• The Book of Night Women

  • By: Marlon James
  • Narrated by: Robin Miles
  • Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,142 ratings)

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The Book of Night Women  By  cover art

The Book of Night Women

By: Marlon James
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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Publisher's summary

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)

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What listeners say about The Book of Night Women

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Brilliant!

All aspects of this audible book are phenomenal. The narration was magical, the characters unforgettable and the story one of passion, courage and unfathomable hardship. I couldn’t stop listening and wished it would not end.

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Couldn't stop listening

Very captivating. A must read. Couldn't stop listening. Wanted to know what was going to happen next, so I couldn't put it down.

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Worth a Listen

Interesting story within the tight confines of slavery in Jamaica before 1800. The narrator, Robin Miles did a superb job! Long story which was somewhat redundant but overall a good listen.

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Great performance

Although heartbreaking in many places it was a great story. The narrator was amazing.

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I felt like i was there. Great book !

Great book and the reader was amazing 👏. I felt like I was there. I definitely recommend.

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Brutal story, beautifully told.

The narrator brings the dialect of the book to life. This is a story of enslaved people , told in the first person. I found the perspective invaluable and profoundly moving.

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Check plus

Exhausting and so enlightening. You will reflect on this narrative for a long time. Thinking about our past contributes to thinking about our present.
Please read!

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Heartbreakingly Good

The Book of Night Women is as amazing as it is difficult to listen to. The narration may be some of the best I've heard with the characters being distinct and easy to identify despite the difference in race, sex, and nationality. Robin's accents and different voices are remarkable. Marlon's story will break your heart over and over; stories like this are very necessary and don't receive the attention they deserve.

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superb story superb narrator

Everyone needs to hear this story. Horrific details but no doubt true. can't recommend enough!

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Harsh Reality

This is a painful book to read. I had to push my way through it. Those that have some foolish notion that slavery was tolerable should experience this book.

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