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Sing Her Name
Sing Her Name follows two musically gifted women whose lives overlap across the boundaries of time. This third novel by Rosalyn Story, whose critically acclaimed books treat the central role of Black people in American music, is her best and most rewarding yet.
Beautiful and brilliantly talented Celia DeMille is a nineteenth-century concert artist who has garnered fame, sung all over the world, and amassed a fortune. But prejudice bars her from achieving her place in history as one of the world's greatest singers, and she dies in poverty and obscurity.
In 21st-century New Orleans, Eden Malveaux, a thirty-something waitress with a beautiful but untutored voice, is the sole guardian of her 17-year-old brother. Motherless for most of their lives, she has struggled for years to make ends meet as she fights to keep the promise she made to their dying to protect her wayward brother and raise him as if he were her own child. After a hurricane displaces them to New York City, Eden seeks safe refuge--not only from the ensuing flood, but also to hide her brother from the law, while she works to divert him from a path of crime, prison, or worse.
Months into their New York stay, Eden's estranged Great Aunt Julia summons her back to New Orleans for a brief visit, and the older woman gives Eden something that alters the course of her a box she found in the midst of flooded rubble containing a hundred-year-old scrapbook and a mysterious and valuable gold pendant necklace belonging to one of the greatest singers in history--Celia DeMille.
Eden returns to New York, but as she explores the artifacts of Celia DeMille's extraordinary life, curiosity grows into obsession, then into an inspiration that propels Eden into a world she never dreamed. With the help of new friends, and buoyed by the diva's story, Eden's new life in New York takes a dramatic turn toward unimagined success.
But just as she is poised to make her mark on the world stage, her brother's dangerous choices catch up with them, and Eden must confront buried secrets from her complicated childhood. To face the promise of her future, Eden must first reconcile years of regrets and leave behind the guilt of the past--and perhaps even the brother she loves.
Beautiful and brilliantly talented Celia DeMille is a nineteenth-century concert artist who has garnered fame, sung all over the world, and amassed a fortune. But prejudice bars her from achieving her place in history as one of the world's greatest singers, and she dies in poverty and obscurity.
In 21st-century New Orleans, Eden Malveaux, a thirty-something waitress with a beautiful but untutored voice, is the sole guardian of her 17-year-old brother. Motherless for most of their lives, she has struggled for years to make ends meet as she fights to keep the promise she made to their dying to protect her wayward brother and raise him as if he were her own child. After a hurricane displaces them to New York City, Eden seeks safe refuge--not only from the ensuing flood, but also to hide her brother from the law, while she works to divert him from a path of crime, prison, or worse.
Months into their New York stay, Eden's estranged Great Aunt Julia summons her back to New Orleans for a brief visit, and the older woman gives Eden something that alters the course of her a box she found in the midst of flooded rubble containing a hundred-year-old scrapbook and a mysterious and valuable gold pendant necklace belonging to one of the greatest singers in history--Celia DeMille.
Eden returns to New York, but as she explores the artifacts of Celia DeMille's extraordinary life, curiosity grows into obsession, then into an inspiration that propels Eden into a world she never dreamed. With the help of new friends, and buoyed by the diva's story, Eden's new life in New York takes a dramatic turn toward unimagined success.
But just as she is poised to make her mark on the world stage, her brother's dangerous choices catch up with them, and Eden must confront buried secrets from her complicated childhood. To face the promise of her future, Eden must first reconcile years of regrets and leave behind the guilt of the past--and perhaps even the brother she loves.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2021
24 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
Rosalyn Story
4 books26 followersRosalyn Story lives in Dallas. Her first book, And So I Sing: African American Divas Of Opera And Concert (Warner), inspired the PBS documentary Aida’s Brothers and Sisters: A History of Blacks in Opera, in which she appeared as featured narrator. She has written on music and art for Essence, Emerge, American Visions, Stagebill, Opera News, and The Crisis magazines. A full-time classical musician, she plays violin with the Fort Worth Symphony.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 11, 2024
I didn't really care for this story. I think I would have enjoyed it more had it simply followed the life of Celia DeMille. IMO, Eden's story wasn't anything spectacular. The story seemed to drag for me and I think it was because I couldn't connect with Eden's story. I did like the prose and the way the story was written. I think I'll give this author another try.
May 24, 2023
4.5 stars
This has to be One of the best historical Fictions I’ve read. Also My first book by this author and she did not disappoint.
The story follows a young opera singer named Eden from New Orleans who now lives in New York after hurricane Katrina in 2005. She’s struggling to make ends meet while also raising her 17 year old brother.
