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Nobody's Magic
- Narrated by: Mela Lee, Tracey Leigh, Jasika Nicole
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
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Nobody's Magic
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Publisher's Summary
“The magic here is not the supernatural kind, but rather an attention to the grace of the ordinary. It is the magic of watching these women come into their power.”—New York Times
A GMA Buzz Pick!
A Most Anticipated Book by Essence · The Millions · Atlantic Journal Constitution · Glamour · Teen Vogue · Bustle · BookPage · Nashville Scene · Ms. Magazine · Parnassus Musing
A Best Book of February by Washington Post · Nylon · BookRiot
In this glittering triptych novel, Suzette, Maple and Agnes, three Black women with albinism, call Shreveport, Louisiana home. At the bustling crossroads of the American South and Southwest, these three women find themselves at the crossroads of their own lives.
Suzette, a pampered twenty-year‑old, has been sheltered from the outside world since a dangerous childhood encounter. Now, a budding romance with a sweet mechanic allows Suzette to seek independence, which unleashes dark reactions in those closest to her. In discovering her autonomy, Suzette is forced to decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to make her own way in the world.
Maple is reeling from the unsolved murder of her free‑spirited mother. She flees the media circus and her judgmental grandmother by shutting herself off from the world in a spare room of the motel where she works. One night, at a party, Maple connects with Chad, someone who may understand her pain more than she realizes, and she discovers that the key to her mother's death may be within her reach.
Agnes is far from home, working yet another mind‑numbing job. She attracts the interest of a lonely security guard and army veteran who’s looking for a traditional life for himself and his young son. He’s convinced that she wields a certain “magic,” but Agnes soon unleashes a power within herself that will shock them both and send her on a trip to confront not only her family and her past, but also herself.
This novel, told in three parts, is a searing meditation on grief, female strength, and self‑discovery set against a backdrop of complicated social and racial histories. Nobody's Magic is a testament to the power of family—the ones you're born into and the ones you choose. And in these three narratives, among the yearning and loss, each of these women may find a seed of hope for the future.
Critic Reviews
"With Nobody’s Magic, Destiny Birdsong has given us a devastatingly beautiful, sexy, searing gift. I fell in love with the women Birdsong conjured so brilliantly. These are stunning, irresistible stories of Southern Black womanhood that I will return to again and again." (Deesha Philyaw, author of National Book Award 2020 finalist The Secret Life of Church Ladies)
“Nobody's Magic is an ironic title because Destiny O. Birdsong's prose is, in fact, magical. The character's wisecracks are as delicious as a po' boy, the situations are textured and sticky as the southern heat, and the histories are as thick as the bayou. We, as an audience, are ever so lucky to be along for the ride.” (Morgan Jerkins, New York Times best-selling author of Caul Baby)
“As with Destiny Birdsong’s poetry, the stories in Nobody’s Magic are striking and original, full of down-home hilarity, Black love, truth, grief, and the sometimes-uncertain roads one travels to accept the self. Birdsong’s is a powerful voice I’d follow anywhere.” (Dantiel W. Moniz, author of Milk Blood Heat)
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What listeners say about Nobody's Magic
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lady Readalot
- 25-02-2022
Wonderful tryptich of women’s stories
Nobody’s Magic
This well crafted triptych of stories centres around three Black women with Albinism living in/near Shreveport Louisiana. This was my first audiobook in a long time, and I commend the three narrators- their lilting voices were like poetry, and enhanced my whole experience of Nobody’s Magic.
Suzette is a twenty year old born to older over-protective parents. This story centres on Suzette’s awakening- she has been coddled and wrapped up away from real life. Its only when a romantic interest, Donny, comes on the scene, and encourages her to find herself, she realises how naive & sheltered she has been - that her Albinism has been used as an excuse to keep her in the dark. Awakenings upset the power balance surrounding Suzette but allow her to find her own voice, and found future.
Mapel has lived a very different life to Suzette. Brought up by a teenage mother who is judged for her free-will lifestyle. I adored this woman who encouraged Mapel to embrace her differences & be proud of who she is. This Mother & Daughter’s love is a palpable thing -until tragedy rips it away. This is a story about navigating grief. How every person experiences it differently, and where does one even start to process grief. It feels like fate has a helping hand when she meets Chad, whom she discovers he is going through his own journey of grief. Can grief be made more bearable by sharing?
Agnes is a thirty something highly educated woman who is barely keeping it together. Most of her life she has overcompensated- getting higher degrees, attempting to change her appearance, accepting abuse because she craves affirmation. Of the three stories I felt most conflicted by Agnes’s character. I switched between empathy for her childhood lost in bullying, abandonment, and later physical abuse. Whilst grappling with her adult decision making processes - it felt like she was constantly trying to poke the bear looking for an outlet for her rage. When Agnes meets security guard Prime- a war veteran- who adores her, we see her character start to unravel & the journey of self discovery- of making best life choices begin.
The stories within reflect many themes - discrimination, coming of age, courage and perseverance, love, death, grief and more. All three stories are open ended to engage the possibilities for each of them- Agnes story felt very unresolved for me- but understandable given I felt she had the most growth to her journey.
Every now and then you come across a book so beautifully written- the words mesmerising- it makes for memorable reading.
4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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