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2020 Group Reads
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Aug/Sept Group Read: The Vanishing Half
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Lulu, The Book Reader who could.
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Jul 13, 2020 07:35AM
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I am number 10 on library hold list. Hope to have in time for discussion
I am currently reading this book for another book club, and so far, I am really enjoying it.
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I am listening to audiobook while following along with the ebook. The audiobook is so good, Shayna Small is my new favorite narrator.
I will whispersync this one. I have the audio and now the kindle version. I can hardly wait!!!!
Finally was able to get a book in time for the group read! So excited! When does discussion start?
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Just picked up my copy from a local bookstore! So excited! Can't wait to discuss - I loved her first book!
I am like #56 on my library hold LOL. I will be coming back to these posts when i start to read 😅
Finished reading it a few days ago. Looking forward to the discussion
And here I am waiting for August 1st like a big dummy, SMH. Guess I’ll start it tonight.
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Oh good. There is hope for me yet then. I wanted to finish another book first.
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Guess I am in the right group! I have 9 on my currently reading list!! Sheesh! Lol
LOL. It’s Robyn......The “n” never shows up! On a mission to finish my reading challenge this year!!!
I am reading 3 books right now lol. I am making notes to vanishing half so I can remember when discussion starts. Plus a new book comes out next week that I really want to start. Its called Caste
No problem at all Dosha! One of my favorite friends calls me Robbie! I want to read Caste too! Waiting for my book to get here next week
I haven’t heard of Caste. I’ll have to look it up. I started The Vanishing Half this morning, by page five I could already tell it’s gonna be a real good ‘un.
Hi, all. I hope all is well. Sorry to have missed the last several reads. I just made it to chapter 2 of the vanishing half. This is going to be good! Looking forward to discussing with you all.
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Discussion starts here. Warning, there may be spoilers.
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1. The story starts off with Desiree (who ran away with her twin sister at the age of 16) coming back to town quite a few years later with her daughter Jude (who is considered ‘Blueblack, like she’d flown direct from Africa’). Why do you think Desiree returned to Mallard knowing the affects the town has had on her and could potentially have on her daughter Jude?
2. Mallard, a community of fair complexion black people who appear white...”the darkest appearing to be Greek”, is somewhat a character in the story. How does the history of the town affect the outlook of the residents? What affect did it have on the twins and their parents? Does it all seem a bit ironic when it comes to “passé blanc”?
3. Growing up Stella and Desiree were inseparable. It appears that Desiree is the stronger of the two, making all of the decisions, but we soon come to question if any of this is true. Is there a certain event that causes the separation between the twins? At what point do you think Stella became her own person?
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1. I think that “home” no matter how disturbing or problematic it may appear to be is not so much of a physical space, as it is a psychological space. Regardless of the culture of Mallard, there was also some comfort and safety there; some familiarity. I imagine when fleeing the horror of intimate partner violence, the need for and pull of both psychic and physical safety is strong! I am in the midst of re-reading The Warmth of Other Suns. Even with the realities of the Jim Crow South, people longed for the simplicity of it when compared with the pace and seeming chaos of the north. The turmoil of the north seems to be embodied and represented through Desiree’s tumultuous marriage; there is a slowing down, almost a cocooning feel that occurs when she returns to Mallard. I am not sure Desiree’s daughter’s skin color and what it would portend was high in her thinking as she was fleeing for her life when she returned home. I do think the “blue black” color of her skin was an ever present reminder to the reader that there is no hiding place when you are Black in America.
1. I agree with the above answer wholeheartedly. Desiree was fleeing an abusive husband and she was desperate to find somewhere familiar and safe. Her initial goal was to stay in Mallard short term, although that never happened. She got comfortable and stayed, although I can’t understand why she did not consider her daughters misery.Desiree also would not leave Mallard until Stella was ready to go too. But now Desiree is alone; I don’t think she had anywhere else to go and I don’t think she wanted to try her hand at being alone.
1. I really think Desiree came back home because she had no where to go and she needed to get away from her abusive husband. I dont think she considered Jude but she does love her child. Also, so far it seems the grandma loves Jude as well.2. Not really clear how the town feels but they all seem to get along. What becomes evident is that Stella wants to embrace her white side while Desiree went off and married the darkest man she could find.
3. This is the part the author I wish the author wrote about. I had the same question about why did Stella run off and not say anything to her sister. I hope we get that answer before the story is over.
3 Stella became her own person, when she vanished from being a twin and chose to follow a path that was hers alone. Stella had been toying with the path she chose, for a while before she made that final plunge.
2. Sad legacy of the institution of slavery. The townspeople can maintain the illusion of being privileged and somewhat immune from racism (although evidence of racism is all around them) because of their light skin. Jude’s presence is a stark reminder of who they really are, this their treatment of her. It’s really their own internalized racism/colorism and self hatred that is showing up
3. I agree with Bernie re: when Stella became her own person. However, ow I am wondering if she actually did, or did she just swap her vanishing identity as a twin for a vanishing identity as a White person. Did she also vanish into being a wife? I to being a neighbor; into being a wealthy socialite?. It see,s like she is continuously vanishing; her loneliness, sadness and fear are palpable.
