TESTIMONIES & REVIEWS
P. Chambers
This is an awesome book that will captivate you. I would compare this book to ” ROOTS. ” Once you start, you will not want to stop, because you and Abella have to see where her life is going. You will not be disappointed!
@trishanikeltalentconsultin1037
Impactful. I felt like I was there. Thank you.
@weusimalkia7697
I want more! I was transported to another place and time. Felt like I was on the plantation with her.. where can I find this? Is it a movie? Play? Soundtrack?
@paulatelander2255
One of my favorite chapters from the talented Miss Parris Lane, singer/producer/author extraordinaire from the audiobook ABELLA. It features the sweet sound of a violinist which gives such a haunting touch to fully express the story. We truly loved these heartfelt recording sessions with engineer James Gardiner at Pajama Studios.
R. Muhammad
Your genius knows NO bounds!
M. Broom
Oh Parris… this was so excellent. Your voice, the narration, your background vocals, your singing, your choice of words. Such a creative compilation of your gifts. It’s very captivating. Makes you lean in to listen closely. Bless you and blessings upon this project.
@MizzKat23
Wow very in intense very chilling to the bone.
@Mtnt7
Beautiful! Beautiful poetry, beautifully spoken, beautifully sung! Real beauty breaks your heart open then fills it with love for something greater than yourself. Parris is an artist for the people. Brava!
P.T. Adams
Congratulations Parris Lane. This stirred up so many raw emotions. The music was beautiful. The execution was amazing. Job well doing. I could close my eyes and imagine it all happening.
J. Brown
Parris Lane I got loss for a moment. You brought up some real emotions. Blessings to you….praise God for you. You are overflowing with stories songs and information for all of us. Information that will outlive both of us.
P. Telander
Parris, it sounds wonderful, a truly inspiring heartfelt and soul touching story. Happy you’re starting to share it with the world . Both James Jim Gardiner and I enjoyed working with you and send you our love and blessings.
K. Gottlieb
WOW!! What incredible writing!! Thank you for that teaser.
S. Smith III
Wow! Powerful! God has given you some great stuff…thanks for sharing it with us!
L. COUNTS
Wow, you go Parris Lane Just Fab-Tastic !!!!!!!
L. Landau
SO glad to see this online. Powerful work indeed!
D. Propstra
I sat silently after listening to your piece, just feeling the deep place that it took me. I’m still feeling it a half hour later.
You are an amazing singer.
Wow Keep on keeping on!!
C. Pugh-Givens
Wow! Wow! Wow! LOVE this!
Gia Brooks
Yay!! Parris this is good.
You should shoot to get one chapter on NPR or something.
D. S. Watts
Congratulations I loved that i could feel it in my soul!!I always knew in my heart that you would do great things.
K. L. Pasini
Incredible. I’ve been looking forward to your sharing more of this project.
S. Currie
It sent chills through my body the whole time. Hearing rather than reading made it so much more real. And that singing! What an incredible voice, so rich, so amazing!
C. Brooks
I loved it, I feel everyone can relate to this story in some way. I like the blend of sound and story, I see you did your homework on ancestral music great blend.
D. Fontenot
Bravo to your original creation of your Audio Book: Abella (I could hear the echoing voices of our ancestors from their days on the Plantation). Best Wishes and Congratulations my dear personal friend…. You inspire me.
Y. Diggs
A powerful performance.
Chris Haley, Historian
Nephew of Alex Haley, Author of Roots | Descendant of Kunta Kinte
When you hear the first melodious tones in the audio version of Lane’s book, Abella, also narrated by the author, you might find yourself breathless, too. The mixture of her smooth voice floating aloft, animated sounds of animals, wind, and people entice you to enter a place and time you’ve been curious to explore. The combination of her literary and verbal skills will open your imagination wide.
As your storyteller and tour guide, she leads you on a path, which while not always pleasant, often depicts the violence, tragedy, and bigotry that was slavery, is courageously forged as you journey. A passionate vocalist, civil rights activist, and family history enthusiast, Lane tells a story where a young heroine uses her gift to entertain, survive, thrive, and ultimately helps others to attain their own liberation.
Creating a variety of sometimes frightening, sometimes loving, but always living and motivated characters, Abella is Lane’s commanding coming of age tale of an African American child, daughter, and woman whom we never met, but are hopeful existed, dreamt, struggled, and triumphantly contributed to our proud history.
Sharon Elaine Harris | 02-10-22
AMAZING!!!! Well written and well performed Bravo!
A “slave” story told from a different prospective from what has been published on the past. The level of artistry is remarkable! The story, the singing, overall project is second to none. I fell in love with the character “Abella”, I routed for her, I cried for and with her, and I rejoiced for and with her. I will never see Louisiana the same again, the history regarding the free slaves there I had not known about until this story. This story of “Abella” urged me to want to know “my” story. I grew up in the city of Annapolis in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, so now my mind wanders to where did “I” and my people come from. Therefore, moving me in that way confirms that this story can change lives. Well done Ms Parris Lane, well done.
Kodandi | 31-01-2024
Audiobook review: as far as I can tell this is only available as an audiobook, and it is unlike any other audiobook production I’ve heard. In addition to the voice acting there is also singing at plot relevant points and subtle sound effects that really pulled me into the story without distracting from the narration. The music is woven into the story as part of the depiction of the main character’s life and environment. I highly recommend this to established audiobook lovers and also people that think audiobooks must be boring. The production quality and detail will absolutely change the way you think about what is possible in audiobooks.
The main character Abella is enslaved and we hear her growing up and learning about the world she lives in. There are some significant scenes of violence against the enslaved Black people that I recognize as being historically accurate from “slave narrative” documents so trigger warning for that. I don’t normally read stories about children because I don’t like reading about bad things happening to them, but in this story Abella is depicted as being cared for, helped and supported in ways that I have not encountered in other stories about children. It was comforting to know that the other characters cared for my blorbo as she witnessed some pretty awful things.
The first part of the story is difficult to hear because of the violence, but the last half of the book is much easier to hear. I think my favorite part was Abella’s train ride and trip down the Mississippi River because she learned so many new things about the world and first encountered the active Underground Railroad. I enjoyed seeing her step into to power and learn that she can question the ways that things are done. The ending of the book came too quickly as her life was just starting to take a new direction. It was exciting to hear about Abella’s success and her recovery from the trauma of enslavement.
Too easy to get drawn into the story and totally lose track of time!