Quite the Contrary Audiobook By Yvonne Durant cover art

Quite the Contrary

On Life, Work, and Loving Miles Davis

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Quite the Contrary

By: Yvonne Durant
Narrated by: Allyson Johnson, Yvonne Durant
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Yvonne Durant was one of the few Black women writing ads for major brands in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Ambitious and determined, she ultimately won a position at a global ad agency in Milan, Italy. While her career was exciting, it was a challenge to be self-defining in a Mad Men world that had little experience with or respect for Black experience.

One Mother’s Day, Yvonne was having dinner with her identical twin, Yvette, at a very popular restaurant called The Cellar. That dinner turned into a life-changing event when Miles Davis stopped by her table. What ensued was romantic, frantic, and full of everything. It was unforgettable.

In Quite the Contrary, Durant presents a unique coming-of-age story of a career woman who was determined to chart her course and succeed on her terms while maintaining her sanity in life, work, and love. It’s a rare glimpse into the life of That Girl or Mary Tyler Moore from an African American perspective.

©2022 Yvonne Durant (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC.

Accolades & Awards

Memoir Essentials
Biographies & Memoirs Black Creators Memoir Essentials Women's Voices Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Inspiring Funny

Behind the Scenes of Quite the Contrary

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About the Creator and Performer

After graduating the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Advertising & Communications, Yvonne Durant launched her career as a copywriter for major ad agencies in New York. Eventually she won a position at a multinational agency in Milan, Italy, where she was a Copy Supervisor for seven years. She joined Audible as a copywriter in Customer Service and is now an editor on Audible’s Editorial Team. Along the way, she began writing essays and articles that have been published in major newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Essence. Her essays appear in three anthologies. Quite the Contrary: On Life, Work, and Loving Miles Davis is her first Audible Original.

About the Performer

Allyson Johnson began her entertainment career in her hometown of Chicago as an Emmy Award winning child news anchor. With more than 200 audiobooks under her belt, she has garnered AudioFile Earphones Awards for both fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as multiple Audie Award nominations. A graduate of Brown University, Allyson is a working voice actress, singer, and narrator in the New York City metropolitan area.

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There are few stories more compelling or more intimately told than those soul-baring memoirs that seek not just to recount the experiences of one's own life, but to draw some greater commentary on the big existential questions. What does it mean to be human? What is our purpose in being here? How much of who we are is purely self-determined? Exceptional in both their prose and narration, these listens represent a few of the year's best memoirs.

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I listened to this book in one sitting while sipping piña coladas on a beach in St. Croix. The story and writing is poignant, vulnerable, and sexy. The words affected me deeply and capture the true, beautiful soul of the author. Brava, Yvonne!!!

Fenomenale!

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Thank you Ms. Durant. I throughly enjoyed part of your life story! I read Mr Davis’ book as well as Ms Tyson’ book. All seems to come together. Thanks for enlightening Us!

A great story!

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I added this book to my library on a whim--it popped up on my recommended list. What a wonderful surprise. The writing is beautiful, nuanced, convincing. I'm a big fan of memoirs though I often find myself wondering what the story would be if told from someone else's perspective. Not this time. I can't imagine this story being told any other way. There is no agenda other than to bring you in her world. There are no simplistic messages about relationships or race or anything else. This is a very special book and I hope it will bring the author the renown she deserved (not even a Wikipedia page, c'mon!).

Masterful

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I so thoroughly enjoyed this book that I listened to it in its entirety in one seating. I was mesmerized and couldn’t pull myself away. I’d like to purchase a keepsake copy, but apparently it’s not available in any other format. But I’ll be looking for it when it is….

Outstanding!

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Wow! What s story! It was spellbinding, beautiful, provocative, tasteful, and loving. The narration was also superb. Thank you for sharing your life and love!!!

Amazing on so many levels!

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