Robyn wrote: "3. I agree with Bernie re: when Stella became her own person. However, ow I am wondering if she actually did, or did she just swap her vanishing identity as a twin for a vanishing identity as a Whi..."Whether we condone her chose or not, she became the person she chose to be. The terms may not be ideal, but the choice was hers alone.
Robyn wrote: "2. Sad legacy of the institution of slavery. The townspeople can maintain the illusion of being privileged and somewhat immune from racism (although evidence of racism is all around them) because o..."I agree, they were color struck.
This book is so good it’s sickening. I’m in chapter six now. I’ll be ready to read the questions and join the discussion by tonight, so excited!
Hey All, you guys have left me in the dust. LOL! I’m just starting. This is going to be a good one !
Trudy wrote: "Hey All, you guys have left me in the dust. LOL! I’m just starting. This is going to be a good one !"don't worry Trudy, you will catch up fast. I am loving this book. I have it in print on my kindle and on audible. I love the narrator so I've been getting some good steps in while listening. Then I go home and read myself to sleep. You will LOVE it!!
Lulu wrote: "I’m really enjoying this story so far! It’s giving me “Their Eyes Were Watching God” vibes and Early Jones appears to have been inspired by Easy Rawlings. Lol"I certainly see the connection to Easy and Early. They even sound like they are brothers. I love the way the narrator portrays Early. They have a lot of reluctance in common when it comes to being good at their jobs, lol.
Maya wrote: "1. I really think Desiree came back home because she had no where to go and she needed to get away from her abusive husband. I dont think she considered Jude but she does love her child. Also, so f..."Trudy, I agree. I think Desiree was literally running for her life. She loves her daughter and does not want to be separated from her, but when you are scared you go where you have some security. He only has family in Mallard. Nowhere else. The only people she knows are in Mallard also. Where else she gonna go?
Bernie wrote: "Robyn wrote: "3. I agree with Bernie re: when Stella became her own person. However, ow I am wondering if she actually did, or did she just swap her vanishing identity as a twin for a vanishing ide..."I wonder what made Stella choose to leave so abruptly? Even her twin didn't see it coming. I did love it when the two first cousins met each other! Wow.
And what about Reece?? I didn't see that coming. Oh Boy, what a great book. I love the "the girls", lol.
Lulu wrote: "Part 1 & Part 2 (chapters 1 - 6). Discussion starts here. Warning, there may be spoilers.
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1. The story starts off with Desiree (who ran away with her twin sister at the age of 16) coming ..."
since I'm still in chapter 6, I don't know if Stella has really become her own person yet. I'm at the place where she is very afraid of running into other Black people.
Aren't they supposed to be identical and the only way to tell them apart is their mannerisms and characters, how does she realistically expect to be white with a black twin in America. I could see if she ran off to Europe, but running into your own kind is just too normal in this country for her to be timid and nervous about it.
whew, chile. this is a good read. i agree Lulu i am getting Their Eyes Were Watching God vibes as well lol. i just made it to Part II. i will answer the discussion questions upon finishing chapter 6
Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Bernie wrote: "Robyn wrote: "3. I agree with Bernie re: when Stella became her own person. However, ow I am wondering if she actually did, or did she just swap her vanishing identity as a twin for ..."😉
I could not help but to think of an old movie called The imitation of Life. Also, Rachel Dolezal came to mind as well while reading this story.
Maya wrote: "I could not help but to think of an old movie called The imitation of Life. Also, Rachel Dolezal came to mind as well while reading this story."I thought of Imitation of Life briefly also. Who is Rachel Dolezal?
Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Maya wrote: "I could not help but to think of an old movie called The imitation of Life. Also, Rachel Dolezal came to mind as well while reading this story."I thought of Imitation of Life also. W..."
Rachel is the white women that tried to pass for black and held a high position at the NAACP
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/...
Maya wrote: "Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Maya wrote: "I could not help but to think of an old movie called The imitation of Life. Also, Rachel Dolezal came to mind as well while reading this story."Oh yeah, how could I forget about her, lmbo. The memes were hilarious
I though..."
Whoa, Guys! This book !!!!!!!! I finally made it to the end of part 2. This is so good, I don’t even have the words. LOL! So, who else is pissed at Desiree for bringing little Jude to Mallard? She had to know how her child would be treated. Her own grandma is nasty to her! I just want to scoop that pretty little ebony princess out of there. Of course this abuse is going to ruin her forever.
(Forgive me if you all discussed this already. I was just so anxious to post, I didn’t read the previous discussions yet. I’m on it now.)
My first teaching position was in a town like Mallard. When I first got there, I was puzzled as to why the children resembled each other so much and why so many of them shared the same last names. Here’s an interesting video of Gouldtown, New Jersey.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...
