REVIEWS

Rayne Williams

I really enjoyed reading this book, the whole concept of identity and how the choices we make impact on our lives. How, by the very ‘accident’ of being wealthy, pretty and white comes with opportunities and advantages. How this in itself opens doors for Kennedy, which she in turn squanders as opposed to Jude who has had to follow a different path, fighting for everything she has. The concept of identity seen through Reese‘s circle of friends. The whole idea that in reality each of us is no different from the next, it is only how we behave that makes us different: “The only difference between lying and acting was whether your audience was in on it”. And, whichever pathway we take in life, ultimately we circle back to our roots. A really good read.

David Hall

A thoroughly enjoyable read. It was at times distressing but gave great insight into the lives of the two girls. Sometimes the author strayed from the plot unnecessarily. My first experience of Brit Bennett but I will be looking for more. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy a new author.

Eileen North

This is the story of identical twins growing up in a small Southern black community. The tale starts in 1968 and follows the girls through to 1986. The twin’s family are very pale skinned, which is common in the town of Mallard. At the age of sixteen the twins run away to New Orleans to look for work. One sister marries but escapes back to Mallard with her daughter. This daughter is very dark skinned so does not fit in well. She then leaves on a sports scholarship to the West Coast. The other twin passes as white and marries her boss and has a daughter. Eventually the offspring of the twins meet. I enjoyed this book. It was a relaxing read.

Barbara Ames

The perfect companion for your next Viking cruise. You will be drawn into this skilfully written story from page 1. Do we choose who we are, or are our identities predetermined? This impressive novel explores gender and race with an empathy that nevertheless calls your own preconceptions into question. The family ties ebb and flow from beginning to end as the twin girls follow their chosen path in life and, as the years pass, their daughter’s lives become entwined. This is an impressive, thought -provoking novel. Curl up in comfort in the Viking lounge — or up on the sundeck, just don’t get so wrapped up in this fascinating saga that you miss your excursion! I thoroughly recommend it.

Derek Peters

An interesting book about identity, prejudice and family relationships set in the USA. The book also covered issues of gender. Obviously, attitudes have changed since the periods in which this book was set but by how much? On a personal note, a friend whose partner is mixed race had twins, one of whom was white, one black. Many people make a choice in life, my father was a civil servant but still considered himself working class. Can a person become what they wish to be and how does living a lie affect someone and their family? Someone from a poor background may become the biggest snob! I found the book gripping although some of the background was alien to me.

Clare Wilson

From reading just the book jacket, the storyline did not seem very plausible and had it not been in the Viking Book Club, I would have probably left it on the shelf. The scene setting was well written and the idea of the plot was an unusual one. But I did not really believe the scenarios in the mixing of the white and coloured worlds. At one point the author was saying that a coloured person would be able to identify a non-white, as in the security guard at the museum and the next minute Stella is able to visit Loretta and her coloured friends and they can’t see it even though she is spending more time with them. Then Stella is so anti that she speaks at the housing meeting and shortly after has changed her mind and is delivering cake to the coloured neighbours. The author seemed to be trying to fit in as many combinations of white and coloureds with the boyfriends and cousins and work colleagues, which just made the story more confusing and did not enhance the basic plot of the twins separating and reuniting.

Evelyn Paterson

I was delighted to have been given this month’s book to read. Unfortunately, this book was not to my liking. Although it was well written, I found the topics of identity, race and gender and how it was dealt with go against everything I believe in. Also, I obviously missed the point but I did not understand the ending. What was it supposed to portray? What happened to Stella and Desiree? Very unsatisfactory. I look forward to reading other people’s reviews and see if they shed light on this.