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Libertie
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 readers of Brit Bennett, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi.
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 readers of Brit Bennett, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2021
1254 people are currently reading
37367 people want to read
About the author
Kaitlyn Greenidge
8 books694 followersKaitlyn Greenidge received her MFA from Hunter College. Greenidge was the recipient of a Hertog Fellowship and the Bernard Cohen Short Story Prize. She was a Bread Loaf scholar, a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace artist-in-residence, and a Johnson State College visiting emerging writer. Her work has appeared in the Believer, the Feminist Wire, At Length, Fortnight Journal, Green Mountains Review, Afrobeat Journal, the Tottenville Review, and American Short Fiction. Originally from Boston, she now lives in Brooklyn. Her debut novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman was published by Algonquin Books in March 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,186 reviews
April 25, 2021
This is an interesting novel. Libertie is the daughter of a physician. Both she and her mother are free black women. The novel begins near the end of the Civil War, Libertie as a child, helping her mother tend to the people in their Brooklyn Community. This is a coming of age story. It is very interior and Libertie is a fascinating, infuriating protagonist. She makes so many confounding decisions and is, at times, her own worst enemy. But still, toward the end of the novel,
She finds a moral clarity that is admirable and serves as the catalyst for the ending. A very layered, beautifully rendered novel.
She finds a moral clarity that is admirable and serves as the catalyst for the ending. A very layered, beautifully rendered novel.
July 22, 2021
The only good poem I’ve ever written is you. A daughter is a poem. A daughter is a kind of psalm. You, in the world, responding to me, is a song I made. I cannot make another.
In Kaitlyn Greenidge’s sophomore novel Libertie we are taken to Brooklyn where we meet Libertie and her mother Cathy a free Black practising physician. With the death of her father, Libertie is raised by her very strong mother who is known as a level-headed physician for Black people. With more enslaved persons taking their freedom her mother’s house gets fuller and fuller. While her mother’s dream is for her to become a physician like her, Libertie doesn’t think that is the path for her. This is a coming-of-age story about Libertie, how she views the changing world around her.
This is what I would call addictive reading. I could not put this book down and when I did put it down, I kept thinking about it. I loved how well researched and developed the characters, especially the women were in this book. The theme of feminism, freedom, mental illness, mother-daughter relationship, colourism and passing were thoroughly executed.
First let me say, I cannot remember reading a book where free Black Americans journey to Haiti to start a life. I really enjoyed how the author explored this in light of history, culture and religion. For Libertie who is a free Black Woman journeying to Haiti with her Husband who while he is Black, can also pass for white. There was so much to unpack and I think the author did such a superb job of showing us life in Haiti from a Black American perspective. We see how religion was weaponized and how Haitians who wanted to have an education had to give up so much. I wanted more of this.
A free Black Woman Doctor living in Brooklyn during the time of slavery, I could not get enough of it. The historical look into this was well executed. I think I enjoyed all the experiments that were done and how herbs were used to treat those in need. I loved that the author took it a step further by showing that while enslaved people were free, the impact of being enslaved has lasting effects on their mental health. That for me, was so nuanced, heart break and deeply impactful. Their bodies are here with us in emancipation, but their minds are not free
There is the theme of passing and colorism that the author executed on meticulously. Libertie is dark, while her mother could pass for white. We see the constant microaggression and biases towards Libertie because of her colour and how her mother was sometimes able to slide under the radar. I think what stood out for me was how Libertie was viewed because of her skin by other Black people.
If you are looking for a book with strong mother-daughter theme, this is it. Greenidge writes this theme so convincingly and wanted more of it. How we see the mother through the daughter’s eyes and vice versa was just…. Wow!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was so much explored and at some points I wished the author had focused on just one thing but it all came together. I did feel sometimes the character motivation wasn’t fully convincing, case in point, Libertie running off with her husband. I also felt some of the storyline was tied up, but that could just be me.
A solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In Kaitlyn Greenidge’s sophomore novel Libertie we are taken to Brooklyn where we meet Libertie and her mother Cathy a free Black practising physician. With the death of her father, Libertie is raised by her very strong mother who is known as a level-headed physician for Black people. With more enslaved persons taking their freedom her mother’s house gets fuller and fuller. While her mother’s dream is for her to become a physician like her, Libertie doesn’t think that is the path for her. This is a coming-of-age story about Libertie, how she views the changing world around her.
This is what I would call addictive reading. I could not put this book down and when I did put it down, I kept thinking about it. I loved how well researched and developed the characters, especially the women were in this book. The theme of feminism, freedom, mental illness, mother-daughter relationship, colourism and passing were thoroughly executed.