It also brings you back to the early 1900s following the life of a black opera singer named Celia DeMille who never got her true claim to fame because she was black. The way these two women stories collide and come together is so beautiful and heartbreaking @ the same time. I loveddd this book.
This has to be One of the best historical Fictions I’ve read. Also My first book by this author and she did not disappoint.
The story follows a young opera singer named Eden from New Orleans who now lives in New York after hurricane Katrina in 2005. She’s struggling to make ends meet while also raising her 17 year old brother.
It also brings you back to the early 1900s following the life of a black opera singer named Celia DeMille who never got her true claim to fame because she was black. The way these two women stories collide and come together is so beautiful and heartbreaking @ the same time. I loveddd this book.
May 6, 2022
Overall: Historical fiction at its best woven together with a modern-day story. If you like novels with separate characters and plots that interlock over time, you should definitely pick up this book! In one strand we meet Celia DeMille, who in 1919 is watching both her career and the New Orleans Opera House, where she longed to sing, go down in flames. Celia’s career has been stymied by the fact that she is Black, and her fury and frustration are palpable. In the other strand we met Eden Malveaux, a Katrina refugee in her 30s trying to make a home for herself and her teenage brother in New York. Eden’s also a gifted singer, but life has thrown up obstacles at every turn. When a box with Celia’s belongings makes its way to Eden, her life begins to change.
Likes: Story writes beautifully. The two main characters are quite different, with different voices and temperaments, and the contrast works well. The supporting characters are memorable, especially Aunt Baby! Story captures the difficulties of being Black, struggling at the edges of poverty, trying to live up to the expectations of family, and living under the weight of the past without the story becoming maudlin or depressing.
Dislikes: The only dislike I had was that there are a few brief interludes where a third narrator comes into play. I don’t want to be a spoiler, so I won’t give more details, but it was a bit jarring.
FYI: there is a scene of attempted sexual assault.
Likes: Story writes beautifully. The two main characters are quite different, with different voices and temperaments, and the contrast works well. The supporting characters are memorable, especially Aunt Baby! Story captures the difficulties of being Black, struggling at the edges of poverty, trying to live up to the expectations of family, and living under the weight of the past without the story becoming maudlin or depressing.
Dislikes: The only dislike I had was that there are a few brief interludes where a third narrator comes into play. I don’t want to be a spoiler, so I won’t give more details, but it was a bit jarring.
FYI: there is a scene of attempted sexual assault.
May 3, 2022
This book begins in New Orleans in 1919 and ends in New York in 2005. This is the story of Celia DeMille the greatest black opera singer of all times. Ms. DeMille is not appreciated because of the time and the color of her skin. During Hurricane Katrina a box of her most prized possessions including a necklace lands in the hands of Eden Malveaux.Eden and her brother are Katrina transplants to New York. Eden a gifted singer herself decides that the world should know Celia DeMille or as most called her “The Black Donatella” This book is an easy read and has many ups and downs. The author is a violinist for the Ft. Worth Symphony and loosely bases this book on Sissieretta Joyner Jones one of the greatest African American Singers of our time.The book has a lot of history and knowledge about opera singers. It makes you happy one moment and sad the next. This is a very good book and well written. It grabs at your heart.
Diva Reviewer - Jo
Diva Reviewer - Jo
February 7, 2022
Thank you Goodreads Giveaway for this book. It was an OK read. I enjoyed parts of the book, but I found the prose to be slow moving with a lot of unnecessary details. I did like Eden, her family and friends. They supported her and saw the genius in her even when she could not.
There were too many coincidences in the book. Rosalyn Story had to tie up all the characters/events in a neat little bow, rather than just let the story flow.
The size of the font is unacceptable. When I first got it, I said “Hell no, I am not going to kill my eyes reading this.” But, my desire to read this book overcame my reluctance.
There were too many coincidences in the book. Rosalyn Story had to tie up all the characters/events in a neat little bow, rather than just let the story flow.
The size of the font is unacceptable. When I first got it, I said “Hell no, I am not going to kill my eyes reading this.” But, my desire to read this book overcame my reluctance.
February 11, 2024
When I picked this up, I raced through the first quarter. Then the storyline got a little slower, a little more complicated, and a little more repetitive.
Eden made for a remarkably real character, too bogged down in the daily grind to hope or dream of anything beyond what tomorrow may bring (and haven't we all been there at some point?) and so focused on getting her brother sorted.
That Celia is based on a real-life black singer's life also comes at no surprise, and the journal is a nice way to carry her story.
The end felt a bit rushed, to tie up all the loose ends and give Eden a happy ever after.
Eden made for a remarkably real character, too bogged down in the daily grind to hope or dream of anything beyond what tomorrow may bring (and haven't we all been there at some point?) and so focused on getting her brother sorted.
