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A Kind of Freedom

Written by: Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly,Bahni Turpin,Adenrele Ojo
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Publisher's Summary

Evelyn is a Creole woman who comes of age in New Orleans at the height of World War II. Her family inhabits the upper echelon of black society, and when she falls for no-name Renard, she is forced to choose between her life of privilege and the man she loves.

In 1982, Evelyn's daughter Jackie is a frazzled single mother grappling with her absent husband's drug addiction. Just as she comes to terms with his abandoning the family, he returns, ready to resume their old life. Jackie must decide if the promise of her husband is worth the near certainty that he will leave again.

Jackie's son T. C. loves the creative process of growing marijuana more than the weed itself. He finds something hypnotic about training the seedlings, testing the levels, trimming the leaves, and drying the buds. He was a square before Hurricane Katrina, but the New Orleans he knew didn't survive the storm, and in its wake he was changed too. Now, fresh out of a four-month stint for possession with the intent to distribute, he decides to start over - until an old friend convinces him to stake his new beginning on one last deal.

For Evelyn, Jim Crow is an ongoing reality, and in its wake, new threats spring up to haunt her descendants. A Kind of Freedom is an urgent novel that explores the legacy of racial disparity in the South through a poignant and redemptive family history.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

What listeners say about A Kind of Freedom

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  • Bonnie B.
  • 2017-09-30

What a beautifully written, engrossing book!

Loved this book; one of the best I've read all year! And I was delighted to learn that it was written by a young alumna of Dartmouth College, where my husband coaches. I couldn't stop listening to this compelling story of three generations of a New Orleans family. It was terrific from start to finish, and is absolutely deserving of the National Book Award nomination it received. Kudos to the narrators, who also did a fantastic job.

8 people found this helpful

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  • JYM-Maye
  • 2017-10-14

Left me hanging

Storyline was great, just left me hanging and feeling short changed though. You know how when a book ends setting you up for a sequel? Well it was not that type of ending at all. It just left me saying, what the heck?

7 people found this helpful

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  • all our stories
  • 2020-10-09

To real to be considered fiction

Excellent work of fiction of the realities of life, being and becoming family. The struggle to hold onto life and each other in the face of adversity. Perhaps I struggled with reading this because it came so close to home.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Storytellersrus
  • 2018-03-04

Multiple POV

I read “Their Eyes Were Watching God” immediately before “A Kind of Freedom” and here, the language is less poetic, characters less developed, depth of feeling not there. I am not a fan of POV hopping. I prefer to get inside one character, which is not this novel; I felt confused and frustrated as the story hopped generations and personalities.

Still, there is much to like about this story: family relationships; dating angst; competition among siblings all contribute to a thoughtful tale worth being told.

4 people found this helpful

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  • LATOYA LEWIS
  • 2020-11-30

left me hanging

I'm usually not a fan of the back and forth of multiple storylines but Margaret made the changes effortlessly, even with the drastic years in-between. Although they we're years apart, she showed that things didn't change much. Parents have and show their favoritism, their disappointment and have struggles they don't talk about. I hate how the book ended, I felt like it could have keep going, told us how things worked out. Overall, great read. #Book43of2020 #bookworm #whatsnext

3 people found this helpful

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  • Desiree H. LaBranche
  • 2020-03-08

Made me miss my home and how I'd grown up.

This book made me miss the home I've been separated from for 13 years. If you love NOLA, you will love this book.

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  • Nikia Bell
  • 2021-06-22

Story was good, Ending was wack.

The story was interesting. I enjoyed hearing the life stories of these characters and how they made it a time piece. Taking us back and forth through time. However, the ending left us wanting so much more! The ending felt unfinished and left us with SOOOOO many questions.

2 people found this helpful

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  • wise_shopper
  • 2020-09-24

Unexpectedly interesting

I didn't expect to enjoy this read with the dialog jumping about but I was able to follow the story and enjoyed it after all.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Marcy
  • 2020-10-10

Excellent

This relatable story tells of an African American family which was well told. Tells another African American experience. Well done!

1 person found this helpful

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  • brenda transon
  • 2019-10-12

Awesome book

But it ended too quick. I have a lot of questions! Dang it! Good read tho

1 person found this helpful