Songs of Irie Audiobook By Asha Ashanti Bromfield cover art

Songs of Irie

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Songs of Irie

By: Asha Ashanti Bromfield
Narrated by: Asha Ashanti Bromfield
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Short-listed, Golden Crown Literary Awards, 2024

This program is read by the author.

"Author and narrator Asha Bromfield offers an engrossing performance of this coming-of-age audiobook. Bromfield's experience as an actress and her ease with Jamaican Patois will draw listeners into a story that has multiple levels of emotional intensity."—AudioFile on Hurricane Summer

Perfect for fans of The Black Kids, Songs of Irie is a sweeping coming-of-age novel from Asha Bromfield about a friendship struggling to survive amidst the Jamaican civil unrest of the 1970s.

It's 1976 and Jamaica is on fire. The country is on the eve of important elections and the warring political parties have made the divisions between the poor and the wealthy even wider. And Irie and Jilly come from very different backgrounds: Irie is from the heart of Kingston, where fighting in the streets is common. Jilly is from the hills, where mansions nestled within lush gardens remain safe behind gates. But the two bond through a shared love of Reggae music, spending time together at Irie's father's record store, listening to so-called rebel music that opens Jilly's mind to a sound and a way of thinking she's never heard before.

As tensions build in the streets, so do tensions between the two girls. A budding romance between them complicates things further as the push and pull between their two lives becomes impossible to bear. For Irie, fighting—with her words and her voice—is her only option. Blood is shed on the streets in front of her every day. She has no choice. But Jilly can always choose to escape.

Can their bond survive this impossible divide?

Asha Bromfield has written a compelling, emotional and heart-rending story of a friendship during wartime and what it means to fight for your words, your life, and the love of your life.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books.

©2023 Asha Ashanti Bromfield (P)2023 Macmillan Audio Coming of Age Fiction Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Multicultural Heartfelt

Critic reviews

* One of Indigo Canada's Best Books of 2021 *

* One of NYPL's Best Books for Teens 2021 *

* One of YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults *

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, "The Best YA Novels to Read This Summer"

THE NEW YORK TIMES, "13 Y.A. Books to Add to Your Reading List This Spring"

FLORIDA KEYS WEEKLY, "Staff Picks for Best Read, Watch & Listen"

BUZZFEED, "40 Contemporary Books We're Looking Forward To Reading In 2021"

BUZZFEED, "37 Must-Read YA Books By Black Authors That Come Out The First Half Of This Year"

“Songs of Irie is a powerful and urgent reminder of what’s worth fighting for in a world determined to tear you apart. Irie and Jilly’s love for one another is boldly vulnerable, achingly real, and absolutely unforgettable. Bromfield is a bright, burning talent with a voice that demands—and deserves—to be heard. A stunning book.” — Courtney Summers New York Times bestselling author of I’m The Girl

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Beautifully written and performed. A political history iconic musical journey and the richness of pure island love. ‘Everyting’ IRIE! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

A symphony of perfection!

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Actually singing in the story made listening to this book way better than me reading the physical book. This story definitely had me on edge and I was left wanting more time with some characters. Great story!!!!!

Performance was amazing

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I loved everything about this book I couldn't stop listening. Very well written I pictured the whole story in head I can't wait for the next book. Would definitely recommend this book you will not be disappointed.

Great book very well written

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I loved it the way Asha brought the book to life. To me listening to her change the voice for every character giving them personality. I felt the emotions of each character. If they where sad i was sad. if they where happy i was happy. i really was attached to the characters. That kept me listening. Amazing performance. The story is beautiful and tragic. The story it taught me to cherish the ones you love. Family and friends. Never know when and how you will loose them. I give this book a 1,000 out of ten I will listen to it again and again. This is my favorite story. This audiobook is definitely worth a listen.

Everything about this audiobook is amazing!!

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As a first generation Jamaican/Panamanian-American and someone born into a predominately Rastafarian family, I loved every second of this book. I cried before I even began the chapters.

I fell in love with Irie. Felt her Spirit through the pages and know her story through that of my family all too well. And though I (kind of) hate to admit it, I also empathized with Jilly. I will say this though, this book adequately describes the beautiful bliss that upper class, white and white passing mixed raced people have in the Caribbean. The willful ignorance that people like Jilly and Monica get to walk through the world with. And what some of them will do, like Mr. Casey, to ensure that they stay in power for generations to come. We see it still unfolding today.

This book was so much more than a love story between Irie and Jillian. It was about the juxtaposition of the life that both girls wanted but ultimately couldn't see for themselves because of familial obligations and political turmoil - the life that though on opposite ends of the spectrum, they were born into.

It was a layered love story to Jamaica (even in the midst of turmoil and strife). It was a love letter to Rastafari, to Reggae Music, consciousness and following your dreams. Bromfield so beautiful told a story of some of Jamaican darkest days.

Not only was I immersed in the nuance of the budding relationship between the two protagonists and the political warfare ensuing, but I also felt this burning pride for my culture with every page I read. I was inspired to research more about Jamaica - being reminded of some things stowed away and equally learning new information about my sweet country.

I loveeee the Patois throughout the book. I love that most things stayed true to how we speak while also easing in standard English for those that may not understand Patois. It felt like a nice balance that didn't take away the essence of our language.

I love how descriptive Bromfield writes. I felt myself in the midst of the story and TRUST ME when I was not reading or listening to it ... I was thinking about it. Speaking of, I highly recommend taking this journey via audio as well! It is narrated by Bromfield and it definitely amplifies the experience.

What didn't I like:

Jilly after the incident. She was exhausting and inconsiderate ... quick to rush to judgement and adhere to the stereotypical views of 'ghetto people'... though I also understand why she had to be written that way. But lawdddd, she did ah get pon mi nerves, lol!

Jilly's family.

The wrap up. I felt like this story could have used an extra 50 pages to truly describe to us what happened on that fated night and the aftermath of it all. What happened to Kojo? Where the hell did Ace go? What exactly happened to Siarah and Irie? And Lloyd? What did the Casey family do after that?

What ever happened to Daddy?

Ace being around 20 years later. Ehhh, we could have left him on that fated night to be honest, lmao.

Which political party was in power at the time that Irie came back to Jamaica? This might just be me being a little nosey, lol.

For the most part, I would have liked those questions answered.

Sidebar, I keep thinking about what would have played out if Jilly and Irie were able to speak that night. How might things be different. But truthfully, the story had to end the way it did. I get it.

All praises to di Most High! Ever living! Ever faithful! Ever sure!

Bromfield, this book was beautiful. Thank you for writing it. Highly recommended read, especially for West Indians/West Indian-Americans and anyone looking to understand more about Jamaica.

Rastalivity !!!!

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The book is so informative. I learned so much about the political climate that prompted the rise of reggae music. This was also a great examination of the intersections of color and class in Jamaica. Read! This! Book! You won’t regret it😁

Asha Bromfield has done it again!!!

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Loved everything about this book! Asha does it again! I loved both perspectives during such a tumultuous time in Jamaica. Very eye opening!

The narration was perfection! She can SANG!!

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I loved this book. First audible. First read and I can’t get enough. So many highs and lows and extremely relatable.

Fantastic book

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A Masterpiece. Ms.Bromfield is a gifted narrator and storyteller. Well Done. I thoroughly enjoyed.

Brilliantly Captivating.

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I really liked the story, the characters were written very well and they all had complex narratives, which was very enjoyable, and the performance was really great, but without spoiling the story, it perpetuates an irritating and unfortunate troupe often done in stories with romance between two women. This kind of spoiled the story, once I figured out it was going to happen.

Great story but perpetuates irritating troupe

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