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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
- Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo, Karen Chilton, Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 29 hrs and 48 mins
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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
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Summary
A top 10 New York Times best seller
An Oprah book club pick
One of Barack Obama’s favourite books of the year
A Washington Post best audiobook of 2021
A Glamour best audiobook of 2021
An Audiofile best audiobook of 2021
Immerse yourself in a celebration of Black womanhood and an epic tale of the stories that span generations.
A breath-taking debut novel that chronicles the journey of generations of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade to our own tumultuous era.
Ailey Pearl Garfield grows up between the City in the north and summers spent in her mother’s small hometown of Chicasetta, Georgia. From an early age, she finds herself in a battle for belonging that’s made all the more difficult by a hurt in her past, as well as the whispers of women—her mother, Belle, her sister, Lydia, and a maternal line reaching back two centuries—that urge Ailey to succeed in their stead.
To come to terms with her identity, Ailey embarks on a journey through her family’s past, uncovering the shocking tales of generations of ancestors—Indigenous, Black, and white—in the deep South. In doing so Ailey must learn to embrace her full heritage, a legacy of oppression and resistance, bondage and independence, cruelty and resilience that is the story—and the song—of America itself.
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION • SHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE ASPEN LITERARY PRIZE
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
"Astonishing.... I lived in this novel for three weeks. It is long. It is a journey. It is something so remarkable I’m not sure we collectively ever even dreamed it." (Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple)
"Deeply moving.... it is magnificent." (Sarah Winman, author of Still Life)
"An exceptional, absolutely transfixing audio version of a monumental work." (Washington Post)
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What listeners say about The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
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- Lisson Girl
- 03-08-22
Outstanding!
An extraordinary book. The story is so rich and well told that I found I could stop until my curiosity had been satisfied. Be warned though, some passages are harrowing.
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- Janet Turner
- 28-07-22
Love, love, loved this book.
I wish were more articulate but sadly, I am not good at verbalising my thoughts. Suffice to say, this is an amazing novel with engaging characterisations, and it is beautifully narrated. Though it is a novel, the research that went into ensures that so much is based on fact, it makes me ashamed of how we have, and continue to treat other human beings.
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- Chrisanthi Nallaiah
- 21-05-22
Slow burner but worth every minute
Slow burner but well worth persevering. It’s shines a light on current days issues but at the same time shows how these issues have remained consistent throughout history. Thought provoking and full of feeling.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Liz H
- 03-01-23
An exceptional novel.
I loved this book. it is superbly researched and I was grateful for the bibliographic signposts at the end. I listened to it over the last week and I cannot stop thinking about it. I'd like to read the print version as well and have the family tree in print to better figure out the connections.
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- Wowbagger_The_Third
- 24-07-23
This had such an impact on me
When I was young, Roots had this massive impact on me despite being as far from that world as I could be. This book has had a similar deep impact on me, entering into my subconscious in dreams and I’m sure it will stay with me for a very long time. Powerful, important and everything a novel should be.
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- Lauren Hicks
- 19-08-22
A crucial masterpiece...
Never have I written a review, however so moved am I, by 'Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois', I am here exclaiming how beautiful, lyrical, heartbreaking and absolutely necessary this book is. The incredible Ms. Honorée Jeffers took me to a deep dark place in history, where through bravery of the human spirit, there shone light. There was power, just waiting for it's turn to rise up, as a consequence of utter brutal abuse, cruelty & suffering. I consider myself schooled after listening to this, as I searched out the writings of W.E.B Du Bois. Which like Ms Jeffers beautiful novel, made my heart sing. So I implore anyone reading this review.... Go listen to this. Your conscience will never be the same.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kasia
- 22-01-22
Great story!
I was immersed in this story for a month and got used to the main characters thanks to the great narration as they felt quite close and likeable. Yes, it takes 29 hours to listen the whole audiobook but it is worth your time.
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- NR
- 07-10-22
important story
wonderful how the history of the land is intervoven into the story.
important to think about this
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 27-08-22
Absolutely superb
A faultless and completely engaging story coupled with fantastic narration,the span of the story,the history and the detail made me feel so much emotion .This is one of those books that will stay with me and is the best of writing,a writer who deserves the praise 🙂
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dougie
- 08-08-22
fascinating
thoroughly enjoyed the story of the multiple generations, fascinating insight into what each has has to face and overcome.
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