Book Review: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

A historical fiction novel about twin sisters dealing with contemporary problems. They grow up in a town of light skinned Black people until one twin decides to live as a white person.

Desiree and Stella live in Mallard, Louisiana, a fictional town about two hours from New Orleans. They disappear from that small town, move to New Orleans, but soon Stella leaves to live as a white woman. Desiree marries a Black man and raises her daughter alone after leaving her abusive husband.

The novel switches time periods, but is an easy transition. We follow the story of Desiree’s daughter Jude and Stella’s daughter Kennedy. Jude and Kennedy coincidentally meet in LA; Jude is a student at UCLA while Kennedy is acting in a local musical.

The novel shifts between characters and generations which parallels the story of shifting from one color to the another, one sex to another. A good read for book clubs because there’s lots of room for discussion.

“You can escape a town, but you cannot escape blood. Somehow, the Vignes twins believed themselves capable of both.”

― Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

I’d heard rave reviews about this book, so I grabbed it from the library. It’s the story of a middle aged man in need of a little jolt of happiness. Don’t we all need that about right now?

Linus Baker works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His no nonsense approach to his job places him as the best person to review six magical children. His supervisors’ praise him for his thorough and balanced reports and feel he is the best person for the job. So, he and his cat, Calliope, leave for a month in search of the truth. What will he find?

Normally, his job is to identify orphanages that are not working, not really deal with the issues of tolerance. But, he begins to soften after getting to know his charges, even if one of the them is Satan. These magical creatures don’t give him a choice. He decides they should not be dismissed for their differences. They live on an island isolated from the closest town. Their master, Arthur Parnassus, advocates for these children but may find his own secrets revealed. And Linus begins to feel this may be his true family.

All in all it’s a good read but sanctimonious at times. But, hey…in these turbulent times, its good to read a message of love and acceptance.

“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”
― T.J. Klune, The House in the Cerulean Sea Sea