The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (a Novel)

by Brit Bennett

Book Overview

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR

NAMED 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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525536299
• ISBN13: 9780525536291
• Release Date: June 2020
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Book of the Year

Reminds me of the movie "Imitation of Life". This was an excellent read, which tells the story of how we want to be accepted and recognized in society, and believing from childhood that being white provides a better life. I could see myself in this novel, the discrimination, lies and deception of who we really are and how others see us. This was an excellent read. Kudos to Ms. Bennett who has written a wonderful novel.

One of the best books I’ve read in recent years

This book is so beautifully written. So much is said in ways other than words in this novel. The story lines intersecting through time and space weave such a fascinating tale and the shifting focus on various characters throughout different decades makes the story so much more captivating and fascinating. This book touches on topics of race, gender, class, and what it truly means to be family. I loved this one!

Once I opened this book, I couldn't put it down

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a captivating novel that looks into the issues of race, identity, and family. Bennett beautifully weaves together three generations of a family across different locations. The story follows the lives of three generations of the Vignes family. A predominantly white-passing family based in the Deep South. After years of separation, we can see how each branch differed from another. The book also explores the lasting influence of the past on a person's decisions. The book is a beautiful exploration of the American idea of "passing." There is also a range of issues that Vanishing Half covers. Vanishing Half also goes into hard topics such as domestic violence, integration, and LGBTQ+ issues, among others. Through time, characters, and topics, it's quite an ambitious book. Vanishing Half is an easy-to-read and breeze-through novel. Yet, my issue with the book is that sometimes the pacing and depth of the book can leave more to be desired. Some issues and topics are brushed over. When there is about to be a breakthrough on a particular topic or development, the plot moves on. While exposure to such topics was appreciated, Bennet could have delivered more depth. 3.5/5. Rounded to 4/5. While the book itself was enjoyable, it can leave the reader wanting more. The ambition in the breadth was there yet impossible to cover in depth in 400 pages. Still, it's a good novel for those interested in historical fiction, race, and family dramas.

A page turner

It’s been a while since I’ve been engaged in a book and this one definitely brought me back. I really loved the way it felt like it was real story although it was fiction. I can’t wait to see how HBO Max brings this to life.

Amazing

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire read.