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

Generational Timeline.

The story is a beautiful melodrama with an ending where one can dream of endless possibilities. Hattie is many women, an elder to be adored, woman to be understood and a mother not unknown to many of us. Still, l’d definitely enjoy afternoon tea or even cordial with her. Great listen and I loved the switch up in the middle!

One of the greatest books of all time!

This is easily one of the best books I have listened too. In a word this work is BRILLIANT! What Ms. Mathis does with language and imagery awes me at every step. The structure, the style, the prose - all perfection.

good read

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

yes, at parts I did not want to stop listening

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I could almost visualize the character speaking as the narrator was reading, the narrator was that good.

Who was the most memorable character of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) and why?

Hattie, of course!

Any additional comments?

did not like the way it ended...an abrupt end...but then, maybe I did not want it to end!

Good one!!

I like the way this book was written, it was a great find!! I would highly recommend it. I looked forward to listening to this one every chance I had!!

Insightful

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

. Yes. You miss some of the in depth meanings and strength of characters on just one read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hattie for her strength of character and freedom of spirit

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

To portray each character with honesty

There's the Potential of a Good Book Here

This book was beautifully performed but the book itself failed to develop any one character enough to engage me. I did finish the read but, overall, it failed to intertwine the stories of the children enough to develop enough depth to hold my interest. At times, I wasn't sure who was who and why I cared. I admired Hattie's struggle and thought the story did portray the difficult and tragic lives of the times and the people.

third time is the charm, once i got the hang of it

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

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

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

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

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

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

Who was the most memorable character of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) and why?

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.

Any additional comments?

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.

none<br />

good book.but I hate being forced giving a review because I haven't finished it yet because I fell asl3ep before the end

Love this story

Just read it ! You will enjoy it ! Hattie is in everyone! I need more !! Part 2 please

Riveting

So many emotions and so much truth. I tried to save it. Good reading. I would recommend this book.