December Group Read Discussion: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

[L Y N N]

I'll be back for more discussion, as I have finished the book, but thought you might like to know that The Vanishing Half was on Barack Obama's favorite books of 2020 list! :)

[Lauren]

Teri wrote: "I grew up in a very white state and didn't give racism much more than a glancing thought for most of my life until the past 5 years or so. I have been trying hard to educate myself, and I have lear..."

Yes, I'm also grateful for the abundance of resources these days!

[Lauren]

Lynn wrote: "I'll be back for more discussion, as I have finished the book, but thought you might like to know that The Vanishing Half was on Barack Obama's favorite books of 2020 list! :)"

So fun! He has such great taste.

I finished the story and really enjoyed it. It was one of those rare books that I didn't want to end. I wanted more Jude, Reese, Desiree, and Early. What are they doing now? I miss them! :)

[L Y N N]

Lauren wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Lauren wrote: "It's overwhelming, but still a privilege that I get to choose this work rather than be forced to personally experience the impact of racism. We have so much more work to do, but I'm encouraged by how many more people are willing to read these books, have these conversations, and take action toward change."

Yes, we are both privileged in this society. My personal life and health are not allowing me to devote time outside of work and working out right now, so I am devoting myself to reading and trying to "spread the word"! I am gratified to finally see so many more enlightened white folks confronting their own racism as well as realizing the inherent racism within our society on so many levels. But...as you say, we have so much further to go. This, IMO, is just the beginning of hopefully instituting some real change, long-lasting long-term change. The upcoming change in Federal leadership will, I believe, be a good start.

[L Y N N]

Teri wrote: "I grew up in a very white state and didn't give racism much more than a glancing thought for most of my life until the past 5 years or so. I have been trying hard to educate myself, and I have lear..."

I have taught myself to never bemoan the fact that I spent so many years unaware. All we can do is what we can do. Congratulations on realizing your own socially-constructed beliefs regarding others and starting your own journey to healing and learning/demonstrating true respect for others. YAY!

[L Y N N]

Now that I have finished the book... :) I thought it was exceedingly interesting that (view spoiler)[Mallard was (1) never visible on a map and (2) was never incorporated or legally organized as a town/village/whatever. (hide spoiler)] I keep wondering about the symbolism of that... Was it the fact that this community was so (view spoiler)[prejudiced and into "colorism" that it was denied even the benefit of being officially recognized? Are we to believe that a social group so discriminatory was unworthy of recognition? Or that it couldn't/wouldn't survive due to that? (hide spoiler)] I remember a bit of what she said about this in the interview you posted, but I feel as if it just begs further consideration! It is emphasized to a great degree, in my opinion. Or maybe because such prejudice is universal? Not limited to any one location/region?

[L Y N N]

After reading the whole book, I have much less sympathy for (view spoiler)[Stella than I did in the beginning. I get it. If I was a black female in the US 1960s and it was easy for me to pass as white, I would at the very least have been tempted, I'm sure. But when her only reason for returning to Mallard was to have Desiree 'call off' Jude so she would quit contacting Kennedy. (hide spoiler)] That made me so angry with her! (view spoiler)[To return to reconnect with family would be a very different thing...but she just wanted to protect her assumed identity! I was hoping she would be exposed after that. (hide spoiler)]

[L Y N N]

Though Kennedy had been in LA/Hollywood she preferred the stage to the routine (read: drudgery) of acting in Hollywood. ""The stage was something else altogether--new every time, which terrified and thrilled her. Each show was different, each audience unique, each night crackling with possibility." (page 273) In this respect she rather reminded me of her mother. (view spoiler)[Stella had certainly not stuck with the 'routine' of her black identity, but instead preferred taking the chance on passing as white and riding that out, day after day. For me, this kept tension throughout most of the novel; wondering if or when she would be exposed and the repercussions. And, in effect, Stella was an excellent actress herself. (hide spoiler)]

[L Y N N]

Early was my favorite character among that generation. He was true blue to Desiree. I loved him for loving her (and her mother!) through the years and even taking a boring stay-put job to help out. Desiree was also genuine. I felt sorry for Kennedy. I felt Stella always built a lot of distance between them, purposefully, just as she did with everyone else, except poor (view spoiler)[Loretta Walker. I could have slapped Stella myself when she didn't invite the Walkers to her annual gala event--only white folks allowed! 'Cause, you know... And then poor Kennedy was put in the middle, just repeating what she had heard adults say, and lost her only and best friend! (hide spoiler)] Ugh. We can be so ugly to each other. I kept wondering what Blake's reaction would be if he discovered Stella's true heritage. I kinda think he would have accepted it to a great degree. And that Jude. I just loved Jude for loving everyone, especially Reese. Just a wonderful book. Anxious to read The Mothers now!

