Witness

Stories

By: Jamel Brinkley

Narrated by: Karen Chilton, Korey Jackson

From a National Book Award finalist, Witness is an elegant, insistent narrative of actions taken and not taken.

What does it mean to take action? To bear witness? What does it cost?

In these ten stories, each set in the changing landscapes of contemporary New York City, a range of characters—from children to grandmothers to ghosts—live through the responsibility of perceiving and the moral challenge of speaking up or taking action. Though they strive to connect, to remember, to stand up for, and to really see each other, they often fall short, and the structures they build around these ambitions and failures shape not only their own futures but the legacies and prospects of their families and their city.

In its portraits of families and friendships lost and found, the paradox of intimacy, the long shadow of grief, the meaning of home, Witness enacts its own testimony. Here is a world where fortunes can be made and stolen in just a few generations, where strangers might sometimes show kindness while those we trust—doctors, employers, siblings—too often turn away, where joy comes in snatches: flowers on a windowsill, dancing in the street, glimpsing your purpose, change on the horizon.

With prose as upendingly beautiful as it is artfully, seamlessly crafted, Jamel Brinkley offers nothing less than the full scope of life and death and change in the great, unending drama of the city.

©2023 Jamel Brinkley (P)2023 Recorded Books

Life collection

I couldn't get into these disjointed stories. some had me wanting more; others just scratching my head.

Excellent writing and narration BUT

The stories are so deeping depressing that I have decided to bail. The characters are well-drawn and realistic. I can handle the sadness and truth about how awful so many peoples' lives are. Or I I thought I could handle the truth. In fact, I was overwhelmed by the despair I felt half way through. Maybe the stories get a bit lighter? I have chosen to save the bit of serenity I still possess and not find out.Brilliant writing and narration though.

Window of life

Looking through the windows of life thru others perspectives Ones life is never what it seem

Stupid

The characters were not good and the reader was horrible. Sorry audible you mislead me on the book.

The writer’s literary skill

The metaphors and turns of phrases were incredible. The vocabulary was on point and extensive. I enjoyed listening to the melodic storytelling. Sometimes I didn’t know a story had ended, until we were in the next one. The narrators were excellent. The POV is strongly masculine.

Beautiful Stories

I found something incredible in every story. Each makes you think and feel often taking you through emotions from loneliness to acceptance. What a fantastic listen!!

Profanity

This is my first time writing a review. Unfortunately I did not like this book. The profanity was not necessary for the storyline, and actually was a deterrent. 

Depressing!

Not much else to say except I can’t believe I paid good money to get so depressed…

Powerful & Perfect

The arrangement of words in each story is lovely, gut-wrenching, authentic, and so impactful.

The final chapter/story was my favorite, but they were all good.