Women of Brewster Place

Written by Gloria Naylor

Narrated by Tonya Pinkins

Winner of The National Book Award. An extraordinary novel of violence, degradation, and rising courage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HighBridge Audio
• Release date: Sep 17, 2008
• ISBN: 9781598877243

Gloria Naylor

Gloria Naylor (1950–2016) grew up in New York City. She received her bachelor of arts in English from Brooklyn College and her master of arts in Afro-American Studies from Yale University. Her first novel, The Women of Brewster Place, won the National Book Award. She is also the author of Linden Hills, Mama Day, Bailey's Cafe, The Men of Brewster Place, and the fictionalized memoir 1996.  

Reviews for Women of Brewster Place

[schmerguls · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Women of Brewster Place, by Gloria Naylor (read 16 Oct 2016) (National Book Award for First Novel in 1983) Inever heard of theis book till its author died on 28 Sep 2016 but then decided to read it. It is a gritty account of slum life in a street called Brewster Place. Not much good happens there, though the main character. Mattie Michael is an appealing character and strives to hlep her family and friends. But there are jarring descriptions of a baby being bitten by a rat and similar events of urban slum life, including a almost unreadable account of a woman being raped multiple times. I found it a depressing book to read, though the writing is very vivid and gut -wrenching. And the end of the book is dreary and non-inspirimg.

[chrisblocker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gorgeous novel with compelling characters and several interesting plot lines. I enjoyed most how Naylor effectively utilized symbols which could very easily have been cliche.

[g33kgrrl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book tells the story of various female inhabitants of a specific housing area, after it had turned into housing for African Americans. The chapters are chronological, so the reader is taken along in time, and you see how the street evolves over time.This was good, and I enjoyed reading it, but to some extent I do think it showed its age - especially in the last chapter, which made me a bit uncomfortable thematically and very uncomfortable in the somewhat graphic description of sexual violence.

[mpar319 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was a very good book. I would recommend it for anyone to read. I loved how detailed the book was in its description of each character. It was so well descripted that I felt as if I knew each person in the book. The book is also very interesting it is very hard to put down the book in certain spots. All of the women described in the book are completely different, but they all live in the same area. I think by changing the focus of the character causes the reader to never be bored. But at the same time for some of the characters I wanted to know more about them and what happened to them.

[tzelman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Painful, eloquent, strongly anti-male. The difficulties of women living on a NYC slum street.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't believe this stands up to the quality of the counter collection, The Men of Brewster Place, but nevertheless it is an engaging puzzle of women who all live in the same area. The variety of stories and voices here make this a quick and thoughtful read which I'd recommend to anyone, either as a somewhat broken novel or as a wonderfully woven together collection of short stories. It is something to enjoy and treasure.

[jelliclejule · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The truth is ugly and disturbing, but humanity if beautiful. Written in sharp, lyrical prose, TWOBP cuts straight through the shallow perceptions made about poor, black women and forces you to experience their reality for 200 pages. I had to put this book down while reading many times. This is one of those novels whose words will inscribe themselves in your mind and walk with you down the streets. A necessary read for people of all races and genders, this book chronicles the lives of a diverse cast of black women in a segregated community with aching detail. Naylor chose to organize the novel into seven stories told by women from different backgrounds whose lives and distinct struggles all eventually intertwine on a street neglected by the city. Through this medium, Naylor comments on the intersection of race, class, and gender with characters who experience various other forms of oppression, like institutional racism in the justice system and homophobia, and issues of identity, like Black American vs. African Native heritage and femininity. As a bisexual woman, I found it painful to finish reading "The Two" because the lesbian protagonist endures such an accurate portrayal of misogynistic homophobia, but despite the anxiety it gave me, it was my favorite story in the collection--a powerful, graphic depiction of hate necessary to the transformation of the community. This feminist classic was especially eye-opening for me as a white reader, because no matter how many people I listen to or articles I read or classes I take, I will never fully understand the black experience because I don't live it. But when you read a book, you experience empathy in a wholly immersive environment that has the power to change even the most narrow perspectives, which is way this novel is an essential read for anyone of privileged background. I found myself first reassuring myself that the terrible acts committed against the characters are fiction, then stopping dead, because the fiction brought me closer to the truth than any news story or sociology class ever will. Brewster Place is in every city in America. These tragedies should not exist outside of fiction, but they do, every day. Read Naylor's work and discover empathy where there is hate, hope where there is oppression, and empowerment where there is community.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Stories of 7 women linked by the decent and forthright Mattie:DAWN - 4 "double units" on a dead end street {smell of vinegar douche in the street?}Ben sits and drinks on garbage can.MATTIE - why didn't her father ever figure out why she was afraid to tell him who the father was?No clue from Basil about why he left or stayed away from his Mother.ETTA MAE - sure wish she had surprised us all = Mattie, the Rev, me, and her own self!KISWANA BROWNE - annoying and selfish main character who changes and evolves the most despite thisthis chapter's contrived dialogue and plotLUCIELIA TURNER - frightening death of beloved baby - deserted by boyfriend who doesn't even come to funeralCORA LEE - disturbing refusal to use birth control and help her doll/kidsTAKE TWO = sheer horrorTHE BLOCK PARTY and DUSK = hmmmm

[librolindsay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Why, oh, why must I believe everything I read? It sets grotesquely romantic expectations of my reality, causing me to behave like a total idiot in most situations. Case in point: I made the mistake of barreling through this book during my lunch breaks and 15-minute breaks. When I wasn't slumping in my chair desperately attempting to stifle tears, I roamed the halls in a stupor, oblivious to what was going on around me. At one point, when a co-worker said, "Hey, Lindsay! What's up?" I caught myself about to mutter, "Uhhhh...rape" (which might have been kind of hilarious, if not without its repercussions).
I turned to this book purposefully after finishing East of Eden because, while it was wonderful as Steinbeck can't help but be, I had about had it with whiny men. I craved women. Strong women, three dimensional women. And I knew Gloria Naylor could deliver. My heart raced the entire time reading these stories, both for the passion and suspense. I went pages barely able to take a breath. I exhaled low moans with Lucielia and Lorraine. It made me wonder how I ever manage to move on--back to work, on to another book, overcoming a formidable challenge. Thank goodness I'm inclined to take fiction as gospel.

[barrettlucero · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Naylor gathers you up and brings you full force into this group of women, learning from them, loving with them, and mourning with them. And it's in turns wonderful and terrible. A good read to see a master of character and place, but also very important in terms of the effects of systemic racism in America.

[beth.clarke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best short story collections I'v read. Each woman's story unfolds with vivid images while they persevere through their challenges. Exceptional writing. The characterization along with the imagery made each story extraordinary.