The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This is a masterclass in writing; Brit Bennett is a marvel!
The Vignes twins, Stella and Desiree, are born in the fictional town of Mallard, Louisiana, an exclusive place established by their ancestor for light-skinned black people. Identical in every physical way but with very different personalities, the girls are inseparable growing up. However, longing to escape the restraints of living in a small town like Mallard the girls runaway to New Orleans. It is there that their paths begin to diverge. Ten years later, the twins' lives couldn't be more different: one has returned to Mallard with her young black daughter having escaped an abusive relationship, while the other is in LA, in a white neighbourhood, married to a wealthy white man and living as a white woman.
Spanning more than 60 years, Bennett weaves a multigenerational story together beautifully. Tackling issues such as class, sexuality, and abuse, Bennett takes us beyond the modern concepts of race and delves deeper into what makes a person who they are and what defines someone's race. It is an eye-opening and thoroughly enjoyable read. There are are so many layers to the book and so many things you could and should unpack – it's a gift that keeps on giving.
If you're looking for a book for your book club or just a book to lose yourself in this is it. HBO take all of my money, I will devour this series in a day! I will read anything Brit Bennett writes!!
