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De vervlogen helft
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De tweelingzussen Desiree en Stella Vignes zijn elkaars spiegelbeeld. Op zestienjarige leeftijd lopen ze samen weg van de kleine, zuidelijke zwarte gemeenschap waarin ze zijn opgegroeid, maar al snel scheiden hun wegen. Eenmaal volwassen lijkt hun spiegelbeeld te zijn vervlogen. Niet alleen de invulling van hun dagelijks leven verschilt, alles is anders: hun families, hun
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of De vervlogen helft
Congrats for its big win as the best historical fiction from Goodreads Choice Awards! At least this time the book I chose is a great winner! 🎈🎉🥂🥳
News flash: HBO and Brit Bennett made a 7 figure deal for the adaptation of the book into limited series!🎉🎈
Wowza! This is unique! This is impeccable! This is perfectly written and I wished it never ended, pushed myself to read it slower, rereading some chapters over and over! It’s phenomenal and one of the best readings of the year!
Welcome to Mallard/Lo ...more
News flash: HBO and Brit Bennett made a 7 figure deal for the adaptation of the book into limited series!🎉🎈
Wowza! This is unique! This is impeccable! This is perfectly written and I wished it never ended, pushed myself to read it slower, rereading some chapters over and over! It’s phenomenal and one of the best readings of the year!
Welcome to Mallard/Lo ...more
Jan 07, 2021
Emily May
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2021,
historical
That was the problem: you could never love two people the exact same way. Her blessing had been doomed from the beginning, her girls as impossible to please as jealous gods.
I can see now why everyone is raving about this book. The Vanishing Half has unforgettable characters, complex familial ties, long-lost sisters, tragedy, and romance. Very compelling (I was hooked straight away) and beautifully-written.
I think this book works so well because the author has very carefully and thoughtfully ...more
*clears throat* *tries to summon some intellect* in a few sentences: brit bennett's intricate plot lines and ability to weave family dramas that stretch through years is definitely something to be admired. my only wish is that her characters would jump off the page a bit more rather than just remain vessels/outlines for her stories to play out through. however, this book deserves much of the hype it has received, and i think the complex look it provides at race, identity, and motherhood (among o
...more
Although the first 1/3 of the book was slow, once we start to see how two generations diverge and they connect later on, I became invested in each person's individual journeys as they grappled with race, loneliness, colorism, abuse, motherhood, and a sense of identity. I enjoyed reading about these women and also adored the male side characters (Reese makes me so soft!) It’s a poignant and lovely story that takes you through several lifetimes with empathy and hope.
...more
Completely absorbing. Intricate prose. Deep characterization. Bennett exceeded my expectations with her second novel.
Jun 13, 2020
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews
I'm not sure I have words for how excellent this book turned out to be, but terms such as "breathtaking, poignant, and ultimately hopeful" come to mind. I was constantly reminded of the golden oldie movie Imitation of Life (1959) in regards to the discussions surround race, class, and gender, while also featuring a plot thread where a light skinned Black teenager is living her life passing as white. If you are wary of the hype, like I typically am, please know this is one instance where the subs
...more
3.5
Two Black twins, so “light” they could “pass” for White.
And, this story exploring “ PASSING” - a term I was not familiar with.
One of the twins will choose to do just that-live life as a White woman.
Her husband will never know the truth.
She will not get to celebrate milestones with her twin sister or mother.
She will not be able to share her heritage with her own daughter.
I found this book to be profoundly SAD.
IMAGINE believing that it would be worth LOSING all of that, to be WHITE?
I enjoye ...more
Two Black twins, so “light” they could “pass” for White.
And, this story exploring “ PASSING” - a term I was not familiar with.
One of the twins will choose to do just that-live life as a White woman.
Her husband will never know the truth.
She will not get to celebrate milestones with her twin sister or mother.
She will not be able to share her heritage with her own daughter.
I found this book to be profoundly SAD.
IMAGINE believing that it would be worth LOSING all of that, to be WHITE?
I enjoye ...more
3.5 stars. I enjoy Bennett as a writer, but I felt like this book didn't come all the way together. I wanted it to either be a more focused book with half the plot or to really go big and have more about all the characters.
At first it feels like this book is going to be entirely about colorism and the strange town of Mallard, Louisiana where light-skinned Black people have effectively segregated themselves. The story begins here, with the story of twins Stella and Desiree, who grow up and then ...more
At first it feels like this book is going to be entirely about colorism and the strange town of Mallard, Louisiana where light-skinned Black people have effectively segregated themselves. The story begins here, with the story of twins Stella and Desiree, who grow up and then ...more
Unpopular opinion. This book was just ok.
I loved the frenzy surrounding this book, and the gorgeous cover, and all the hype that went along with it, but to me, this book did not live up to its hype. It's too safe.
