Brown Girl in the Ring

Kudos to Recorded Books for creating a line of audio books written and narrated by people of color.

Nalo Hopkinson's first novel shows exceptional powers of imagination and compassion. Her ear for dialect is superb (well, based on my limited knowledge of dialect) and the narration brings it alive. I am a little disappointed that the narrator is male, since the author and main protagonist are female, but it's a minor complaint.

Note that as it is a horror genre book, there's a lot of violence and torture.

If you like Neil Gaiman's works, especially Anansi Boys, you'll like this book.

Very interesting book full of creepy voodoo, magic and healing. This is a good tale of a girl transitioning to womanhood, going through some tough changes, and stepping into her grandmother's shoes to become the neighborhood healer.
A little political commentary, a little sex, a little abuse and torture - and a lot of peculiar characters, human and otherwise. Something for everyone.

This is now one of my favorite stories. It took me some time to get into it at the beginning, as well as to get accustomed to the narrator. After a couple chapters or so, it quickly picked up the pace and intrigued me with twist and turns to the end. Great job.

I appreciate the story on all of its levels. It presented so many issues. Social and Political, modern practice of ancestral practices, connecting with spirits, poverty, crime.... all exist in this story centered around one woman's quest to find herself.

This story was colorful, heartfelt. Warm and cold.

The story definitely has elements that challenge the western approach to healing and living. It does so in a way that does not demonize those who practice it.

I love the Author's descriptive writing style, I can connect to the story and all my senses are activated.

I have never listened to Peter Jay Fernandez, and he is amazing! The story is written in a patois and he performs it in a way that is still understandable.

The line in the sand has been drawn.... which side are you on?

I actually picked up this book a few years ago at the library and I was distracted by other books; I couldn't get through it. I'm glad I found it in this form because it is truly enjoyable.