That Celia is based on a real-life black singer's life also comes at no surprise, and the journal is a nice way to carry her story.
The end felt a bit rushed, to tie up all the loose ends and give Eden a happy ever after.
May 26, 2022
Wow! Beautiful portrait of two opera singers. Really enjoyed the journey, the relationships, the food, and the accurate musical references for a change! Felt like I could hear these women singing through the pages. Will miss reading this now that I'm done.
April 5, 2023
I was fortunate enough to meet the lovely author of this book at a Festival of the Book. She is a violinist and also teaches African American music at a university in Texas. This book deals with the difficulty that black singers and musicians have traditionally had in obtaining roles and parts in professional musical productions.
The novel swings back and forth between the difficulties faced at the turn of the century by Celia DeMille, loosely based on the real-life singer Sissieretta Jones, and Eden Malveaux, who has been displaced by the hurricane that ravaged New Orleans. Celia DeMille ended up dying in poverty and obscurity despite her tremendous talent. Eden sets out to vindicate DeMille, with whom she identifies, at the same time as she struggles to keep herself and her teenaged brother sheltered and fed.
While I found some parts of the book to be a bit too bogged down in repetitive detail (eg., Eden's worries about her brother and how to keep him out of trouble or her feelings of unworthiness when a young man tries to help her succeed), I mostly enjoyed the novel. The fictionalized story of the real Celia DeMille gave rise in me to a strong desire that Eden vindicate Celia's memory by being successful in her efforts to break through to fame and fortune. The author did a nice job of alternating between the parallel tales so that Celia and Eden almost merged into a single indistinguishable woman deserving of recognition for her talent and hard work.
The novel swings back and forth between the difficulties faced at the turn of the century by Celia DeMille, loosely based on the real-life singer Sissieretta Jones, and Eden Malveaux, who has been displaced by the hurricane that ravaged New Orleans. Celia DeMille ended up dying in poverty and obscurity despite her tremendous talent. Eden sets out to vindicate DeMille, with whom she identifies, at the same time as she struggles to keep herself and her teenaged brother sheltered and fed.
While I found some parts of the book to be a bit too bogged down in repetitive detail (eg., Eden's worries about her brother and how to keep him out of trouble or her feelings of unworthiness when a young man tries to help her succeed), I mostly enjoyed the novel. The fictionalized story of the real Celia DeMille gave rise in me to a strong desire that Eden vindicate Celia's memory by being successful in her efforts to break through to fame and fortune. The author did a nice job of alternating between the parallel tales so that Celia and Eden almost merged into a single indistinguishable woman deserving of recognition for her talent and hard work.
April 3, 2022
First of all, I wanted to thank Agate Publishing and Rosalyn Story for sending an Uncorrected Proof Copy of Sing Her Name. Reading this at the latter end of Women's History Month helped put me in the mood of supporting women, especially those who longed just for their stories to be told and heard by the masses.
Sing Her Name tells the tale of two women, generations apart and not even biologically related, but who face similar struggles of finding their way and being heard. Ms. Celia DeMille in the early 1900s got the chance to travel the world and sing her songs for the rich and royal all over the globe, but was denied the opportunity to sing in New Orleans French Opera House due to the color of her skin.
Then in 2006, Eden Malveaux gets cast out by Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, leaving all the know of NOLA to safety up north in NYC, just struggling to make ends meet. After Eden finds some documents and a pendant necklace that belonged to Ms. Celia DeMille in the wreckage after the storm, she works her hardest to make sure this forgotten singer gets remembered.
Inspiring is an understatement with this beautifully composed piece of prose. In only 200 pages, you'll find yourself longing to know more about the mystery talent that was so soon neglected and shut out from the world to see.
4/5 Stars
Sing Her Name tells the tale of two women, generations apart and not even biologically related, but who face similar struggles of finding their way and being heard. Ms. Celia DeMille in the early 1900s got the chance to travel the world and sing her songs for the rich and royal all over the globe, but was denied the opportunity to sing in New Orleans French Opera House due to the color of her skin.
Then in 2006, Eden Malveaux gets cast out by Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, leaving all the know of NOLA to safety up north in NYC, just struggling to make ends meet. After Eden finds some documents and a pendant necklace that belonged to Ms. Celia DeMille in the wreckage after the storm, she works her hardest to make sure this forgotten singer gets remembered.
Inspiring is an understatement with this beautifully composed piece of prose. In only 200 pages, you'll find yourself longing to know more about the mystery talent that was so soon neglected and shut out from the world to see.