This book is a story of twin girls, who come from a very small town called Mallard. The town is so small you can't even find it on a map. However, this town is quite unique, in that each of the inhabitants of this black town are so light, that a passerby might mistake many of them for ...more
I loved the frenzy surrounding this book, and the gorgeous cover, and all the hype that went along with it, but to me, this book did not live up to its hype. It's too safe.
This book is a story of twin girls, who come from a very small town called Mallard. The town is so small you can't even find it on a map. However, this town is quite unique, in that each of the inhabitants of this black town are so light, that a passerby might mistake many of them for ...more
oooh, goodreads choice awards finalist for best historical fiction 2020! what will happen?
THIS HAPPENED:
CONGRATULATIONS, WINNER! goodreads choice awards best HISTORICAL FICTION 2020!
There were many ways to be alienated from someone, few to actually belong.
i know it looks like i’m over here five-starring a lot of books in a row all of a sudden, but it’s not so much that i’ve lucked into a run of excellent reading choices as it is me finally sitting down to review books so good it's been intimidat ...more
THIS HAPPENED:
CONGRATULATIONS, WINNER! goodreads choice awards best HISTORICAL FICTION 2020!
There were many ways to be alienated from someone, few to actually belong.
i know it looks like i’m over here five-starring a lot of books in a row all of a sudden, but it’s not so much that i’ve lucked into a run of excellent reading choices as it is me finally sitting down to review books so good it's been intimidat ...more
4.5 Stars
Jun 18, 2020
Meredith ( on Semi-Hiatus until February)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
edelweiss
“She was always inventing her life.”
Twin sisters. Two different paths: One chooses black. The other white. Their choices reflect societal norms, gender constructs, and racial inequality in contemporary America.
Stella and Desiree grow up in Mallard, LA. Mallard, a town comprised of light-skinned black people, has a fascinating history. I could read a whole book just about Mallard. When the sisters run away to New Orleans, they see their escape as a time to reinvent themselves: "Stella became whit ...more
Twin sisters. Two different paths: One chooses black. The other white. Their choices reflect societal norms, gender constructs, and racial inequality in contemporary America.
Stella and Desiree grow up in Mallard, LA. Mallard, a town comprised of light-skinned black people, has a fascinating history. I could read a whole book just about Mallard. When the sisters run away to New Orleans, they see their escape as a time to reinvent themselves: "Stella became whit ...more
This is a thought provoking story and a few scenes were not easy to read. There’s racism here, a violent incident against a man, witnessed by his young twin daughters, and more trauma for one of the girls than we want to imagine. This and their upbringing in a small black community in Louisiana where people believe the lighter they are the better life will be. So it wasn’t a surprise that when twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes run away at sixteen, that their futures would take them on journ
...more
Sooooo GOOD!!!
...Pathos and Pain....
...Profound Thoughtfulness...
...Spellbinding prose....
...Surprises I never saw coming...
...A book that kept me interested and curious from start to finish...
...Filled with substantial depth and insights.
Brit Bennett brings to life characters that made me desperately want to vanish into the her storytelling world.
Meet twin sisters, Desiree and Stella Vignes. They grew up in a Black Community - a town so small - it couldn’t be found on a map: Mallard, Louisian ...more
...Pathos and Pain....
...Profound Thoughtfulness...
...Spellbinding prose....
...Surprises I never saw coming...
...A book that kept me interested and curious from start to finish...
...Filled with substantial depth and insights.
Brit Bennett brings to life characters that made me desperately want to vanish into the her storytelling world.
Meet twin sisters, Desiree and Stella Vignes. They grew up in a Black Community - a town so small - it couldn’t be found on a map: Mallard, Louisian ...more
Aug 23, 2020
Danielle
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fab-book-club-books
2020 F.A.B. Bookclub pick # I.❤️. F.A.B.
I was excited that this was our bookclub pick for this month. 🤗 I’ve read so many fabulous reviews about the important messages this book has to offer. It tells a story of a set of twins, who runaway at 16. They take two different paths in life. Not giving much away- it was a great read. 👍I’d say I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. The messages are definitely good: Family is family, acceptance of who you are is important, even ...more
I was excited that this was our bookclub pick for this month. 🤗 I’ve read so many fabulous reviews about the important messages this book has to offer. It tells a story of a set of twins, who runaway at 16. They take two different paths in life. Not giving much away- it was a great read. 👍I’d say I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. The messages are definitely good: Family is family, acceptance of who you are is important, even ...more
I went into this book with high expectations, considering that I hadn’t seen one single negative review; everyone loved it and found it important and was mind-blown by the quality of the writing.