First let me say, I cannot remember reading a book where free Black Americans journey to Haiti to start a life. I really enjoyed how the author explored this in light of history, culture and religion. For Libertie who is a free Black Woman journeying to Haiti with her Husband who while he is Black, can also pass for white. There was so much to unpack and I think the author did such a superb job of showing us life in Haiti from a Black American perspective. We see how religion was weaponized and how Haitians who wanted to have an education had to give up so much. I wanted more of this.
A free Black Woman Doctor living in Brooklyn during the time of slavery, I could not get enough of it. The historical look into this was well executed. I think I enjoyed all the experiments that were done and how herbs were used to treat those in need. I loved that the author took it a step further by showing that while enslaved people were free, the impact of being enslaved has lasting effects on their mental health. That for me, was so nuanced, heart break and deeply impactful. Their bodies are here with us in emancipation, but their minds are not free
There is the theme of passing and colorism that the author executed on meticulously. Libertie is dark, while her mother could pass for white. We see the constant microaggression and biases towards Libertie because of her colour and how her mother was sometimes able to slide under the radar. I think what stood out for me was how Libertie was viewed because of her skin by other Black people.
If you are looking for a book with strong mother-daughter theme, this is it. Greenidge writes this theme so convincingly and wanted more of it. How we see the mother through the daughter’s eyes and vice versa was just…. Wow!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was so much explored and at some points I wished the author had focused on just one thing but it all came together. I did feel sometimes the character motivation wasn’t fully convincing, case in point, Libertie running off with her husband. I also felt some of the storyline was tied up, but that could just be me.
A solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 19, 2022
BLOG TOUR FOR PAPERBACK BOOK 03/19/2022
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela
Libertie Sampson's mother was a practicing physician in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, New York. Her mother had a vision for her - to be a physician like herself. Her entire life, her mother molded Libertie to be a doctor with hopes that one day they would practice medicine together. Dreams are wonderful, except when your dream differs from the one who has put all her hopes and dreams on you. Libertie loves music and wants something else in life. But what?
"How is it possible to become free when you do not even know who you are?"
Libertie's mother is a free woman with light skin and could "pass" and practiced medicine during the time of slavery. She helped others and at times was praised and at times looked down upon. Libertie's skin is dark, and she experiences racism and race bias. She has her own set of dreams and wants to break free and make her own life choices. When she meets a man from Haiti, she is promised to be treated as an equal and she agrees to marry him and move to Haiti. But soon questions what is equality and what is freedom? What does freedom mean?
Beautifully written this is a coming-of-age tale about a young woman who questions freedom throughout her young life. Freedom from underneath her mother's expectations, freedom from race bias, freedom to be equal, freedom to make her own choices, freedom to speak her own mind, freedom to love and freedom to decide her fate. This is a book about love, courage, about family, about sexism, about race, about passing, about freedom, about colorism, and about a mother daughter relationship.
Kaitlyn Greenidge will grab you immediately with her opening scene and will keep you invested until her final sentence. Her research is impressive as is her depiction of relationships, expectations, and the hardships of life during that time. I found this book to be both thought provoking and riveting. Her writing as I mentioned is beautiful and at times lyrical.
An engrossing book which should not be missed.
***Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Books and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela
Libertie Sampson's mother was a practicing physician in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, New York. Her mother had a vision for her - to be a physician like herself. Her entire life, her mother molded Libertie to be a doctor with hopes that one day they would practice medicine together. Dreams are wonderful, except when your dream differs from the one who has put all her hopes and dreams on you. Libertie loves music and wants something else in life. But what?
"How is it possible to become free when you do not even know who you are?"
Libertie's mother is a free woman with light skin and could "pass" and practiced medicine during the time of slavery. She helped others and at times was praised and at times looked down upon. Libertie's skin is dark, and she experiences racism and race bias. She has her own set of dreams and wants to break free and make her own life choices. When she meets a man from Haiti, she is promised to be treated as an equal and she agrees to marry him and move to Haiti. But soon questions what is equality and what is freedom? What does freedom mean?
Beautifully written this is a coming-of-age tale about a young woman who questions freedom throughout her young life. Freedom from underneath her mother's expectations, freedom from race bias, freedom to be equal, freedom to make her own choices, freedom to speak her own mind, freedom to love and freedom to decide her fate. This is a book about love, courage, about family, about sexism, about race, about passing, about freedom, about colorism, and about a mother daughter relationship.
Kaitlyn Greenidge will grab you immediately with her opening scene and will keep you invested until her final sentence. Her research is impressive as is her depiction of relationships, expectations, and the hardships of life during that time. I found this book to be both thought provoking and riveting. Her writing as I mentioned is beautiful and at times lyrical.
