#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEARNAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2020 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES * THE WASHINGTON POST * NPR * PEOPLE * TIME MAGAZINE* VANITY FAIR * GLAMOUR 2021 WOMEN'S PRIZE FINALIST“Bennett’s tone and style recalls James Baldwin and Jacqueline Woodson, but it’s especially reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s 1970 debut novel, The Bluest Eye.” —Kiley Reid, Wall Street Journal “A story of absolute, universal timelessness …For any era, it's an accomplished, affecting novel. For this moment, it's piercing, subtly wending its way toward questions about who we are and who we want to be….” – Entertainment WeeklyFrom 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. Many 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.
Journey into the intriguing world of "The Vanishing Half: A Novel" by Brit Bennett, an acclaimed work that explores themes of identity, race, and family in a captivating and thought-provoking manner. Immerse yourself in the lives of the Vignes sisters, Desiree and Stella, as they navigate the challenges of growing up in a small Southern town in the turbulent 1960s.
In the depths of their family's tumultuous history, a secret unravels, leading Desiree and Stella to embark on divergent paths. Desiree chooses to embrace her Black identity and immerse herself in the vibrant culture of New Orleans, while Stella longs to escape her roots and passes as white. As the years unfold, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, leaving an indelible mark on their families and communities.
Bennett's evocative prose and keen eye for detail bring the characters and their struggles to life. With each chapter, readers are drawn deeper into the complexities of race, privilege, and the search for belonging in a rapidly changing world. Through the lens of the Vignes sisters, the novel examines the enduring legacy of slavery, the impact of colorism, and the weight of familial expectations.
As Desiree and Stella grapple with their own identities and the choices they have made, Bennett invites readers to confront their own preconceived notions. The novel delves into the profound consequences of societal pressures and the lengths individuals go to live their lives authentically. Through its exploration of identity and the human experience, "The Vanishing Half" offers a powerful narrative that challenges readers to consider the complexities of race and the strength of family bonds.
Dive into this poignant and thought-provoking tale that resonates long after the final page is turned. "The Vanishing Half" stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and its ability to illuminate the complexities of the human condition. Don't miss the opportunity to delve into this captivating literary experience.
