Brit Bennett

This family drama explores identity, secrets, and forgiveness. The Vignes family was irreparably damaged by violence, loss and separation. As the twins embark on a new life, they must shed their past
Stella and her twin Desiree leave their small town without saying goodbye to family or friends. One eventually returns, running from an unhappy past. The other twin starts a new life "passing over". But Stella and Desiree aren't the only ones who have remade themselves, leaving behind an old identity.… (mere)

5 stars - this is a GREAT read. For me, this was an eye-opening look into the life of a Black person wanting to be white; (the books terms, black and white). I didn’t know the term “pass” or “pass over” was a term for when that happens - nor did I know that really is a desire of some very light-skinned people of color, or that they do it.

Ms. Bennett writes with amazing clarity, giving life to her characters; I lived them, I understood their plights, both the “white” and the “black” people in the story. She enlightened me with this quick-paced, beautiful story. I didn’t want it to end.

I would highly recommend this book. High praise for Brit Bennett and The Vanishing Half.… (mere)

The Mothers is all things mothers – absent mothers, blind mothers, protective mothers, unmothers, mothers-to-be, substitute mothers, the mothers - and the ripple effect their actions or inactions have on other people’s lives, the consequences of silences, secrets and lies and the developing relationships between Nadia, Luke and Aubrey. Set in a closely-knit Christian community in sunny California this easy-to-read book handles difficult subject matter – racism, abortion, suicide, grievous bodily harm, sexual abuse - with great care. A really good read. And the Vanishing Half is just as good if not better!… (mere)

"Upper Room had encircled the wailing mother and held her up, soundlessly, because hard deaths resist words. A soft death can be swallowed with Called home to be with the Lord or We'll see her again in glory, but hard deaths get caught in the teeth like gristle."

That's a mere aside about a non-character in this novel, however it does a fine job of summing up the essential thing to know about this debut from an obviously talented writer. Two lives are absent from this story, and their hard absences shape these characters in difficult ways. They pull together and push apart, love and hurt one another, in the wakes.… (mere)