The Black Flamingo | Dean Atta | Audiobook Review

Why Did I Listen To The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta was the first book I borrowed from my local library on the Libby app. When I listened to the sample, I was intrigued by the main character Michael and was also excited that this story was in verse format!

What’s The Story Here?

The Black Flamingo follows a young boy named Michael who is of mixed race and gay growing up in the UK. He goes from a young boy living with his single mother, to a teenage boy, and finally attends university. Through this narrative, he reveals his thoughts and feelings surrounding surrounding his mother, his absentee father, the rest of his family, his closest friends, his mixed race (Greek Cypriot / Jamaican) heritage, and his sexuality. And as mentioned before, it is a the story that is written in verse form.

What Did I Think Of The Black Flamingo

I was easily drawn into Michael’s story. His voice was so authentic. The verse form was gripping and filled with raw and positive emotion. As Michael navigates his life, I felt like I had an intimate view of him, his family, and his friends. By the end of the novel, I was applauding like a proud bystander as he came to terms with who he was and who he wanted to be. The Black Flamingo is wonderful celebration of youth, heritage, sexuality, and self-awareness.

How’s The Narration?

The audiobook is narrated by the author Dean Atta and is 3 hours and 40 minutes long. It goes by pretty quick and was easy to listen to as I did housework and my errands around town. As the listener, I could feel the heart behind the narration, and could tell that this story was very important to the author. The only downside that I can think of was the fact that by listening to the audiobook, I apparently missed out on the beautiful visuals that are in the physical copy. However, the narration of Michael’s life felt very personal to me, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable verse audiobook.

Rating: 4 Stars

Audiobook Review layout borrowed from April @ Good Books and Good Wine