“An utterly mesmerising novel..I absolutely loved this book.”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

Just finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. This is the story of twin sisters, both very light skinned blacks, living in a very small town populated only by very light skinned blacks. While they don’t pretend to be white, they don’t want dark skinned blacks amongst them
Desiree and Stella Vignes are the twins. One day they decide to skip town together, heading for New Orleans and a new life. Eventually Stella realizes she can pass for white and one morning she just disappears not even leaving a note. Desiree heads back home where she takes up with a dark skinned black, marries him, has a daughter, then leaves town with him, hoping to leave her small town and family behind her forever.
Eventually she must return home with her girl but her and her sister remain apart.

The story then becomes about their two separate lives and how they each deal with their realities and their lies. And how so different their lives have become. While they both have only one daughter they have grown to be two completely different people.
But as we all now, sometimes your past can creep upon you, and lies sometimes last only so long.
A well written story that will keep your interest. On many lists as one of the best books of the year, I highly recommend it.

 

Reviewed by:

Richard Franco

Added 7th January 2021

More Reviews By
Richard Franco