Ushering in the New Year is The Vanishing Half, a riveting exploration of colorism, family, and identity authored by Brit Bennett. And this month, I'm pairing each novel with a short playlist of songs whose lyrics or music fit the narrative journey.
Invisible String
Growing up in the Deep South, the Vignes twins were raised in a small black community - an in-between space where black people could live freely, but not without prejudice. Even in Mallard, a town founded by an emancipated enslaved man, colorism flourishes, as with each generation couples intentionally pair to produce children with lighter skin tones. In this toxic community steeped with tradition, Stella and Desiree soon learn that their identities in Mallard do not match those assigned to them outside their hometown. The twins’ lighter complexions do not lessen the racist acts of violence and prejudice they experience as children, and one day after cleaning a horrible white family’s house, the sisters decide to run away - to forge their own futures and identities.
Except, in New Orleans, things aren’t much better. Only 16 years old, the girls don’t have the money or job experience to truly flourish and find their places in the world. They had bold dreams of life in a big city, where possibilities seemed endless, but in reality they are barely scraping by with the help of another former citizen of Mallard. It is in New Orleans where Stella and Desiree’s lives diverge; Stella leaves her sister to secretly reinvent herself as a white woman, while Desiree enters a suffocating abusive relationship. This poignant novel follows the trajectories of the twins’ lives as well as the lives of each of their daughters, revealing how sometimes, no matter how hard we pull away, the strings of our fate are inextricably connected. Stella and Desiree each push us to explore American race relations, the history of passing, and how the past affects our desires and ambitions. Do we truly determine our own identities, or are we shaped by our history, fated to a certain path?
“She hadn't realized how long it takes to become somebody else, or how lonely it can be living in a world not meant for you.”
The Art of Juxtaposition
The Vanishing Half is a remarkable work of fiction, its characters and themes omnipresent throughout history and echoing still today.
I’ll admit that the story does begin slowly, and can be challenging to get into. However, I encourage you to persevere! As you read further and learn more about Stella, Desiree, and their daughters, the intrigue builds. I was about ¼ of the way through the novel when I realized I had to know what happened - putting it down was no longer an option. And I’m so glad I stuck with it! In hindsight, the pacing of the narration makes total sense; the measured introduction establishes each of the storylines without making the narrative feel hurried or confusing. These slower moments also perform important worldbuilding and obviate the sisters’ mounting dichotomy.
Indeed, The Vanishing Half is a delicate cocktail of protagonists and themes reminiscent of the works of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Shonda Rhimes. I say this only to give a sense of the novel’s vibes; make no mistake - this is a novel wholly her own. Incredibly cerebral writing is well-balanced with humor, emotion, and stirring imagery. Bennett crafts beautifully nuanced, troubled characters you can’t help but empathize with. Their struggles, both familial and racial, are so real and parallel the existence of countless US citizens. The author extends such compassion to her protagonists (rightfully so) who just want to live safe, free lives, opening readers up to a world of possibility, of choices we might not have considered, or would have judged in the past.
Perhaps I’m just a sucker for stories that share the perspectives of siblings - especially twins - because their differences and similarities are so intricate. It’s impossible not to consider the factors of nature vs. nurture, and how different (or similar) their lives might be if they’d done just one thing differently. A twin myself, I know what it’s like to have a sister you’re constantly compared to, a lifelong push and pull away and towards one another. Yet Stella and Desiree do not steal the spotlight; Jude, Reese, Kennedy, and Early are each given great depth rather than getting shrugged off as side characters. It’s especially striking to see the parallel yet disparate lives Jude and Kennedy lead, and how vividly they portray the differences between black and white womanhood. I also loved Reese and Jude’s relationship - I’m dying to read a whole book just about the two of them. These two protagonists uniquely push the boundaries of colorism, sexuality, gender, and identity, offering a powerful juxtaposition between Stella’s false identity and Reese’s refusal to lie about who he is.
What a stunning second novel for Bennett. A striking work of social commentary, The Vanishing Half easily garners 4 stars, if not 4.5 out of 5. I’d recommend it to lovers of How to Get Away With Murder, or readers who enjoyed Paradise by Toni Morrison, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, or Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams.
TW: domestic violence, transphobia, racist violence
To the Tune of Nina Simone
Now, for the accompanying playlist. I selected songs that either captured the voices, plotlines, or overall vibes of the novel. (I could easily add 20 more songs to this list, because this novel just does so much.)
Nothing Else I Could Do - Ella Jane (This is a song about a romantic interest, but she sings about this constant feeling that someone is missing in your life - a lot like Desiree's longing for her sister.)
Everything I Wanted - Billie Eilish (This is haunting and wistful, speaking to the self Stella left behind and her new white identity; she feels trapped in this world she's always wanted to be part of.)
But Not for Me - Ella Fitzgerald (AKA will Desiree ever find love?)
I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone (Nina's voice definitely captures the essence of Stella's character for me, as she enchants everyone and easily convinces them of her identity but constantly fears that the spell will run out and she'll be exposed.)
Love Goes - Sam Smith, Labrinth (Such. A. Beautiful. Song. The lyrics can apply to multiple relationships, from Jude and Kennedy's to Desiree and Early's to Stella and Desiree's.)
Mascara - Jazmine Sullivan (This is a more groovy bop that evokes how badass and empowered Stella must have felt when she first launched her identity as a white woman, but also how she must wear that mask and carry her fear with her everywhere she goes.)
The Suburbs - Arcade Fire (More for the vibes than the lyrics, this piece is an ode to Stella's entrapment in the suburbs, a safety she has long craved but is increasingly suffocated by.)
Thought-provoking books like this, while certainly calling for significant time and attention, can offer so much space for learning and empathy. They can also inspire playlists! And I like to think that making playlists based off a story provides a new way to look at the narrative, and develops my understanding of the characters and plot. Artists like Nina Simone and Labrinth helped bring this book to life for me...I wish I could just read and play around on Spotify for the rest of my life.
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