4/5 Stars
December 31, 2024
I read this book for my local librarys book club discussion. It did make for some good debate bit most agreed this book has a lot of good components but tries to do too much at once.
The book was well written, but lacked restraint in some aspects of the plot that left me feeling it was underdeveloped. There were numerous characters and plot devices that didn't seem to serve a purpose. Elements and characters that would have made for a much greater story weren't pursued. Instead it was too long of a story that didn't seize the momentum behind some of the smaller fragments.
I would have loved to have more of Celia's story. Or to find out she DID burn down the opera in revenge. Or that she's somehow an ancestor to Eden which would make Eden's draw to her more believable. Celia's story and the tragic provenance of the necklace and what became of it would have been more moving. I was also so thrown off with the brother narrating two chapters. It came so out of the blue and felt incredibly out of place in a book that's narrated by Eden and Celia and focuses on women and women's voices.
Added together, things felt half-baked. If I was the editor, I would have cut out some things that didn't fit. I suppose I would have revised this entirely to be frank. Good elements, decent writing and dialog, but not great editing and missed opportunities with the plot.
The book was well written, but lacked restraint in some aspects of the plot that left me feeling it was underdeveloped. There were numerous characters and plot devices that didn't seem to serve a purpose. Elements and characters that would have made for a much greater story weren't pursued. Instead it was too long of a story that didn't seize the momentum behind some of the smaller fragments.
I would have loved to have more of Celia's story. Or to find out she DID burn down the opera in revenge. Or that she's somehow an ancestor to Eden which would make Eden's draw to her more believable. Celia's story and the tragic provenance of the necklace and what became of it would have been more moving. I was also so thrown off with the brother narrating two chapters. It came so out of the blue and felt incredibly out of place in a book that's narrated by Eden and Celia and focuses on women and women's voices.
Added together, things felt half-baked. If I was the editor, I would have cut out some things that didn't fit. I suppose I would have revised this entirely to be frank. Good elements, decent writing and dialog, but not great editing and missed opportunities with the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
The best kind of historical fiction combined with a contemporary tale. This is a book for people enjoy books with multiple characters and time-traveling themes.
In one storyline, we meet Celia DeMille, who is witnessing the demise of the New Orleans Opera House and her career in 1919. Because of her race, Celia's career has been hampered, and her rage and anger are obvious. In the other thread, we met Eden Malveaux, a 30-year-old Katrina refugee attempting to establish a life for herself and her brother, who is still a teenager, in New York. Eden is a talented vocalist as well, although she constantly faces challenges from life. When a shipment containing Celia's possessions arrives in her hands, Eden's life begins to turn around.
In my opinion, this book was a bit too long and quite slow. While I enjoyed the dual timeline, Celia's story was unfinished in my mind- and tapered out too quickly. I lost interest halfway but kept reading to see if it improved. But it just got slower.
No doubt it's a well written story with a lot of potential, but it put me to sleep towards the end.
In one storyline, we meet Celia DeMille, who is witnessing the demise of the New Orleans Opera House and her career in 1919. Because of her race, Celia's career has been hampered, and her rage and anger are obvious. In the other thread, we met Eden Malveaux, a 30-year-old Katrina refugee attempting to establish a life for herself and her brother, who is still a teenager, in New York. Eden is a talented vocalist as well, although she constantly faces challenges from life. When a shipment containing Celia's possessions arrives in her hands, Eden's life begins to turn around.
In my opinion, this book was a bit too long and quite slow. While I enjoyed the dual timeline, Celia's story was unfinished in my mind- and tapered out too quickly. I lost interest halfway but kept reading to see if it improved. But it just got slower.
No doubt it's a well written story with a lot of potential, but it put me to sleep towards the end.
July 24, 2025
3.5 Stars~
Shoutout to my University Course and Prof. F. who made me read this book.
I was unsure at first how to rate this book. I am normally a romance / fantasy reader and I rarely read anything else. I read some historical fiction books (or books that incorporate historical fiction) that I really liked and I thought to myself: Ok, even if this is not your standard of what you like to read, you should be honest to yourself and how good this book actually was. Because after Wading Home (which I didn't finish, sorry Prof. F., and thank you for the 1.3 of my oral exam, even though I did not even finish the book) I was struggling with starting this book, but after my other fellow students told me how much better they like this one I gave it a try and I honestly quite enjoyed it. I really enjoy Dual POV's that take place in different times and I really connected to Eden, I love her. I am glad everything worked out with her and her brother as well as Celia (Queen slay) and what an ICONIC way to end the book.
I will probably not read any other book by Mrs. Story, but if she reads this: Sing Her Name is an amazing book and has my heart!
