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The Book of Night Women Audiobook
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(4.00) - 1,588 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the author of the National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf and the WINNER of the 2015 Man Booker Prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings "An undeniable success.” — The New York Times Book Review The Book of Night Women is a sweeping, startling novel, a true tour de force of both voice and storytelling. It is the story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the eighteenth century. Even at her birth, the slave women around her recognize a dark power that they—and she—will come to both revere and fear. The Night Women, as they call themselves, have long been plotting a slave revolt, and as Lilith comes of age and reveals the extent of her power, they see her as the key to their plans. But when she begins to understand her own feelings and desires and identity, Lilith starts to push at the edges of what is imaginable for the life of a slave woman in Jamaica, and risks becoming the conspiracy’s weak link. Lilith’s story overflows with high drama and heartbreak, and life on the plantation is rife with dangerous secrets, unspoken jealousies, inhuman violence, and very human emotion—between slave and master, between slave and overseer, and among the slaves themselves. Lilith finds herself at the heart of it all. And all of it told in one of the boldest literary voices to grace the page recently—and the secret of that voice is one of the book’s most intriguing mysteries.
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"this is one of those can't get anything else done kind of books. i enjoyed the read even though the subject matter is painful. is this book really fiction? I feel like so much of this story is historically true- at least these are painful stories that have been whispered through generations of people of African decent. Thank you Marlon James for weaving this tale.."
— Latressa (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2009 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
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Winner of Dayton Literary Peace Prize
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Winner of National Book Critics Circle Awards
The Book of Night Women Listener Reviews
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Ell Bav, 2/27/2023
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ROSHANNA CLAYTON, 8/9/2014
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" Brutal and searing and really hard to put down. "
— Anna, 2/18/2014 -
" This was a hard read. The story was interesting, but so many horrible things happened, that it was hard to keep going at some points. The dialect also took some adjustment. "
— Allison, 2/18/2014 -
" well...all I can say is, if American slavery were like that practiced in the Caribbean, it's a wonder we didn't have more Nat Turners. This book is disturbing and brilliant. You'll be thinking about it weeks and months after you finish. "
— Bravegirl01, 2/17/2014 -
" For the first 2/3, I would have given this book a much higher rating, but the last third just fell apart for me. The ending felt very rushed, and for a book about the night women, not enough time was spent exploring the mutiny they were planning. "
— Amy, 2/5/2014 -
" Marlon was on our panel at the PEN festival this year. "
— Noreen, 1/29/2014 -
" Must listen to audio-book to truly appreciate the characters. "
— Sonya, 1/28/2014 -
" An amazing, devastating novel. This book rendered me useless for an entire day -- I could not put it down. Brutal, but beautifully written. A must-read. "
— Paula, 1/24/2014 -
" I really love this book. It took me a chapter to catch on to the accent which really adds a whole other dimension to the story. I highly recommend this book. I hope someone I know reads it soon so we can talk about it. "
— Angela, 1/17/2014 -
" This was a really good book and not at all depressing like most slavery books. "
— Ghira, 1/16/2014 -
" Get the audiobook read by Robin Miles. She has an awesome voice. "
— Helen, 1/13/2014 -
" This book is violent, vulgar, and aggressive. It's also so intense and engrossing. I almost made someone read it aloud to me as I cooked, I couldn't be away from the words or Lilith. So beautiful. I liked this much more than James's first book and I can't wait for him to write some more. "
— Emilie, 1/7/2014 -
" Oh my gosh!! I cant put this book down I want to forget evrything around me and finish this book. It is a must read so far this year. "
— Annette, 12/9/2013 -
" This book gave me a headache...ugh "
— Krista, 10/28/2013 -
" A difficult book to stick with but worth it. "
— Marcy, 10/7/2012 -
" Super absorbing and compelling, but heavy and graphic. Not a light read. "
— Sarah, 10/3/2012 -
" Original and riveting. I worship at the altar of Marlon James "
— Erika, 9/19/2012 -
" Possibly the most brutal, violent book I've ever read. Difficult, on so many levels. "
— Ann, 6/22/2012 -
" High 4. Would likely be a 5 if only I had actually read it instead of listening to it in the car. "
— Sarah, 4/20/2012 -
" Hard book, fantastic dialogue, incredible suffering from one human to another. History of slavery and what it took to survive is riviting. Must read. "
— Mary, 5/13/2011 -
" Disturbing, yet beautiful account of history and the endurance of the human spirit. "
— Sara, 5/5/2011 -
" Even though this book was well researched, the characters well developed, the setting clearly established, the whole thing felt like an elaborate S&M porn novel. "
— Jenna, 4/1/2011 -
" Very very serious stuff. But engrossing. Increased my horror at the practice of slavery. Would recommend this to adults. "
— Sue, 2/24/2011 -
" well...all I can say is, if American slavery were like that practiced in the Caribbean, it's a wonder we didn't have more Nat Turners. This book is disturbing and brilliant. You'll be thinking about it weeks and months after you finish. "
— Bravegirl01, 2/24/2011 -
" Here as part of the slavery spiral. Very intense, very moving and somehow totally credible. Reached me in ways Morrison's Beloved did not. "
— penelopewanders, 2/20/2011 -
" This book is about slaves on sugar plantations in Jamaica in the 1700's. The narrator thus far is fascinating...one of the most talented I've heard yet! I highly recommend this book :) "
— Christina, 2/1/2011 -
" This was a really good book and not at all depressing like most slavery books. "
— Ghira, 2/1/2011 -
" WOW...truly amazing story! The narration was spot on! This book is a must listen but is not for the weak at heart. "
— Mischelle, 1/26/2011 -
" I had a hard time with the spoken language in 'The Book of Night Women'. The almost continuous violence also made it hard for me to read. Perhaps I'm simply not ready for such an unflinching look at what plantation life was really like for the slaves. It's not a bad book, just unsanitized. "
— Livia, 1/23/2011
About Marlon James
Marlon James is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Black Leopard, Red Wolf. His book A Brief History of Seven Killings won the Man Booker Prize, the American Book Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Book of Night Women won the Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as the NAACP Image Award. He is a professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
About Robin Miles
Robin Miles, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, an Audie Award for directing, and many Earphones Awards. Her film and television acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, Primary Colors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, New York Undercover, National Geographic’s Tales from the Wild, All My Children, and One Life to Live. She regularly gives seminars to members of SAG and AFTRA actors’ unions, and in 2005 she started Narration Arts Workshop in New York City, offering audiobook recording classes and coaching. She holds a BA degree in theater studies from Yale University, an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate from the British American Drama Academy in England.