[Layne]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who finds it hard to sympathize with Stella!

[Lauren]

Lynn wrote: "Early was my favorite character among that generation. He was true blue to Desiree. I loved him for loving her (and her mother!) through the years and even taking a boring stay-put job to help out...."

Yes, I wanted more Early - he was wonderful!

Lynn wrote: "Though Kennedy had been in LA/Hollywood she preferred the stage to the routine (read: drudgery) of acting in Hollywood. ""The stage was something else altogether--new every time, which terrified an..."

Good point on the acting connection! I hadn't thought about that too much, but it makes sense.

Lynn wrote: "After reading the whole book, I have much less sympathy for [spoilers removed] That made me so angry with her! [spoilers removed]"

I also struggled with sympathizing with Stella (especially during her most egregious moments), but kept reminding myself that I will likely never be in a similar position, so I try to resist too much disdain for her choices. I think this book does a great job of exploring what it means to be "Black" in the United States, and over a certain time period specifically.

Lynn wrote: "Now that I have finished the book... :) I thought it was exceedingly interesting that [spoilers removed] I keep wondering about the symbolism of that... Was it the fact that this community was so [..."

Yes, good questions about Mallard and the symbolism there. If you've read [book:The Sellout|22237161] a similar issue is a prominent part of that story.

[Lauren]

We're getting to the end of the month (and this discussion). Thanks for everyone's comments in this thread! Any final thoughts on this book? I'll share some insights that came up in the Tournament of Books discussion of this, since it made the short list for the contest.

Comments from readers in that group that I appreciated:

"I saw clear parallels between the concepts of 'blackness' and those of gender in the two characters that leave their family behind to live their chosen identities. But one we naturally frown upon (the passing as white and falsification of her family history) while the other we support (the transitioning to male of the boyfriend and rejection of their dead identity's family). Are we to equivocate these two and perhaps give Stella more of a break? Or are we to see them as different because in one, the dominant/oppressive majority is joined to claim a white identity while a fragile minority is joined in claiming a male identity?"

And, "there are so many things about this book that have continued to have me thinking, even though I found it a bit slow while reading it. The dichotomy you point out between the racial passing by Stella and the gender passing by Reese is certainly one of those points. Another is the notion of the colorism Jude experienced in the tiny town of Mallard as contrasted with Stella & Kennedy's whiteness never even being questioned in the larger world. I think there was a third contrast of societal class touched on far more lightly between the highly-successful lawyer Sam Winston who abused Desiree and the convicted felon turned bounty hunter Early who could not have been steadier or kinder.

I'm pretty amazed that Brit Bennett resisted the temptation of polemic and instead just let all of these contrasts sit there for the reader to contemplate on their own. Wherever anyone lands in their thoughts on any of this, it certainly makes one question all of the categories into which we put people and why we ever think it is okay to force our typology onto others. At bottom for me, I think this story highlighted the need to set aside any preconceived expectations about what any person should be or is or the experiences they've had, and instead let each human define themself."

[Nadine in NY]

Lauren wrote: ""I saw clear parallels between the concepts of 'blackness' and those of gender in the two characters that leave their family behind to live their chosen identities. ..."


I had similar thoughts about this book. I really like how Bennett set both stories out there as clear parallels, but she as the author did not draw any firm conclusions or push the reader one way or the other.


To me, both choices seem equivalent. You choose the identity you feel you are. But race activists and gender activists have made it clear they they are NOT the same thing. (I'm thinking of Rachel Dolezal.)

[L Y N N]

Lauren wrote: "We're getting to the end of the month (and this discussion). Thanks for everyone's comments in this thread! Any final thoughts on this book? I'll share some insights that came up in the Tournament ..."

I really like the juxtaposition of the 'successful lawyer' being an abuser and the 'convicted felon' being a kind and conscientious partner. Although that was in the back of my mind, I hadn't fully examined it.

I adore authors who just put it all out there and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions, as long as the writing is compelling, that is a favorite for me. And I definitely found Bennett's writing to be compelling. I plan to read The Mothers in 2021, and I trust she is writing more!!! :)

[L Y N N]

Thank you so much for leading this, Lauren! I appreciated all the extras you brought to the discussion! :)