Freedom Road

By: William Lashner

Narrated by: James Daniels

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

He’s taking a dangerous path in search of his missing granddaughter - the only part of his life worth saving.

Oliver Cross is fresh out of jail. His plans for the future are to live out his days in regret, back pain, and a bottle of Lone Star. But when he finds out his granddaughter, a wild child who reminds him of his late wife, has vanished - bless her hell-raising heart - Oliver jumps parole. With a sketchy teen and an abandoned dog, he hits the blacktop to find her.

On the road and on the run from a vengeful Russian drug dealer, Oliver finds himself on a trip across America and into his own past, fueled by fumes from a Ford F-250 and a reason to live. But from an exclusive club in Chicago to a seedy commune in the Rockies, a series of disastrous choices sends Oliver spiraling further from his goal and deeper into danger. It’s a journey that could all end in redemption or a hail of bullets. And either’s okay by him.

©2019 William Lashner (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Diary of a grown-up hippie

Oliver is a child of the 60's and still an aging hippie. As he rebelled against his father's establishment, his own son rebels against his own radical life... And his granddaughter runs away with a young rebel in a flight eerily reminiscent of her grandfathers' freedom run. Oliver still talks to his dead wife and is a hateful, crotchety, but strangely lovable grumpily still trying to do the right thing.
The narration is good, although sometimes the attributions were in the same character Voice as the dialogue, but it kept me engrossed in the story and the production was good. Loved the Voice of Oliver, just as I pictured his voice

Not sure what I think about this book…

Freedom Road was interesting at times and odd at other times. It is different from the books I usually read/listen to. The changing timelines are not always intuitive, so you have to pay attention. The occasional change of perspective on which character’s view the story is coming from is okay and insightful. The character development was good. The storyline was good. So what’s not to like? The philosophical aspects, which were a lot of the story, were a bit much for me and I didn’t always connect with them. So this book was mixed for me - not something I will return to, and not an author I will look for, but I don’t regret listening to it. The was more profanity than I thought was warranted, but not too far over the edge.

Great story

I really enjoyed this book and the narrator did a wonderful job! The story was very original and had so many intriguing characters that I found myself caring more and more about as the story progressed. I highly recommend this book!

Good!

This book is quite good. A lot better than I was expecting. Starts off a little slow, but does pick up, gets pretty good, and wraps up nicely in the end. Baby Boomers in particular may enjoy this. Slightly political and left leaning, but not so intrusive as to affect the overall enjoyment of the story.

Great storytelling!

I hadn’t read anything by Lashner before, but I very much enjoyed this tale. It is woven with a back and forth between past and present, so we learn about certain past mysteries as the story goes. I loved the way so many things are stated in this book…the characters come alive with their unique thinking and phrasing. They didn’t sound like a bunch of characters created by one author, but rather like actual individuals with their own nuances. A fun listen!

You kinda know how it will end after a few chapters

Ode to a hippie generation, It’s too melodramatic for a thriller, plus you know how it will end. A few plot twists here and there but frankly i found myself skipping through a lot of the more sappier chapters.

Unforgettable story; incredibly narrated;tragedy combined with humor

Had trouble putting this one down. Includes profanity and violence and love: an amazing combination! What an imagination you have, Mr. Lashner! Thank you.

Great story!

Loved the characters. The power of a good tale and the humor! So well done.

very well written

I really enjoyed this work the narrator the story the suspense it was great. I highly recommend

Could'nt stop listening!

The story was attention getting to the point of distraction. When a book can make me choose it over other duties, it's great. The narrarator could not have been more perfect, believeable and brought the characters to life. I consider myself a hard person to keep my attention. This held it before I recognized it. Excellent!