Through reading about 3 generations of one family in New Orleans of the 1940s, 1980s and contemporary post-Katrina yeas, we see how deeply ingrained systemic racism means that the abolition of slavery in the US has only ever provided a Kind of Freedom to it's black communities.

This is a well crafted novel. Though perhaps a little short on length and detail for my liking, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton succeeds in utilising the carefully chosen aspects of her short novel in a skilful manner, getting her message across without resorting to heavy handed preaching tactics.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to this novel for free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

One word review: Disappointing

Rambling review: The struggles of an African American family through three generations. I expected so much more from this novel and publisher. The blurb promises much more than it delivers.

The inequalities and racial disparity weren't explored in enough detail or were only skimmed upon (e.g. the harsh sentencing for African Americans carrying cannabis). There was good exploration of Katrina and racial disparity of its aftermath but, largely, the Jim Crow relics were present but not fully utilised. Additionally, the characters felt one dimensional and I wasn’t emotionally invested in any of them.

It is difficult to not compare this to Homegoing but also to compare it to Homegoing. I don’t think Homegoing’s brilliance has alienated all other novels from approaching this topic/concept, but it has raised the bar so high that a book needs to be really good to hold it’s ground. For me, unfortunately, A Kind Of Freedom didn’t.

P.S. It’s been a while since I wrote a “not positive” review and I tend to avoid doing them as I am racked with guilt each time… Sorry, but I really couldn't recommend it :(

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