THE BIRDS OF OPULENCE

Allyson Johnson performs a story revolving around generations of Black women in a small Kentucky town named Opulence. Minnie Mae, the matriarch of her family, strives to keep her secrets buried deep. In another family, a young widow named Francine Clark mysteriously becomes pregnant long after her husband has died. Johnson captures these beautifully written characters, imbuing her performance with all of their emotional depth and complexity. In her approach to the dialogue, Johnson seasons characters' words with just the right touches of a Southern accent. Johnson's narration highlights this novel's stunning prose, which is sure to please listeners. K.D.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]