Nobodys Magic, Destiny O. Birdsong
Nobodys Magic, Destiny O. Birdsong
2 Rating(s)
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
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Nobody's Magic

Author: Destiny O. Birdsong

Narrator: Mela Lee, Tracey Leigh, Jasika Nicole

Unabridged: 12 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/08/2022


Synopsis

“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 in 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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Traci on March 06, 2022

This book is an incredibly strong debut. The dialogue is fantastic. The ways Birdsong explores language, place, family, and grief are really good. The book is so Black and unapologetically or explanatorily so. It’s three novellas and not a novel (as stated on the cover) and the stories felt too long......more

Goodreads review by Emily on February 22, 2023

Vibrant, sexy and meaningful. Through the eyes of three black women with albinism, we see the uneven journey through grief, the tension of budding romance, and the courage to defy those who would gladly hold others back, whether through good or bad intentions. Each character is witty, fiery, and com......more

Goodreads review by Kenya | Reviews May Vary on May 29, 2022

I am not sure why I didn’t realize this book it’s four separate stories. But it is. They’re all well written but I have a hard time with short stories.......more

Goodreads review by Aubrei on May 05, 2022

3.5⭐️ These are three separate stories about women with albinism who are from Shreveport, Louisiana. The setting was almost like another character, it added so much dimension to the stories and provided context to their upbringings. I feel like I know so much about the town now, even though I've neve......more

Goodreads review by Lovee on February 23, 2022

I went to undergrad about a hour south of Shreveport at thee Grambling State. I spent mannnny weekends with a Taylor family off Inwood Road. It was nostalgic reading street names, restaurants and landmarks that I can place myself at. & Louisiana terms like “the boat”! The writing is beautiful and smo......more


Quotes

“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

“Birdsong’s novel is a searing meditation on grief, female strength and self-discovery and is perfect for fans of the film Moonlight by Barry Jenkins.”—Good Morning America, GMA Buzz Pick

"With voices that are appealingly modern and distinct, the three women face hardships complicated by a history of racial and social injustice."—The Washington Post

“A powerful portrait of womanhood and the beautiful mess that comes along with it…. It’s a stunning read.”—Associated Press

“Destiny O. Birdsong brings poetic beauty to her first novel, Nobody’s Magic… The book is a feat of voice and storytelling.”—Shondaland

“[Birdsong] hasn’t just written good stories, but searing ones with unforgettable characters. These three women are so distinct and real they will undoubtedly be remembered by readers years later, the hallmark of iconic characters. Readers will come to love and know these three women so deeply, they’ll immediately recognize Nobody’s Magic’s characters if they see a Suzette & Maple & Agnes t-shirt—and likely want one, too.”—Chicago Review of Books

"Birdsong has brilliantly crafted three coming-of-age stories that glimmer with passion and purpose."—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“It is a book that transfixes and mesmerizes, so much that you find yourself staying up until the wee hours of the morning so enthralled you can’t put it down.”—Electric Literature

“Hopeful and powerful."—Ms. Magazine

“Birdsong’s writing is spellbinding and had us completely losing track of time each time we sat down to read.”—Greatist