The Vanishing Half: A Novel

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Were you aware of the concept of “passing” before reading the novel? How did you interpret the characters’ differing decisions regarding race and identity? If you’ve read Passing by Nella Larsen, how would you say Bennett is building on Larsen's work around performative identities, race, and class?
• How did the novel make you think about the relationship between race and privilege?
• Did the novel bring a sense of closure for the characters, or were you left with unresolved questions about their lives?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Have you ever felt pressured to present different versions of yourself to the world? How do Stella and Desiree’s experiences resonate with you?
• Jude and Kennedy are in some ways the products of generational choices and trauma. How has your family’s past shaped your present?
• Consider how family expectations and values have impacted your sense of self. How did you respond to Stella and Desiree’s differing responses to their family dynamics?
• How did the characters’ struggle to embrace forgiveness resonate with your experiences of mending relationships?

3. Societal and Cultural