The different stories, each written from the perspective of a different character and time period, made for an interesting read. Also, Hattie and her children lived fascinating lives with clear connections to the history and culture of the time. However, the story line did not draw me in sufficiently.

I love this book. It just demonstates so much passion, and unconditional love. Hattie is an amazing strong woman who despite her wants and needs lives for her children.

The most memorable moment in the book was when Lawrence introduces Belle to Hattie. Later I saw a great love when Hattie took care of Belle when she was dying.

This is a well written book, that really demonstrates the theory of "show don't tell". The author takes us through the life of Hattie and her descendants in a captivating way.

In the Alice and Billups chapter, when Alice finds out who Billups has been seeing (don't want to spoil this for anyone) and her reaction.

Bell.

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie - "Descendants of Job"

As usual, Oprah picks a pretty depressing story. But it is well written and the performances are excellent. It was worth the time spent listening to it.

I liked how the story spanned many decades, it made you see the changes of time.
I did not like the fact that each character was introduced, but then you never find out what happens to them later in their life. I also didn't like how the story had no beginning, middle and end. It was just a story about a bitter woman's sad life that never changed for the good or the bad.

The most interesting aspect was learning about Jim Crow laws and the role of Philadelphia as an opportunity for southern African Americans. The least interesting was Hattie's life.

When Bell (I think) goes to the medicine woman's house for juju

no

Disappointed in the story. It only gave a glimpse into the lives of her children and Hattie never grew as a person. Life doesn't always have happy endings but that's why I read books. If I wanted to witness a sad story about someone who never grew, I could just look around me.

the reality of the whole story. i wasn't there but i got a sense of how it must have been.

i was touched by the love and helplessness when hattie's twins came and went.

the voice of the female was simple and even toned. the voice of the male was very appropriate for the man.

hattie of course. she represented the manner in which love and matter of fact was in a female mother of 12 would be in those days.

it took me two or three starts before i got the lay out of the stories and one simple word could make you see the character in your minds eye. being only partially sighted, that's the only eye i can see out of.

As far as the content of the book, I loved it. I found the reader quite distracting to the story, however.

Hattie was the centerpiece, but I found her husband to be the most interesting. It was fascinating to see his perspective on their life and marriage in contrast to her's.

The reader had very awkward timing and phrasing. It wasn't smooth and consistent. She did well on dialogue, but the narrative was disjointed at times. The male reader was excellent. He had a magnificent voice and was absolutely believable.

No. It was easy to listen in chapters.

Very seldom does a book make me cry, but this one really touched my heart. The author caught the emotion and drama of a struggling family with too many mouths to feed and too few resources. It's also a solidifies the fact that even imperfect parents can be loved by their children. A wonderful book.

I am glad that I listened to this book because I don't think I could have stuck with it in print. Given the Oprah connection, I am happy to have it in my library. Parts of it I loved, but other parts....

possibly

angelou mayas Blue

the different voices and readers was effective....

no...too complex...too many characters

I'm tired of the constant theme of Oprahs bookclub....the Black plight.

There was no redeeming character throughout the book... no positives in the picture of society it painted. I know their lives were very difficult but wish the author had more compassion for the characters.

Engaging Beautiful Sad

I loved hearing the narrator read the accents that sound like home (I live far away now). Her voice is beautiful and easy to listen to.

Recommend