Libertie

By: Kaitlyn Greenidge

Narrated by: Channie Waites

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Pure brilliance. So much will be written about Kaitlyn Greenidge’s Libertie - how it blends history and magic into a new kind of telling, how it spins the past to draw deft circles around our present - but none of it will measure up to the singular joy of reading this book.” (Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk)

The critically acclaimed and Whiting Award-winning author of We Love You, Charlie Freeman returns with an unforgettable story about the meaning of freedom.

Coming of age as a free-born Black girl in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson was all too aware that her purposeful mother, a practicing physician, had a vision for their future together: Libertie would go to medical school and practice alongside her. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, feels stifled by her mother’s choices and is hungry for something else - is there really only one way to have an autonomous life? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her mother who can pass, Libertie has skin that is too dark. 

When a young man from Haiti proposes to Libertie and promises she will be his equal on the island, she accepts, only to discover that she is still subordinate to him and all men. As she tries to parse what freedom actually means for a Black woman, Libertie struggles with where she might find it - for herself and for generations to come. 

Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new novel resonates in our times and is perfect for fans of Brit Bennett, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi. 

©2021 Kaitlyn Greenidge (P)2021 Recorded Books

absolutely loved ir

my only qualm is about the quality of recording. the narrator occasionally speaks so softly I cannot hear her. aside from that she is amazing for the role and the book was very enjoyable.

Narration makes a huge difference

The narrator of this novel is so horribly awful it makes me angry. She cares more about her own voice than the characters or themes in this well written novel. The narrator ruins the novel with her solipsistic devotion to her own self, wherein she makes everything be about her performance rather than what’s happening in the book. There is nothing authentic about this narrator’s voice- she mimics Michelle Obama’s beautiful voice, then tries and fails to render Haitian and Creole accents. Whoever gave this woman the job of narrator should be fired. Audible needs to find a different narrator. Do not ruin this wonderful book by listening to the Audible version.

FANTASTIC!

Great writing, great characters, great story! The relationship between mother and daughter pulled at my heart. I think, being in my thirties now, I have a better appreciation and perspective to empathize with both characters. Loved this!

Libertie

I did not understand this book. I kept trying to find meaning. Libertie to me was a selfish girl who focused too much on herself and her thoughts.
It became a chore to finish the novel. I only did so because my Book club selected it for our next meeting. The plot tires you out,
I suppose the color of it would make a good movie. The sexual references are done well, the author gets points for that. Can’t recommend.

Great read

I enjoyed listening to this book. It was very easy to follow. The narration was also great.

Family trust issues

Libertie does not trust her mother to tell the truth about her grades, she then abruptly marries, but does not trust her husband, she does not trust her friends but ultimately she relies on them to get messages back-and-forth, and then goes back to her mother, whom she has finally decided that she will trust. I did not like it.

I tried but just couldn’t finish it!

I wanted to like this book but it felt like it just didn’t make any sense. And boy did it drag on and on! I hate when I am disappointed with a book.

Beautiful

I love the twists and turns this book makes, as much as the lyrical beauty of the words. It’s a song of hope, a song of strength, a song of mother’s and daughters. We often don’t understand our mothers until it is too late. The song of Libertie teaches us, frees us, to love each other.

Woman of true strength

Full of feelings as she is searching for herself place in the world. Thank you for. this great read.

wonderful writing

I loved this story. so beautifully told. She is free. "The water has no enemy."