Finding Freedom

A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch

By: Erin French

Narrated by: Erin French

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

"[Erin French's] memoir treats listeners to a smooth ride through an anything-but-smooth life. French's engrossing narration delivers polished consistency, and her gentle tone ushers listeners through her story. She speaks with passion and grace, creating a compelling narrative - with plenty of mouthwatering food descriptions." (AudioFile magazine)

New York Times Best Seller

This program is read by the author.

From Erin French, owner of the critically acclaimed The Lost Kitchen, a TIME world dining destination, a life-affirming memoir about survival, renewal, and finding a community to lift her up.

Long before The Lost Kitchen became a world dining destination with every seating filled the day the reservation book opens each spring, Erin French was a girl roaming barefoot on a 25-acre farm, a teenager falling in love with food while working the line at her dad’s diner and a young woman finding her calling as a professional chef at her tiny restaurant tucked into a 19th century mill. This singular memoir - a classic American story - invites listeners to Erin's corner of her beloved Maine to share the real person behind the “girl from Freedom” fairytale, and the not-so-picture-perfect struggles that have taken every ounce of her strength to overcome, and that make Erin’s life triumphant.  

In Finding Freedom, Erin opens up to the challenges, stumbles, and victories that have led her to the exact place she was ever meant to be, telling stories of multiple rock-bottoms, of darkness and anxiety, of survival as a jobless single mother, of pills that promised release but delivered addiction, of a man who seemed to offer salvation but in the end ripped away her very sense of self. And of the beautiful son who was her guiding light as she slowly rebuilt her personal and culinary life around the solace she found in food - as a source of comfort, a sense of place, as a way of bringing goodness into the world. Erin’s experiences with deep loss and abiding hope, told with both honesty and humor, will resonate with women everywhere who are determined to find their voices, create community, grow stronger and discover their best-selves despite seemingly impossible odds. Set against the backdrop of rural Maine and its lushly intense, bountiful seasons, Erin reveals the passion and courage needed to invent oneself anew, and the poignant, timeless connections between food and generosity, renewal and freedom.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books

“This is a beautiful memoir of resilience, creativity, and amazing cooking. I was totally inspired and you will be too!” (Ina Garten)

"Erin French is a talented chef, a successful entrepreneur, a beautiful young woman, and a passionate promoter of living the 'good life.' This book chronicles the incredible ups, and relatable downs, of building a life and a business." (Martha Stewart)

"Erin is an overcomer and a risk-taker. She’s the kind of person who, when faced with a setback, pushes forward and makes beauty out of hardship. Her story is full of passion and courage, and when you read this book, you will walk away feeling inspired and encouraged in your own life.” (Joanna Gaines, Co-Founder, Magnolia)

©2021 Erin French (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Ramblings of a narcissist

This reads like the classic ramblings of a narcissist. Always the victim, never to blame. It’s well written and read nicely, but it’s awful to listen to the incessant whine of someone who had a pretty average American life.

First World Problem Whining

I have never taken the time to write a review before and now after so many good books I am sorry I did not. But this is the first book that I wanted to return. I read so many good things about this book and I found it’s so irritating that she just constantly whines about her problems that are so ridiculous. You opened a restaurant. You chose to do so. Then you whine because you work long hours. Your father supported you and taught you how to cook but then you complain that he wasn’t nice. I have tried for the past month to get through this thinking there must be a good ending but every single chapter is nothing but a self pitying tone. Maybe it gets better but I can’t deal.

Can there be hope and possibility for us all?

Erin’s brutally honest and compelling memoir about her birth of both Lost Diner restaurants and her path through addiction, anxiety and financial ruin is both heartbreaking and full of hope and joy. She doesn’t flinch from admitting her culpability in all that happened, and her gratefulness and recognition of support from others - especially crediting her mom - are humble and genuine. Can any of us find this kind of rebirth? Can we find our own purposes in life with as much clarity? And are the food descriptions really the best part of this book? Listen and find out!

insanely enjoyable. amazing and full of heart.

insanely enjoyable. amazing and full of heart. cried happy tears. beautifully written. best book I've read in a long time.

Authentic and Moving Story

I am an avid audible listener, and have listened to a significant number of Chef's memoirs, this book is my favorite read to date. Erin French is a great writer, and narrator, an incredible chef, and innovative restaurant owner. Her story was real, she talked about the good, the bad and the very ugly with a transparency that let you see with eyes wide open her journey. Not just some mish mosh of entertaining stores about her journey into the restaurant business and how she became a success. I have never been to her restaurant, tried many times but so damn hard to eat here, but I have followed along on her success. I found her book to be a true account of just how difficult the business can be, pairing it with the too often by product of addiction that can happen when you are immersed in building a life. Enjoyed it immensely!

Beautiful!

Just a beautiful book. As a fellow Maine farm girl, I was brought back to my own childhood. Listening to Erin tell her story was something I didn’t want to end! A true artist, Maine is blessed to call her ours.

Not my favorite

Finding Freedom is well written and well presented. Yet it’s a book that, although you know the ending will be positive, getting there is one negative experience after another. There were few scenes of joy and hope until the end so it became tedious.

Delicious book!

Not being a cook myself I wondered if I would enjoy this adventure but I was swept away by the first few pages, And knowing that this was a story about a woman who fell down and got up made it more exciting for me. That it was about addiction that no one ever plans for and the rebirth from that kind of hell, I was never disappointed, never doubted that she would rise again and cheered her all the way!!!
I wish you didn’t live across the country with this restaurant because I would’ve ran there this morning. Thank you thank you

Disappointing.

Kept waiting for Enlightenment. Had a hard time finishing, so didn't... Not the story I'd expected, I'd hoped for a more sophisticated culinary read.

A great book of healing & redemption

Loved the authors voice and reading style of this book. It was a great book about the hardships & strength & healing of Erin. I would have liked it more without all the F—- words in it but other than that it was a GREAT book. I’m so glad she wrote it and is encouraging so many people it’s possible to have a great life after so much heart ache! God has given Erin so many talents & gifts!