Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Vanishing Half: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize 2021
Skip to main content
.com.au
Hello Select your address
All
Select the department you want to search in
Hello, Sign in
Account & Lists
Returns & Orders
Cart
All
Best Sellers Customer Service Today's Deals Prime Fashion Music New Releases Kindle Books Books Electronics Home Toys & Games Gift Cards Computers Video Games Beauty Home Improvement Audible Health & Personal Care Sports, Fitness & Outdoors Pet Supplies Automotive Gift Ideas Coupons Subscribe & Save Sell
Createspace

  • The Vanishing Half: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize 2021
  • ›
  • Customer reviews

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
86,646 global ratings
5 star
39%
4 star
42%
3 star
15%
2 star
3%
1 star
1%
The Vanishing Half: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize 2021

The Vanishing Half: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize 2021

byBrit Bennett
Write a review
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
See All Buying Options

Top positive review

All positive reviews›
Cindy
5.0 out of 5 starsCouldn't Put This Down
Reviewed in Australia on 18 August 2020
This was a beautifully written and compelling story of intergenerational trauma, identity and the choices that end up defining who we are.

The characters were vividly drawn with story lines that spanned across decades so that I felt like I had come to intimately know these characters and the shapes of their lives by the end. Through the characters of the twin girls we see themes of loss, identity, race, society, survival and motherhood play out and I love how the book tackles these bigger themes without detracting from the core story of the girls' disappearance and separation.

The writing was stunning in that quiet, unassuming way, balancing descriptive prose with a grounded realism, "A town always looked different once you returned, like a house where all the furniture had shifted three inches. You wouldn't mistake it for a stranger's house but you'd keep banging your shins on the table corners"

I couldn't put this book down but I also didn't want it to end, and I wished the story had continued to the next generation of daughters because it is a story that I could keep reading.
Read more
5 people found this helpful

Top critical review

All critical reviews›
Philip Cassell
2.0 out of 5 starsDisappointing
Reviewed in Australia on 16 November 2020
I found this novel to have some interesting features; the basic storyline is involving enough; and its description of prejudice is sometimes moving.
However, far too much of the writing is banal and repetitive. Too much of the novel is static.
All novels are fabrications, of course; however, the concoctedness of Vanishing Half leaps out at the reader and spoils it. For me at least.
Read more
One person found this helpful

Search
Sort by
Top reviews
Filter by
All reviewers
5 star only
Text, image, video
Filtered by
5 starClear filter
48,879 total ratings, 1,563 with reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From Australia

Cindy
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put This Down
Reviewed in Australia on 18 August 2020
Verified Purchase
This was a beautifully written and compelling story of intergenerational trauma, identity and the choices that end up defining who we are.

The characters were vividly drawn with story lines that spanned across decades so that I felt like I had come to intimately know these characters and the shapes of their lives by the end. Through the characters of the twin girls we see themes of loss, identity, race, society, survival and motherhood play out and I love how the book tackles these bigger themes without detracting from the core story of the girls' disappearance and separation.

The writing was stunning in that quiet, unassuming way, balancing descriptive prose with a grounded realism, "A town always looked different once you returned, like a house where all the furniture had shifted three inches. You wouldn't mistake it for a stranger's house but you'd keep banging your shins on the table corners"

I couldn't put this book down but I also didn't want it to end, and I wished the story had continued to the next generation of daughters because it is a story that I could keep reading.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Tamara Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking & incredibly insightful
Reviewed in Australia on 10 January 2021
Verified Purchase
I had never heard of passing before. In Australia I guess it happens but it’s not the same as the states. I learned so much about internal and external battles for acceptance and love. But what this book really brings is characters so strong they stay with you in every little thing you do. Their fears and dreams haunt you, reflecting your own fears and dreams. Powerful.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Belinda
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written characters
Reviewed in Australia on 14 April 2021
Verified Purchase
A beautiful story about the lasting influence of the past, identity, race, family ties and love in all it's forms. Deeply complex and beautifully written characters are interwoven through America's past (1950s in the Deep South) to more modern times. No spoilers, but I could not put this down.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Vivien J Sonego
5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual but powerful approach to racial identity
Reviewed in Australia on 24 August 2020
Verified Purchase
To pass as white in order to be free. What a theme! Brought to life by twins who went their separate ways. To be raised one way, yet pass for another race with everything that entails, ironically imprisoned by the secrecy of deception and shame. A novel for our times.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in Australia on 1 September 2021
Verified Purchase
Amazing book. Beautifully written, powerful story that ties together so many different issues. I’m not sure which character impacted me the most, but Stella feels the most tragic.
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Britt Bennett is a sensational writer
Reviewed in Australia on 23 January 2021
Verified Purchase
The characters in this book are superb. They are deep and flawed and vivid. If you like this book, I highly recommend her The Mothers. I loved that too.
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Anthea
5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner!
Reviewed in Australia on 8 December 2021
Verified Purchase
Slow to start, as the characters developed I couldn’t stop reading. In fact nearing the conclusion I didn’t want it to end.
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


Jodie
5.0 out of 5 stars As described
Reviewed in Australia on 14 March 2021
Verified Purchase
Purchased as gift
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


JaneD
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book
Reviewed in Australia on 14 December 2020
Verified Purchase
Well written and great story. I really loved this book, the characters are so well drawn.
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


t
5.0 out of 5 stars Time vanished
Reviewed in Australia on 20 January 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent book, wasn’t disappointed!
Helpful
Report abuse
    Showing 0 comments

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.


  • ←Previous
  • Next page→
Need customer service? Click here
‹ See all details for The Vanishing Half: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize 2021

Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations
›
View or edit your browsing history
After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Back to top
Get to Know Us
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Corporate Information
  • Press Releases
  • Amazon Science
Make Money with Us
  • Independently Publish with Us
  • Sell on Amazon
  • Drive with Amazon Flex
  • Advertise Your Products
  • Associates Program
  • Host an Amazon Hub
Let Us Help You
  • COVID-19 and Amazon
  • Your Account
  • Your Orders
  • Delivery Rates & Policies
  • Returns & Replacements
  • Manage Your Content and Devices
  • Help
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Turkey
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
And don't forget:
  • Amazon Advertising
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Goodreads
  • Shopbop
  • Conditions of Use & Sale
  • Privacy Notice
  • Interest-Based Ads Notice
© 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates