. Brit Bennett's "The Vanishing Half" and 4 more must-read novels out in June Bennett follows up her bestselling novel "The Mothers" with an epic family tale of race, identity and family trauma An Amazon Best Book of June 2020: Brit Bennett's debut novel, The Mothers—about motherhood, female friendship, and finding love with a broken heart—was one of the most talked-about books of 2016.Four years later, Bennett introduces a new cast of characters, and like her debut, The Vanishing Half examines sisterhood, black identity, and parenthood with compassion and conviction. Brit Bennett’s acclaimed second novel, “The Vanishing Half,” is leaping from the bestseller list onto the screen. Phone 202-328-8842 Fax 202-328-8757 Email sojourners@sojo.net The Vanishing Half explores themes of race, family, and identity. Brit Bennett, author of “The Vanishing Half,” joins the Los Angeles Times Book Club in conversation with Times writer Carla Hall. Was it necessary to leave Desiree behind? 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