The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

By: Ayana Mathis

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo, Bahni Turpin, Adam Lazarre-White

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

A debut of extraordinary distinction: through the trials of one unforgettable family, Ayana Mathis tells the story of the children of the Great Migration, a story of love and bitterness and the promise of a new America.

In 1923, 15-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children, whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them for the calamitous difficulty they are sure to face in their later lives, to meet a world that will not love them.

Captured here in 12 luminous narrative threads, their lives tell the story of a mother’s monumental courage and the journey of a nation. Beautiful and devastating, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is glorious, harrowing, unexpectedly uplifting, and blazing with life.

©2013 Ayana Mathis (P)2013 Random House Audio

Finally figured out who the 12th was!

Excellent storytelling! As a Historian I loved this Intergenerational tale of Love Loss Longing and Redemption! Mathis artfully weaves together the stories of this family, keeping you at the edge of your seat as your explore the Trials Trauma and Dysfunction of Hattie’s spawn! I especially enjoyed the stories of Lloyd, Nadine, Bell and Cassie! She truly captured the ideals and cultural mores of each time period! As a Black American I saw MY family in this story! Kudos to the voice actors as well! I love when male/female characters are voiced accurately! Helps me get in deep!
Only critique is the Audiobook chapters are too short and aren’t named so it’s hard to keep track or go back if you loose your place.

Awesome

This was a well written book. I enjoyed listening to the text and am certain that is would have been a great book to read.

Confused

They story was great but it left you wanting to know more about the characters or some finality of their stories and the end just drop off like a cliffhanger… Part 2 ?

COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!

What did you like best about The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0)? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the history of the characters, however the transition from one story to the next left alot to be unanswered. It took a minute to figure each new story was relative to one of the main characters descendants.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Better transitioning from one story to the next.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Nothing

Was The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) worth the listening time?

Yes

Loved it

I struggle with the narrator, she had a monologue voice. One that could/would put you
to sleep. Also I didn't enjoy the ending, it just left
you hanging.

Loved it!

Would you listen to The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) again? Why?

This book was really good. Definitely worth the listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0)?

When Hattie left her husband.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she came back from leaving here husband

Amazing novel

Gripping from beginning to end. The characters were well developed, as well as the story line.

It was an okay book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not heavily. For a human interest piece, it was a well-written and assembled novel. However, the interest and reader involvement wasn’t high. A story that doesn’t involve the reader can still be a good story. But a story that draws you in is quite a different experience. This book, this set of stories about Hattie and her marriage, relationships with her children and other man, while interesting, does not draw you into the experience. While reading I could have put the book down at any moment and not picked it back up.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ayana Mathis? Why or why not?

Maybe, depends on what other choices are out there. I would probably not read from this author again, while the book was interesting, it wasn’t really worth my time.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I liked Ella the best, the story of Hattie’s child given up to her sister. I think a close second would be the gay son, as his struggle with sexuality and the shame he felt was superbly portrayed.

Did The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) inspire you to do anything?

I guess I think differently about experiences people had during that time period.

Great listen

I enjoyed this book, it kept you not wanting to stop listening. Great story line. You Eli enjoy it. Thanks

Great story!

Great story and great delivery. This is the first book I listened to on audible and I loved it. Fantastic!