May. 26th, 2021

alobear: (Default)
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a beautifully constructed family drama set in the 1960s-80s with complex and compelling characters, and a profound exploration of heritage, blood connections and the need to belong.

It's a bold move to have consecutive, long sections of narrative that switch to new characters, but it works really well here because the connections between the sections make each new aspect ring with significance and build up the story really well.

The ending seemed both abrupt and nebulous, as if the story didn't actually end up really going anywhere - but perhaps that's at least partially the point.

Regardless, I was very much drawn into the world of the Vignes twins and how their very different paths split and then came back together again. Lovely writing and really interesting themes.

January 2026

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