THE VANISHING HALF: BOOK REVIEW
It seems as though every new piece of media that has come out recently is trying to appeal to a wider spectrum of viewers. Representation is important, and no writer, director, or other creative wants to be left out. The unfortunate thing, however, is that representation has come to mean that simply the mention of and halfhearted attempt to engage with various identities and struggles. A sassy gay character who comes in to give the main character a few words of advice before perishing or otherwise being removed from the plot. A disabled character who is reduced down to their disability and pigeonholed into stereotypes. These are examples of some common tropes I’ve seen in the media lately. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet is different.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet is a novel that follows two twins, Stella and Desiree, as they go through their lives, separating, reconvening, and touching the lives of those around them. Bennet’s book explores issues of racial identity and belonging, gender identity, family (both blood and found), privilege, and relationships — all while managing to stay historically accurate. It never seemed as if a character’s sole existence was meant to serve the book’s ability to represent an identity or a struggle.
This book and its characters have been lovingly crafted with both flaws and triumphs that weave together seamlessly. The non-chronological narrative makes sense given the ways in which the characters interact with one another and remember things. It also serves to illustrate just how easily our lives can become closely tied to others. It made me stop and think at times, “Whose life have I touched?”
The two twins begin their lives and the novel together physically and mentally, and I found it difficult to tell them apart. As the story progressed and when they eventually parted, Desiree to marry and have a child with the Blackest man she could, and Stella to pass over and become white, I saw their individual characters develop more. Desiree was the free spirit, longing to challenge the status quo by being Black and proud at a time when most Black women hoped their children would have light skin. Stella was more reserved and withdrawn, pragmatically deciding to pass when she realized how much easier her life could be.
I found Stella and Desiree to be a fascinating and fresh way to explore the implications of passing. Many passing narratives are singular, centering a character who laments the choice to pass or the choice to not. Being able to see two people who are identical live two very different lives added complexity and nuance to a commonly explored narrative. I found myself sympathizing with both women, and as the narrative moved between them I became more and more unsure of what I might do in such a situation. It’s never just black or white.
The choices that the two women make end up affecting the people around them, too. Both Stella and Desiree had daughters who grew up and chose to rebel against the choices their mothers made. Despite efforts to separate themselves from their mothers, however, the family does eventually reunite. The winding path each character takes to get there, however, is far from what you might expect. This book was thrilling to read, full of almost meetings, inscrutable decision making, and natural, easy to read dialogue. The characters could have walked off the page, they were so violently human, and I enjoyed getting to know them.