Shoutout to my University Course and Prof. F. who made me read this book.
I was unsure at first how to rate this book. I am normally a romance / fantasy reader and I rarely read anything else. I read some historical fiction books (or books that incorporate historical fiction) that I really liked and I thought to myself: Ok, even if this is not your standard of what you like to read, you should be honest to yourself and how good this book actually was. Because after Wading Home (which I didn't finish, sorry Prof. F., and thank you for the 1.3 of my oral exam, even though I did not even finish the book) I was struggling with starting this book, but after my other fellow students told me how much better they like this one I gave it a try and I honestly quite enjoyed it. I really enjoy Dual POV's that take place in different times and I really connected to Eden, I love her. I am glad everything worked out with her and her brother as well as Celia (Queen slay) and what an ICONIC way to end the book.
I will probably not read any other book by Mrs. Story, but if she reads this: Sing Her Name is an amazing book and has my heart!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2024
This novel has dual timelines. The first time line is in post Civil War New Orleans. A talented and famous singer, Celia DeMille fades from notoriety to poverty. The second timeline is of Eden Malveaux, a young woman who was displaced to New York from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The two women’s lives converge through the love of singing.
The historical elements of the novel are intriguing. The author bases Celia DeMille's character on real life opera singer, Sissieretta Jones. What is also evident in reading this book, is the author’s musical training. The way music is written about, especially the technical training involved, pulls the reader in.
I read this along with the Read Soul Lit Patreon Book club. It was a good book for discussion and we had the opportunity to meet the author.
The historical elements of the novel are intriguing. The author bases Celia DeMille's character on real life opera singer, Sissieretta Jones. What is also evident in reading this book, is the author’s musical training. The way music is written about, especially the technical training involved, pulls the reader in.
I read this along with the Read Soul Lit Patreon Book club. It was a good book for discussion and we had the opportunity to meet the author.
January 28, 2022
I liked this story. It followed a young lady who was trying to raise her brother. She happened to have a nice voice was helped by the kindness of a stranger. She stumbled upon a precious heirloom of a successful singer from 100 years ago and it gave her courage to be the best singer she could be. She goes through many trials and tribulations trying to become a better singer, learn new languages. Eden lets herself get distracted easily when it comes to her brother, which sometimes is frustrating. You see her character grow so much in the storyline. I almost feel like Celia was speaking to her through the dreams and the necklace. The ending definitely left me wanting more but overall ended well. Eden happened to meet the right people and made the right connections.
August 13, 2022
The story involving two black singers from different time periods. It included a woman singer from recent times who was struggling to earn sufficient money to care for her brother who was in high school, and a woman from the past who had sung and received prizes but could not get hired by the opera because of her color. The two stories were intertwined due to a distant family connection and a necklace of gold.
January 17, 2023
This is a good story, but the writing style is a bit awkward. Transitions between the historic story within the narrative and the modern narrative itself are sometimes clunky, and I would have liked more pages spent on the historic story. Eden's character arc from self-doubting waitress to promising new opera star is incomplete. This would make an excellent film, but falls a little short as a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
Good story! IMO, it was a little too detailed and a little too long. I found myself skimming through parts to get to the main parts of the story. It’s possible it’s because I didn’t have a lot of time to read the last couple of weeks, so take that into consideration! 4 stars, so definitely worth a read. Just make sure you set aside some good chunks of time for it.
June 30, 2023
Read this book for a book club and met the author, who attended the book club meeting. I enjoyed this book - I liked the parallel story lines and how Celia’s life story found it’s way to Eden. The power of spoken and written word to make someone’s life everlasting. I did feel that Eden was a hard worker with good work ethic but things just seemed to fall in her lap/work out for her.
December 11, 2024
This book I got at the library for a special blind date with a book. I never heard it and didn't know what to think. I'm so glad I gave it a shot. It was beautifully written and the story fascinating. I would read more from this Author.
October 11, 2025
Rosalyn Story has one of the most capturing ways of writing her characters. She truly takes you on a journey to places you may have never been (New Orleans) or times you never saw. This book was just as much of a joy to read than Wading Home. One of the most underrated story tellers of our time!
June 3, 2022
I love when a book exceeds your expectations.
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August 14, 2022What a wonderful story! Based loosely on the true story of Sissieretta Joyner Jones. Couldn’t put it down. Thank you and congratulations to Rosalyn Story.
August 17, 2022
4.5 stars
February 7, 2023
I enjoyed the 2 narratives side by side.
May 9, 2023
Absolutely wonderful book!
July 5, 2024
A beautifully written book by a fellow SAI. 🌹
February 4, 2025
I don't think this one is gonna stick.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews