Book Club! In Short Reviews. — thehummingbirdpost.com

Mar 17

Mar 17 Book Club! In Short Reviews.

Book Club! In Short Reviews is Hummingbird’s new book review series. We say “Book Club” because we really want to get a conversation going if you are so inclined! Please feel free to comment in the “Comments” section below the byline or by clicking here and sending it to us. We will repost the review with your comments. We are trying this shortened format because we know everyone is so busy—with their “usual” life and then pandemic life piled on top! We are only posting recommended reads and are rating them recommend, strongly recommend, or MUST READ! Let us know what you think. All reviews are by Hummingbird contributors. Barry Novick stepped up first.

The Vanishing Half

by Brit Bennett

Rating: Strongly Recommend

A book about the connection between twin sisters born in rural Louisiana who find that despite leading distinct and separate lives they could not escape their past and who they are. No matter how carefully one structures their life, things have a way of surfacing, bringing them back to the people, places and things they are trying to avoid. The story spans three generations from the 1940s through the 1990s. Characters and their environments are well developed and the times and lifestyles very accurately depicted, including and especially racial inequities. Both outside and within the African American community, prejudice exists. Extremely well-written. Strongly recommended!
Reviewed by Barry Novick

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Barry Novick

Barry Novick became a real estate broker on the North Fork, after moving here from Manhattan with his family 25+ years ago. Barry is well-known in the community as an all-around great guy, and as the ultimate real estate professional. He has brokered land, residential and commercial properties, including brokering the most vineyards on the East End over the industry’s history. After growing up just outside of Washington, D.C., Barry earned his B.S. in Anthropology at the University of Maryland, which prepared him well for his business career in NYC. In recounting his youth in Washington, Barry notes riding the “Congressional subway” between the House and Senate along with Representatives, Senators, and a Vice President or two. He and his friends often sat in on open sessions, when they weren’t catapulting ravines at Great Falls, and other great things kids did then. Due to surviving all of the above, Barry wanes philosophical and is known for his somewhat hysterical sense of humor. He is probably the best friend a person could have. He and his wife live in Sag Harbor and Brooklyn Heights, and are always nearby his amazing daughter and son-in-law, and their extraordinary children.