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 Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does the novel’s portrayal of Stella’s decision to live as a white woman reflect societal pressures surrounding race and identity in mid-20th century America?
• What is colorism? How does Mallard’s prioritization of light skin illustrate the impact of colorism in Black communities?
• What relationship does the novel posit between race and socioeconomic status? How has that relationship changed (or remained the same) since the era in which the novel is set?
• How do Stella and Desiree’s experiences critique or support the societal expectations and traditional gender roles of women in the 1950s through the 1980s? Do their experiences have relevance for women today?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does Bennett introduce the concept of duality in the twin relationship and in the novel’s exploration of identity?
• How does the author use the differing settings of Mallar, New Orleans, and LA to reinforce themes of identity and social ostracism?
• Which characters struggle to forgive themselves, and how is self-loathing presented as a stumbling block toward reconciliation with others?
• How do family secrets impact the characters? How do hidden truths shape the family’s legacy?
• What is the narrative significance of Desiree, Stella, and Kennedy’s interest in stage acting?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you could read a private journal entry from any character in the story, who would you choose, and what do you hope they would have written about?
• Imagine an alternate story where Desiree and Stella choose opposite paths; Desiree passes, and Stella returns to Mallard. How might this change their futures?
• Envision a letter exchange between Jude and Kennedy in the future. What would they say to each other about their mother’s choices and those choices’ impact on their identity? 

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.