The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett, author, Shayna Small, narrator
Inseparable identical twins eventually choose to live two completely different lives, each with their own unique identity. Both Desiree and Stella Vignes are unhappy at home in Mallard, a town of light-skinned blacks with an attitude. The townspeople do not like dark-skinned people of their own race, but they are still subject to the prejudice of the elite white society beyond their own environs. When the girls get tired of experiencing abuse from those with more power, at age 16, they run away together to find new lives. Desiree is the instigator of the escape, but ironically, she is the more attached to family. Stella seems to be more distant and aloof. She keeps secrets and reveals little.
In this novel, which takes place over a little more than three decades, starting in the mid twentieth century, a time of tremendous racial strife and narrow mindedness about other subjects, as well, such as gender and identity, unspoken truths are revealed by the subtle juxtaposition of divergent, developing lives.
After the sisters move away, Stella soon realizes that she can pass for white. She discovers that she is more comfortable in that world, and when people simply assume that she is white, she decides to remain silent and not to correct them. She leaves her sister without a backward glance, leaving no forwarding address. She begins to enjoy the freedom that the white world provides her; she becomes someone else, as an actor does when playing a part. She works on her new image, watching TV endlessly in order to improve her speech patterns and become more authentic, which is also ironic, since she is the same person regardless of the skin she occupies. She appears to seamlessly step into her new role. She begins to travel in different circles, and when she meets Blake Sanders, she plays her part well. Soon they are married. Soon her new life begins in earnest. Her husband is unaware of the fact that she is not white. As she is accepted by the “white privileged” community in which she lives, Blake’s “acceptable” subtle racism is revealed. Stella, too, of necessity, must be a bit of a racist to protect her new identity; when her community shuns the new black family, she does the same. When Stella and Blake have a child, Kennedy, she is a blond and blue-eyed, white baby!
Kennedy is a bit of a rebel and wishes to study acting, ironically playing the roles of different characters, playing a part like her mother. Kennedy really wants to know more about her mother’s past, really wants to forge a deeper, more intimate relationship with her mother, but Stella resists her efforts. She cannot tell her the truth. As she begins to realize her mother is a liar, she must come to terms with her own identity and behavior.
Desiree chooses a different direction. She marries Sam, a really dark-skinned man who turns out to be a toxic male who abuses her. It seems abuse follows her because of her choices. Desiree has a daughter too, Jude, a very dark skinned girl. When she escapes her abusive situation, once again, she returns to her home town, Mallard, where it began, with her child. It is a place that does not welcome Jude with open arms since she does not fit their profile. She suffers from the racism afforded to those who are darker, from her own people and from whites. Rather than succumb to their prejudice, growing angry and frustrated, she works harder to overcome the bigotry and feeds her own ambition to achieve success. In Mallard, Desiree meets Early, somewhat of a bounty hunter, a man who searches for those with alternate identities, those who are escaping from something. He has actually been hired by her husband to find her and bring her back. Instead, he is smitten by her, and they forge a close relationship. He protects her secrets and does not reveal that he has found her. He even attempts to locate Stella.
When Jude grows up, she, too, is determined to find her mother’s twin. By chance, while working her way through school as she studies medicine, she spies her. She is helping out a caterer at a private party, and she spots Stella and her daughter, Kennedy, there. In her shock, she causes quite a scene and loses her job. Soon, she is stalking Kennedy at her acting job, since Jude gets a new job, at the same theater, doing menial tasks. She is working to finance her education. Slowly, as Jude helps the arrogant, entitled Kennedy to dress, and brings her tea, even socializing with her occasionally, somewhat of a lopsided relationship develops. Jude wants to get to know her cousin better, but does not intend to reveal her identity. Her mixed emotions are often overwhelming, and Jude gets comfort from Reese, her “boyfriend”, another person with a confused or alternate identity. So many characters hide their true identity in this novel which prompts the reader to truly think about what identity means. Does it indicate anything about character? Is it merely a cloak one wears in order to live successfully in the imperfect world at large?
As the novel develops, it dramatically exhibits the foolishness and incongruity of racism and homophobia as it exposes several relationships that thrive against all odds. The reader will truly feel enlightened and inspired by the way some of these friendships work out, and possibly also be shamed by others that seem to be based on falsehoods and stereotypical prejudices. Sometimes nefarious reasons for behavior are justified and seem legitimate, again ironically.
Stereotypes, however, are defied. Chauvinism, racism, sexism, homophobia, identity and many other controversial subjects are revealed subtly, through the behavior of the characters.
The very upright Blake is a racist and a chauvinist. He is not what he seems to be at first glance either. Early is a caring man, although his chosen profession would seem to indicate otherwise. Reese is a “cowboy” or is he? Is anyone’s persona real, or are we all playing a part? The twins and their daughters defy stereotypes. The people they interact with do as well, although some reinforce the very ideas of the stereotypes they seem to fight.Toxic males exist across all racial divides, as do various sexual preferences. Racism is presented as both subtle and overt, proving its existence everywhere.
How we choose to live our lives is a major theme. Identity and irony are front and center. As Jude dissects the human body, she realizes that in death, the person is a shell, without purpose. In life, however, there is always possibility. Kennedy soon begins to realize that although she has had the privileged life, she is not as fulfilled or as content as her cousin Jude who has had to struggle in so many different ways to achieve her goals. Desiree comes to a point where she is able to finally separate from her twin. Twins often suffer from separation anxiety. The identity of each twin can sometimes grow blurred. Stella realizes that her choices have made her former self unrecognizable. She is at a point of no return. Who are we really? What are our dreams? How do we attain them?
Are secrets and lies sometimes necessary? Do we all wear several masks? In this time of a pandemic, masks have become a staple feature in our lives. Before this time, have we all been hiding behind our own imaginary masks? Will our true identities ever be revealed? Will it be at our own peril? Will it bring shame or honor to us? Prejudice in its various forms is alive and well. This book will make the reader think about its place in their own lives!
The narrator did not delineate the voices of the characters clearly, and so the identity of the characters was not always obvious, which is ironic in a book that clearly concerns itself with identity! However, in print or on audio, this book is a great book club selection. It will inspire much discussion, and hopefully, much enlightenment.

Readers - Pam, Vanessa, Kathleen & Keri



Interesting concept but ending was anti-climatic

Enjoyed the

I did not like this book. I felt that I would get into a story line and the next page that story line was lost and never to return again. The subject of the book was ok it just goes to show how POC are caught up with how dark or light a person is. Probably the worst book I have read in a while.

I loved the trials and triumphs of this book. It was written so well that I felt I was watching a movie. Heartbreaking and Beautiful!