That single sentence became the foundation for Bennett’s new book, “The Vanishing Half,” a novel that has topped bestseller lists this summer and spurred a Hollywood bidding war. Her mother was born and raised in rural Louisiana in a small town named Palmetto, while Bennett grew up in Oceanside in San Diego County. In the opening pages, Desiree reappears in Mallard, a fictional town based on Bennett’s mother’s tossed-off memory. One of the ways that I wanted to deviate from that was I didn’t want to write a moralizing story. When: 6 p.m. Pacific time Aug. 25Where: Free virtual book talk livestreaming on The Times Facebook page.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 12, 2020 13:52 UTC