But then I read it myself and found, instead, just a story told at the speed of light as the author jumps in time and doesn't tie any end to any of her characters’ life chapters, as well as a plethora of characters out of whom none experience any in-depth analysis or development. I will put it simply:
wha ...more
But then I read it myself and found, instead, just a story told at the speed of light as the author jumps in time and doesn't tie any end to any of her characters’ life chapters, as well as a plethora of characters out of whom none experience any in-depth analysis or development. I will put it simply:
wha ...more
Soooo...first I gave this book 4.5 stars. I have no idea where to even begin with my review.
The Vanishing Half is such a complex and timely novel. Colorism and being "white passing" has been and still remains a hot topic of discussion in the Black community. Brit Bennett brings both of these conversations to the forefront in a interesting way. The novel focuses on twins, Desiree and Stella, who grow up in a small town where they are forced to quit school at the age of 16 to help provide an inco ...more
The Vanishing Half is such a complex and timely novel. Colorism and being "white passing" has been and still remains a hot topic of discussion in the Black community. Brit Bennett brings both of these conversations to the forefront in a interesting way. The novel focuses on twins, Desiree and Stella, who grow up in a small town where they are forced to quit school at the age of 16 to help provide an inco ...more
In The Vanishing Half, twins Desiree and Stella couldn't wait to leave behind the small, black town they've grown up in. At sixteen, they finally seize their chance and run away. More than a decade later, the twins have lost touch with each other. One comes back to town with a black daughter, while the other lives across the country, passing for white while hiding her past. But can she really escape her heritage and where she comes from? As time goes on, their respective daughters realize they c
...more
"You could never quite get used to loneliness..."
Identical twin sisters, Desiree, and Stella Vignes were born in Mallard, Louisiana, a town so small it cannot be found on the map. They have witnessed atrocities inflicted upon their father at a young age. They decide to run away from their southern black community at the age of 16 and start over in New Orleans. Years later, Desiree returns to her hometown with her young daughter while her twin sister Stella, is living as a white woman and her ...more
Identical twin sisters, Desiree, and Stella Vignes were born in Mallard, Louisiana, a town so small it cannot be found on the map. They have witnessed atrocities inflicted upon their father at a young age. They decide to run away from their southern black community at the age of 16 and start over in New Orleans. Years later, Desiree returns to her hometown with her young daughter while her twin sister Stella, is living as a white woman and her ...more
4.5 stars
The Vignes twins are identical but they couldn’t be more different in personality. This is the story of light-skinned black twins whose lives take very different paths.
The twins grew up in the odd little fictional southern town of Mallard where the blacks found dark skin undesirable. The lighter they were, the better, and the dark-skinned blacks faced discrimination from the light-skinned ones.
As young children, the twins endure a trauma when they see their father lynched by white m ...more
The Vignes twins are identical but they couldn’t be more different in personality. This is the story of light-skinned black twins whose lives take very different paths.
The twins grew up in the odd little fictional southern town of Mallard where the blacks found dark skin undesirable. The lighter they were, the better, and the dark-skinned blacks faced discrimination from the light-skinned ones.
As young children, the twins endure a trauma when they see their father lynched by white m ...more
This book is getting a lot of buzz, so I was pleased that our book club chose it and gave me an excuse to pick it up.
I had just finished The Warmth of Other Suns and this novel fit nicely onto its back. What hit me first is that racism is so ingrained in our culture that even among blacks, light is better. Desiree and Stella Vignes are identical twins, raised in a small town in 1950s Louisiana. They are light skinned in a town of other light skinned blacks. They run away at age 16, first to New ...more
I had just finished The Warmth of Other Suns and this novel fit nicely onto its back. What hit me first is that racism is so ingrained in our culture that even among blacks, light is better. Desiree and Stella Vignes are identical twins, raised in a small town in 1950s Louisiana. They are light skinned in a town of other light skinned blacks. They run away at age 16, first to New ...more
The Vanishing Half
is a quintessential book club book. That might sound pejorative, but please trust me, I don’t mean it to. It’s a really, really good book that just happens to be a perfect storm of all the things that book clubs generally like.
This novel is getting a LOT of buzz, so that’s a good start. Book clubs like things that are buzzy. It also sits comfortably in either the literary fiction or commercial fiction category, so it has a broad appeal. Plus, it’s topical and endlessly dis ...more
This novel is getting a LOT of buzz, so that’s a good start. Book clubs like things that are buzzy. It also sits comfortably in either the literary fiction or commercial fiction category, so it has a broad appeal. Plus, it’s topical and endlessly dis ...more
Finally, a follow-up to Bennett’s smashing debut The Mothers—and it’s worth the wait.
