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Dispossession  By  cover art

Dispossession

By: Tayari Jones
Narrated by: Gabrielle Union
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Publisher's summary

From Tayari Jones, author of the New York Times best-selling An American Marriage, and performed by Gabrielle Union, one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, comes an unflinching story about mothers and sons that will leave listeners reeling for days.

Motherhood isn’t easy, especially when you’re a mother of a Black son. Ten years ago, Cheryl jumped at the chance to send her son, Javonte, to an exclusive boarding school in New England - far away from Atlanta and the violence of the city streets. It was the American dream, or was it? Now settled in Vermont, Javonte is married and well-employed, but Cheryl hardly ever sees him, and when she does, her own son seems like someone she only used to know. So, when Javonte announces he’s coming home to Atlanta for MLK weekend, Cheryl calls off work, thinking this could be their chance to reconnect.

But a few days before the visit, Javonte cancels his trip.

After begging for the hours back at the white glove moving company where she works, Cheryl accepts a last-minute gig in her own neighborhood, cheered by the idea of a Black family moving on to bigger and better. But on her way to the job site, Cheryl learns the home’s occupants aren’t moving by choice. Over the next several hours, Cheryl must reckon with her own unresolved past in this searing story about family, race, and the lasting consequences of a choice that can’t be taken back. 

©2021 Tayari Jones (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

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About the Creator

Tayari Jones is the author of four novels, most recently An American Marriage. Published in 2018, An American Marriage is an Oprah’s Book Club Selection and also appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list as well as his year-end roundup. The novel was awarded the Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange Prize), Aspen Words Prize and an NAACP Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries. Jones, a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, has also been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship, and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Her third novel, Silver Sparrow, was added to the NEA Big Read Library of classics in 2016.
Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University and the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing at Emory University.

About the Performer

Gabrielle Union is an actress, executive producer, activist, bestselling author, and most recently, a Time 100 cover honoree. Union starred opposite Jessica Alba on L.A.’s Finest, a Charter Spectrum original in which she was also an executive producer through her production shingle, I’ll Have Another Productions. The show received a 13-episode straight-to-season order for season one, and season two premiered on September 9, 2020. FOX picked up season one as part of their fall 2020 slate and it premiered on that network on September 21, 2020. Union formed I’ll Have Another in 2018 with the goal of telling stories centered on marginalized communities with their specific points of view in an authentic manner. In 2020, Union released her first children’s book Welcome to the Party, which was inspired by the birth of her daughter.
Union has a strong eye for business; she is a co-founder of the organic snack foods company Bitsy’s, and in August 2020, Union relaunched her hair care brand Flawless for women with natural hair to rave reviews. She is also the face of NY&Co’s 7th Avenue collection and has her own exclusive namesake collection through the brand. Her book We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated and True was released in 2017 and instantly became a New York Times best seller. Union serves as a leader and advocate for inclusion in the entertainment industry. She is also a champion of breast health and combating sexual violence.

Featured Article: The Best Black Audiobook Narrators to Listen to Right Now


A skilled performer has the ability to take the written word to new heights, infusing an author’s work with empathy, warmth, and excitement. And representation matters just as much for audio as it does for any visual medium: listeners should feel and hear themselves in art driven by powerful performers and authentic deliveries. We’ve gathered a few of the best Black audiobook narrators in the business and their can't-miss performances.

Audible Questionnaire with Gabrielle Union.

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What listeners say about Dispossession

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Wanted more

I love Tayari Jones and my only negative comment is that I wanted a bit more from this story. So, it’s a short story and maybe that’s the point? Still love her writing.

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14 people found this helpful

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Brilliant Storyline.

WOW! What a powerful story that got me back 40 years. The story was so rich and descriptive. It was like I was there myself. Brilliant author. Phenomenal narrator!

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13 people found this helpful

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I Wanted More

As a mother of a teenage Black male, this story drew me in. I could relate to her plight of feeling like sometimes no matter what you do as a mother it's never enough, yet you just keep trying. I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted to more about the family dynamics. The narration was spot on. I definitely want to hear more from this author. Her writing is eloquent, relatable and evokes emotion.

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12 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Hmmmm....

I do not understand why this short story is so incomplete? It feels like Tayari Jones could not tie it together. As parents we try to do what we think is best for our children. Most times that leaves someone disappointed...us, them...or both. That is the case in this story parents are disappointed and child is angry all are broke hearted. The disconnect comes in the lost in life the mother is suffering through and why???? Her current situation has nothing to do with her past, yet she is stuck and full of regret. I keep feeling like I missed something significant in the story... I did the point and/or plot of it all.

The narrator Gabrielle Union tried to save this story but her acting did not transfer to successful narration. She is reading and that is not what narrators should do. They should become each character and make them different and unique. You should be able to distinguish them from each other.

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9 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Moving Tale of A Mother

I enjoyed this moving, poignant story. Narrator Gabrielle Union deftly conveys main character Cheryl’s struggles and regrets.

If you are a parent, this short story will make you think twice about the things you do in the name of what's best for your child and the consequences of your choices.

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5 people found this helpful

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wonderful and heartfelt

the story is rememberable and the reader is remarkable! I love the soothing sound of her voice. would like follow the reader. ha.

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4 people found this helpful

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Good but...

It's actually a 3.5 stars for me.
I really liked this story, the narration was pretty good too; however, something lacked for me.
Maybe im just not used to short stories but i definitely needed a bit more of this. I wanted the story to continue and get to know a bit more about Jevante and more family details.

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3 people found this helpful

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Thought provoking...

A short story that will produce a long train of thought, expertly narrated. I thoroughly enjoyed.

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3 people found this helpful

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So Powerful

This story is complex, deep, and densely meaningful. The narration is perfect. I am enjoying turningbthe story over and arpund in my mind like a jewel- so many facets.

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2 people found this helpful

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I feel like the story needed an ending

I needed to hear more. It was worth listening to because the story was well written and interesting but incomplete.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • EmmaRay
  • 06-25-23

Beautiful

A beautiful story the narration was perfect. Really enjoyed this wish it had been longer.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 03-24-23

Beautifully narrated and poignant

Beautifully narrated and poignant. Characters well drawn out. Still felt the story lacked a message

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  • Christine O-A
  • 11-23-22

Deep Short story

It was a nice listen, well narrated. No completely sure what the message is though.

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  • Dohm64
  • 04-27-22

Tayari Jones Never Misses

A beautiful, bittersweet short story wonderfully performed. Gabrielle Union is a warm and animated narrator giving this story of generational divides life

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  • P. Clancy
  • 02-16-22

good story

good story but would have liked if there was more to the story ended toofast

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  • SEH
  • 07-31-21

Heartbreaking, beautifully told story

I love this author. This short story about mothers and sons is beautifully told.

Even in such a short space of time, you feel like you know the characters so well.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-30-21

Loved this

Heartbreaking narrative of mothers and sons beautifully read. Made more meaningful in this Covid era as many suffer evictions..

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