Patrick Lee

The audible book was amazing. Joe Morton brought the words of Ta-Nehisi Coates to life about the journey of a boy whose mother was a slave and his father a slave owner. The story tells of the life in the South, slavery and the black yearning for freedom. The story was a bit long and the transitions a bit difficult to follow at times, and I had to rewind multiple times to get back on track with the story. But, don’t let my criticisms deter you from reading or listening to this amazing book about a journey of the inner labor and triumphs of the black struggle under slavery.

The story was gut wrenching of the struggle of children infairly imprisoned into poverty by their parents. Both parents chose their lives and tossed out their responsibilities to provide a safe environment. Jeannette Walls did a great job detailing the struggles and coming of age for herself and her siblings, but failed to bring home the lessons that would satisfy readers that a redemption was made by her parents after inflicting the suffering to their children, instead the book ended with a toast to her father who was a drunk, a thieve, and someone who just didn't give a s*** . I found the whole story painful and without redeeming reason to read.