Chrome Valley, Mahogany L. Browne
Chrome Valley, Mahogany L. Browne
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Chrome Valley
Poems

Author: Mahogany L. Browne

Narrator: Mahogany L. Browne

Unabridged: 1 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/07/2023


Synopsis

"Browne’s narration of her work is masterful, capturing a range of emotion through inflection, cadence, and volume. It’s an unfettered celebration of Black resilience that will leave listeners satisfied, yet eager to hear more from this gifted poet." - Library Journal, Starred Review
From Lincoln Center’s inaugural poet-in-residence comes this unflinching collection that intricately mines the experience of being a Black woman in America.
A highly anticipated volume from critically acclaimed poet Mahogany L. Browne, Chrome Valley is at once a luminous hymn and a battle cry. Spanning the course of her own life as well as embodying centuries of virulent history, this collection pays solemn tribute to the women who came before her. Musically effervescent yet cutting poems capture the peculiar joys and pangs of Black girlhood: “you ain’t had freedom / ’til you climb on a bus 62 / & head to the closet mall / for a girl fight”; while others explore the inherent grief of motherhood, rhythmically intoning names like the tolling of a church bell: “Because Lesley McSpadden / Because Mamie Till / Because a Black mother know ain’t no song for that empty in ya belly.” Transcendent and grounded, funny and furious, the poems within bring depth to a movement, announcing Mahogany L. Browne as one of the most important poetic voices of our time.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Roger on March 04, 2023

I wanted to love Browne’s plentiful volume of poems (over 140 pages of verses), but I grew listless from its verbosity and repetition. Many of the poems offer anecdotes, but many of them also veer off on tangents or extend to a point where they became too winded to keep my attention. Although I admi......more

Goodreads review by BookishVegan on February 02, 2023

Thank you netgalley. You are a goddess Mahogany. Thank you. Chills! I divided this into two days and savored every poem many times. Audio was spectacular. Lyricist, poet, strong woman. So moving, so raw, so rich with truth- her truth, the black American truth. I will be buying the Audio version of th......more

Goodreads review by Natasha on January 27, 2024

This felt so personal. Some lines that really stirred me: “Bruises her into a rainbow woman...” “What is a bullet. What is a bullet. A new and improved lynching.” “And the moon cannot remember when there was a warm palm to wipe away her tired. The way she wipes away the sun’s bruised setting overnight.......more

Goodreads review by Sam on January 17, 2023

OKAY! I was lucky enough to get an advanced audiobook and electronic access to this book before it's set to hit shelves on February 7th, and yall need to know that I am so thankful and overwhelmed with happiness. Thank you so much to WW Norton, NetGalley, and Mahogany L. Browne for letting me read t......more

Goodreads review by Nelli on January 14, 2023

I loved this poetry collection, I loved how the author narrated the audiobook it was beautiful! These poems were beautiful, heartbreaking and moving. Highly recommend reading this poetry book, especially listening the audiobook!......more