Quite the Contrary

by Yvonne Durant

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

6 pages, Audible Audio

Published February 10, 2022

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot. Yvonne's relationship with Miles Davis is one of the focal points, as is her career in advertising. I'm not particularly interested in the world of advertising, but her story and well told and I enjoyed it more than I had expected.

Miles Davis was certainly a fascinating man. I felt torn about their relationship -- he was interesting of course, and I could understand the appeal. He never seemed to bring her completely into his world, though perhaps that was the appeal for him? To have something outside that? Some aspects of the relationship were sweet and I liked her point about everyone always talking as if they knew him when actually they had just read about him --however some of the things they were concerned about felt valid to me. There probably was an undercurrent of jealousy to some of it, but I think maybe not all --- her excitement over the ring he got her, for example, was not shared by those around her. And they were right. For most of the relationship I don't think he misled her that much, but near the end he was rather callous. She seems to have forgiven him, which is probably healthy -- I'm not sure I'd be able to!

[Tom Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful tale of a Strong Black Woman & the Challenges of Love.

I thought I would just skip through the biographical parts to hear about her time with Miles. But her life was so deeply entangled with her feelings for him that their affair could not be separated from her determination to assert herself and achieve her goals that I had to hear her whole story.

Unfortunately, it reinforces the old story of genius inhabiting the body and soul of a psychopathic, narcissistic Son of a Bitch. As I finished listening to the book, Miles’ Blue in Green from the Kind of Blue Album was playing in the background. (Honest!)

I will always be able to separate the Man from his Music but I’m very glad I never had to live with him! Homicide is a crime I’ve heard!

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that came on my radar because of my Audible subscription. It was included (free) with my subscription so I took a chance. It was a short, quick, easy read. As a marketing professional (ad agency and consumer packaged goods experience), I really enjoyed the sections about Durant's career at the various ad agencies. Parts that included Miles Davis, could have been left out as I have yet to read anything (by anybody) that would make me like Miles Davis as a person. He was an excellent, brilliant, talented and gifted musician, but as someone's significant other he was a straight up arzehole. He was abusive and preyed on a certain type of woman and unfortunately Yvonne Durant (and Cicely Tyson) fit that template. God bless him and them because he and I wouldn't have ever been a couple...even if we ran in the same circles. If you're an Audible subscriber, and looking for something outside of your reading comfort zone, maybe try this one. But be warned that anything about Miles Davis will be triggering.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m grateful that there are books like this.
This book initially captured my interest because of the mention of Miles Davis. But there is so much more to this book. In telling her story the writer gives voice to her love and the struggles of loving such a complicated man, a man who struggled with addiction and mental instability. In writing her story Ms. Durant includes her strengths and weaknesses. I finished this book so thankful to learn that she is doing so well. I also question if Miles Davis gave her the best gift that he could afford, the gift of letting her go.
This author is a gifted and honest writer. I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quite engaging memoir of a woman's romance with Miles Davis in the early 80s. That is interesting as a window into the man's life as his languished career was being rekindled. About as interesting is Durant's success in the advertising world; a world of white men. Also of note is her approach to life as a twin sister.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating life story. Really enjoyable.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the contrary
By Yvonne Durant

The remarkable personal struggle of an ad agency life in New York. Personal stories of a black woman in New York creating a life on her own. From the first choices of her parents to her college education and head hunting job search.
She balances her career and love live is remarkable in its divergence and highs and lows. She was connected to Miles Davis was a remarkable conflict between love and understanding.

[Anneka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed most of the book that didn’t involve Miles Davis. The parts that included him felt like airing dirty laundry, and only for the celebrity connection. Everything else about the author’s family and lessons and growth in advertising felt real and interesting. The ending (pre-epilogue) was abrupt. And I would have liked to learn more (read: anything) about how things started/progressed in Milan.

[April Corbett (Dorris) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At some point we need people in our lives that will tell us not to write the story. We all do stupid things in our youth but it would be nice if by the time we told the story, we had truly learned a lesson. No lesson was learned. She still pines for a man that was charmingly awful.

[Elaine Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in a very superficial way. Some interesting, but not much.

[Portia Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the organization, and the writing style. The way she effortlessly went back and forth through with ease was impressive. This book was essentially a book about her very toxic and one sided relationship with the drug addict Miles Davis. It was not romantic and was very triggering at times. I actually walked away from the book thinking thank goodness she was great at her job and had real talent, because he wasted the better part of her twenties.

[Tailyn Aka Daebug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a random find for me, wanted to listen to something while I drove to Atlanta, and I'm glad I did. Love reading stories that I can relate to. Made me feel like I was part of the story because I had already read Cicely book, Miles book so now I wanted to see if I could reference her story from either of the two, and I did. I don't know why book I had a deep dive into Miles for a minute. I enjoyed the book

[Gwen Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great listen (Audible Audio). The story of one woman's love affair with Miles Davis and her career in advertising. The story was interesting showing the discrimination that an African American woman had to face in the field of advertising in the 1970's and 1980's. It also of course discussed this intense love affair with a musical genius.

[Katrina Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the way Ms. Durant laid out her story. The reader, Allyson Johnson, was exceptional. I loved her voice and tone. The story was simple, sweet, vulnerable, and tactful. I felt I understood her life and she was respectful to all the others in her life.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. I asked Alexa to play something and this is what she came up with.

[Twyla Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The things that we do for love...

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually not a memoir reader, but I did appreciate learning more about Yvonne Durant and especially about Miles Davis.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Thought it was going to be more about her relationship with Miles Davis. It wasn't.