Identical twins Desiree and Stella grew up in a town so small it doesn’t appear on maps. They’re closer than close, so Desiree is shocked when Stella vanishes one night after deciding to sacrifice her
past—and her relationship with her family—in order to marry a white man, who doesn’t know she’s black. Desiree never expects to see her sister again.
The twins grow up, make lives for themselves, and raise daughter ...more
Identical twins Desiree and Stella grew up in a town so small it doesn’t appear on maps. They’re closer than close, so Desiree is shocked when Stella vanishes one night after deciding to sacrifice her
past—and her relationship with her family—in order to marry a white man, who doesn’t know she’s black. Desiree never expects to see her sister again.
The twins grow up, make lives for themselves, and raise daughter ...more
I'm thinking 2.5/5
It was interesting but I was bored as all hell ...more
It was interesting but I was bored as all hell ...more
"She was black. Blueblack. No, so black she looked purple. Black as coffee, asphalt, outer space, black as the beginning and the end of the world."
Another good story about sisters. This one is so worth the hype. Different, unique and important.
*Warnings for domestic violence, sexual assault, racist remarks, Alzheimer's
In this story, we are able to see racism and discrimination does exist within a community of the same race and colour.
I find the story quite good, the writing convincing and the c ...more
Another good story about sisters. This one is so worth the hype. Different, unique and important.
*Warnings for domestic violence, sexual assault, racist remarks, Alzheimer's
In this story, we are able to see racism and discrimination does exist within a community of the same race and colour.
I find the story quite good, the writing convincing and the c ...more
This book was so beautiful. I love stories that follow sisters, and after loving The Mothers I knew I had to check this book out. Brit Bennett has such a beautiful way with words, and I love that this book covers sooo many different important topics. The family dynamic in this book is so strong, and I was completely fascinated by Stella and Desiree's story and how they were still so connected even after being apart for years. They were brought up in a small town where every Black resident is so
...more
Feb 09, 2021
emma
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-ya,
diverse,
4-and-a-half-stars,
historical,
owned,
literary-fiction,
to-review,
recommend
finishing this felt like saying goodbye to my family.
review to come / 4.5 stars
-------------------
currently-reading updates
my favorite way to feel stupid is by highly anticipating a book forever but not picking it up and then not being able to put it down when i finally do
review to come / 4.5 stars
-------------------
currently-reading updates
my favorite way to feel stupid is by highly anticipating a book forever but not picking it up and then not being able to put it down when i finally do
4.5 stars
The Vanishing Half , Brit Bennett's second novel, is powerful and incredibly relevant given the moment our society is in right now.
“You can escape a town, but you cannot escape blood. Somehow, the Vignes twins believed themselves capable of both.”
Stella and Desiree Vignes grew up in Mallard, Louisiana, a town whose population is composed of immensely light-skinned African-American people. They're actually descendants of the founder, but their lives were traumatized by their witnessin ...more
The Vanishing Half , Brit Bennett's second novel, is powerful and incredibly relevant given the moment our society is in right now.
“You can escape a town, but you cannot escape blood. Somehow, the Vignes twins believed themselves capable of both.”
Stella and Desiree Vignes grew up in Mallard, Louisiana, a town whose population is composed of immensely light-skinned African-American people. They're actually descendants of the founder, but their lives were traumatized by their witnessin ...more
So well written and so interesting! I’ve never read anything by Britt Bennett but this won’t be my last. The story focuses on twin sisters, Desiree and Stella, and their daughters, Jude and Kennedy. The twins come from Mallard, Louisiana, where having light skin is greatly valued. The twins’ skin is light enough that Stella decides to “pass” as white and disappears from Desiree’s life in the late 1960s when they are in their early 20s. The story then moves back and forth in time and from the dif
...more
Jun 14, 2020
Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Book Club Gem!!! This is a June pick for many book clubs, including The Traveling Friends Goodreads Reading Group! It makes for such a fantastic group read as it is timely, and there is so much to think about and discuss.
As a reader, I love stories that allow me to think for myself and dig deep into the depth of the story, and that is what I did with this one. I often dig deeper, then most of my friends in our group read and sometimes talk to myself. Lol What I got out of this story was not wha ...more
As a reader, I love stories that allow me to think for myself and dig deep into the depth of the story, and that is what I did with this one. I often dig deeper, then most of my friends in our group read and sometimes talk to myself. Lol What I got out of this story was not wha ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literary Fiction ...: Discussion: The Vanishing Half | 12 | 93 | Feb 24, 2021 09:16AM | |
| Bethlehem Public ...: May 2021: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett | 1 | 3 | Feb 22, 2021 03:05PM | |
| Tournament of Books: The Vanishing Half | 35 | 145 | Feb 22, 2021 09:32AM | |
| Page Turners: #10 The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett | 12 | 43 | Feb 19, 2021 10:06AM |
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Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. Her seco
...more
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—
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