Praise Song for the Butterflies

A Novel

By: Bernice L. McFadden

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Abeo Kata lives a comfortable, happy life in West Africa as the privileged nine-year-old daughter of a government employee and stay-at-home mother. But when the Katas' idyllic lifestyle takes a turn for the worse, Abeo's father, following his mother's advice, places the girl in a religious shrine, hoping that the sacrifice of his daughter will serve as atonement for the crimes of his ancestors. Unspeakable acts befall Abeo for the 15 years she is held in the shrine. When she is finally rescued, broken and battered, she must struggle to overcome her past, endure the revelation of family secrets, and learn to trust and love again.

In the tradition of Chris Cleave's Little Bee, this novel is a contemporary story that offers an eye-opening account of the practice of ritual servitude in West Africa. Spanning decades and two continents, Praise Song for the Butterflies will break your heart and then heal it.  

"An engrossing novel that truly is a praise song for survivors everywhere." (Kirkus Reviews)

"A tale set in [West Africa], where a girl is given up by her family, endures a very hard life, and, once set free, must find a way to heal and live forward." (Philadelphia Inquirer, included in Must-Read Books for Summer 2018)

"Recent favorites [at Mahogany Books in Washington, DC] include...award-winning novelist Bernice L. McFadden's forthcoming Praise Song for the Butterflies, about a nine-year-old West African girl sacrificed into religious servitude." (Vanity Fair, included in a feature on Mahogany Books)

©2018 Bernice L. McFadden (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Searing!

I've been waiting all summer for this audiobook's release. Bernice McFadden is one of my favorite writers. She's a master of spare language; of the sharp detail that will unravel a tale as dark as any in the news. The image of a peanut rolling up to a yellow flip-flop and catalyses dreadful action is burned into my mind's eye.

"Praise Song" is in the expert hands of narrator Robin Miles and I can hardly think of anyone who could relate each character's flaws and troubles, as well as tenderness, with so much grace.

Great read!

This was a wonderful book! My only wish is that it was longer. The narrator was second to none(Robin Miles never disappoints)! I recommend.

Amazing story, title makes perfect sense

Bernice McFadden!!!! The journeys you take us on, the way in which your works cause us to evolve in our own lives!!!!

I truly felt this story, I saw the story play out as I listened to Robin Miles work her narrative magic.

This is a book to be read more than once as so many ideas about the rightness of life are challenged!!!

If I had a book club this would be read immediately!!!
This book touched my soul in a way that The Bluest Eye did many moons ago.....

The God of your understanding, perfect!

Some books change your life, validate your life, challenge your life, expand your life.

All of the above.

Horrible System, Wonderful Storytelling

I devour Bernice McFadden books. I finished this in a day because I couldn't stop listening. I was horrified to listen and learn that this has existed for 300 years. Young girls and women are always the sacrifice in every culture. As with all of her other books, the characters are well developed and the story is engrossing. There was one part that left me unsatisfied, i wanted some suffering for the others, but the story didn't lack anything because of it. The narrator always does a great job. It's a quick listen and worth every minute.

Inspiring & Introspective

I loved everything...everything about this story! The journey of this family is common no matter the race or creed. Lies destroy the family structure. Unmasking the lies allow truth to be the bond that causes forgiveness. True healing comes from the inside out, whereby giving love permision to thrive and the soul the strength to survive so the spirit can fly. This story creatively and completely embodies the true meaning of inner beauty, inner forgiveness and inner love. Bravo to the author!

WONDERFUL AND MOVING.

A wonderful moving listen the narrator did an outstanding job and you could tell one character from another. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio i went through the whole range of emotions.

Beautifully crafted storytelling!

A masterfully written story of love, loss, betrayal and resilience. So we'll paved and lyrically written.

Great book-Don’t listen at work

I am never disappointed by A book from Bernice McFadden and this was no exception. My only problem was that I listened to it at work and between me yelling out OMG and crying periodically I think my coworkers think I’ve lost my mind.

An incredible and beautiful story

This audio book is simply magnificent. The beautiful African accents are second only to the amazing story. A story of cruelty, great love, forgiveness, and new life. Read it!!

Good story, lacked depth

I enjoyed the writing but the story left me wishing for more depth. I feel like it moved too quickly from characheter to character and didn't focus enough on telling the story of endangered servitude. Having just finished Sugar and This Bitter Earth, I was looking forward to the same level of intamcy.

Heartbreaking, but a great read.

Before listening to this remarkable novel I had never heard of the Tokosi shrine practises perpetrated against young west African girls. The narrative was shocking but it was beautifully written and sensitively handled.
I empathised with the plight of all the women in the book. They were all damaged in some way by men, whether it was at the hands of cruel, abusive priests or by patriarchal family situations that allowed travesties to take place.
This is a novel which explores the powerlessness of girls and young women in some societies where traditional practises and religion take precedence over progress, natural justice and equality. It is not anti-men, but it does question the abusive use of power by some men against women. I really loved the fact that the redemption of the female characters was brought about, in the main, by independent women who were determined to make a difference.
A really powerful novel, beautifully narrated.