BOOKMARKED

LAURA HUSER

President of the Literary Society of the Southwest

RECOMMENDS:

“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett

HER TAKE

“The Literary Society has introduced me to many excellent books, each offering diverse tastes and subject matters. You may have read about The New York Times bestseller ‘The Vanishing Half,’ but if you haven’t yet cracked the cover, you don’t know that this book will grab you and not let go until the final sentence.

“The Vignes twins, Stella and Desiree, grew up in the 1960s in a small Louisiana community composed of light-skinned Black residents. While the sisters were identical and best friends, their life choices split them apart. Stella, passing for white, left her former life behind to live life as a white woman married to a successful businessman. Desiree escaped an abusive relationship and returned to her hometown with her ‘black as tar’ daughter, Jude.

“Spanning three generations and told in flashbacks, ‘The Vanishing Half’ explores themes of racism, familial bonds and what it is like to deny your authentic identity. Timely and unforgettable, this book is a must-read.”