The Book of Night Women

By: Marlon James

Narrated by: Robin Miles

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 18th 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.

©2009 Marlon James (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Both beautifully written and devastating... Writing in the spirit of Toni Morrison and Alice Walker but in a style all his own, James has conducted an experiment in how to write the unspeakable - even the unthinkable. And the results of that experiment are an undeniable success.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“The narrative voice is so assured and the descriptions so detailed and believable that one can’t help being engaged. This is a book to love.... The Book of Night Women is hard to pick up, even harder to put down...and it deserves to be read." (Chicago Tribune)

"The Book of Night Women is a searing read, full of blood, tears, and the stench of misery. It’s barbaric and ancient, but also familiar in the ways that people, consumed by their differences and divisions, easily overlook all that binds them - the desire for independence, the right to a civilized life, and the need to give and receive love.” (The Boston Globe)

Sad

I enjoyed the book. Narrator great. The story line is about slavery. Don't expect it to end well.

Fantastic, Bravo

The characters seemed so real. The visually speaking I could see the slave plantion, Lilth being born, the story unfolding which made me to want to know more.

Women's unbridled will, and resilience

A sensitive, and masterfully written narrative, weaving a symbolic, allegorical, and historic journey. Taking the reader into the lives of great women who had no voice, but their shear will to live, innate wisdom, deeply profound love, and the demons they fought daily. Broken and battered, stripped, and robbed of their dignity, and any and everything they loved or cared about. They resurrect, and transform themselves to reclaim their strength, dignity, their will to live, and their stolen and lost love. The evolution from slave to rebellious worriers, that drives them forward through pain, and hardship woven together creating, an intricate quilt of wonder and to personal triumphant.

Complicated Denouement

The writing is stellar and the pacing seems bewitched; the reader is never left bored or stranded. But the "resolution" left me frustrated and puzzled. I wasn't sure what the author really wanted his story to convey. As for the narration, honestly Robin Miles deserves all the awards. This book is not for the fainthearted.

Not for the soft skinned...

If you want to hear a story that forces you to feel the depth of oppression of enslaved black women, this will do it. At the same time it causes you to consider the oppressor's plight as well. There is a beautiful and tragic example of humanity . This was my second time listening to it and I was just as memorized as the first time I heard it. A heart wrenching and heartfelt experience each time. Thank you Marlon James and Robin Miles.

Incredible

This book made me motivated to get out of bed and start my day so I could listen on my walk into work/school. It completely absorbed me- the story, the narrator. I'm excited to read more from Marlon James. This book is at the top of my list, excellent all around. His writing style is incredible and the story is heavy.

AWESOME Narrator, Heartbreaking Story

I cannot adequately convey my admiration of the talent of the narrator. The beyond difficult Jamaican inflections were flawless, and she switched to the different characters effortlessly. Even though it is a hard story to listen to, it is history. I feel these happenings should be known by everyone to put current events into perspective. Warning! A must read...

exciting and dramaticn yet sad

great read
couldn't stop listening once I started.
I recommend this book to anyone who is open minded and eager to know about Jamaican slavery...which is not widely talked about.

Brutal but awesome

At first the Jamaican dialect was a little offsetting but I forgot about it pretty quickly. The story is great. Although there are some pretty awful things that happen to the slaves in Jamaica the women's story of strength and endurance is incredible. Well done, couldn't stop listening! Highly recommended.

love this book

this is my 3rd time reading this book and will reread it again
it needs to become a MOVIE