An engrossing book which should not be missed.
***Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Books and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 16, 2021
This book started off pretty interesting but got slow. I considered DNFing it a couple times but went ahead and finished it. I didn’t care for the character of Libertie or her mother and there wasn’t enough of a plot for me.
December 19, 2021
Review soon -
- a girl can only do so much when on vacation 😎
I’m back….
*Libertie* …..
…..takes place in the Reconstruction era….
This was my first time reading anything by Kaitlyn Greenidge. She’s a wonderful storyteller.
The novel is in part a mother/daughter inquiry….examining anatomy and even mindfulness.
It’s also a story about identity, and freedom—inspired by one of the first Black female doctors in the United States.
Libertie is a dark-skinned girl, who was born free in post- civil war Brooklyn. Her ‘medical-doctor’ mother had light-black skin.
From the time Libertie was a little girl she was aware of how white people treated her inferior due to her ‘dark’ skin. The contrast between Libertie’s dark skin next to her mother’s light skin —was a revealing reality.
Libertie and her mother’s relationship ran as deep as it was complex.
Their friction associated with their value choices was achingly felt.
I empathize with both the mother and daughter.
Like all children, Libertie needed to find her own way into the world.
We follow Libertie to college and into adulthood where she begins to understand racism, classism, colorism, and more.
At first Libertie was painfully lonely at college - missed and wanted for mother’s comfort desperately — but was too proud to call home.
I admired Libertie trying her best to be independent…find her own way in life, I always felt her mother’s perspective as well.
A tidal way of emotions was explored. Mother was no longer authorized to make her daughter’s decisions….yet we recognized the line in the sand.
I enjoyed this book very much.
The writing was tender, fierce, and real. The dialogue engaged my thoughts about how ‘anyone’ manages to grow up with healthy self-esteem, self-acceptance, healthy boundaries, moral integrity, respectful of self and others….
resilient and confident in a world that tests our convictions, our self worth, placement, our education, our careers, our color, our equality.
“Libertie” was a wonderful historical dramatization that was richly textured dealing with the same contemporary human issues of today.
I loved it ….
….loved the comfort-ease-of-reading matched with substantial relevances explored.
- a girl can only do so much when on vacation 😎
I’m back….
*Libertie* …..
…..takes place in the Reconstruction era….
This was my first time reading anything by Kaitlyn Greenidge. She’s a wonderful storyteller.
The novel is in part a mother/daughter inquiry….examining anatomy and even mindfulness.
It’s also a story about identity, and freedom—inspired by one of the first Black female doctors in the United States.
Libertie is a dark-skinned girl, who was born free in post- civil war Brooklyn. Her ‘medical-doctor’ mother had light-black skin.
From the time Libertie was a little girl she was aware of how white people treated her inferior due to her ‘dark’ skin. The contrast between Libertie’s dark skin next to her mother’s light skin —was a revealing reality.
Libertie and her mother’s relationship ran as deep as it was complex.
Their friction associated with their value choices was achingly felt.
I empathize with both the mother and daughter.
Like all children, Libertie needed to find her own way into the world.
We follow Libertie to college and into adulthood where she begins to understand racism, classism, colorism, and more.
At first Libertie was painfully lonely at college - missed and wanted for mother’s comfort desperately — but was too proud to call home.
I admired Libertie trying her best to be independent…find her own way in life, I always felt her mother’s perspective as well.
A tidal way of emotions was explored. Mother was no longer authorized to make her daughter’s decisions….yet we recognized the line in the sand.
I enjoyed this book very much.
The writing was tender, fierce, and real. The dialogue engaged my thoughts about how ‘anyone’ manages to grow up with healthy self-esteem, self-acceptance, healthy boundaries, moral integrity, respectful of self and others….
resilient and confident in a world that tests our convictions, our self worth, placement, our education, our careers, our color, our equality.
“Libertie” was a wonderful historical dramatization that was richly textured dealing with the same contemporary human issues of today.
I loved it ….
….loved the comfort-ease-of-reading matched with substantial relevances explored.
May 30, 2022
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3½ stars (possibly to be rounded up to 4)
I was hooked by Libertie's opening paragraph. Set during and after the American Civil War Kaitlyn Greenidge's novel is narrated by Libertie the daughter of a Black female doctor. As the child of a free-woman Libertie is born free at a time when slavery was yet to be abolished. But unlike her mother, who is light-skinned and able to study medicine by 'passing', Libertie herself is dark-skinned, and because of this she experiences both racism and the prejudices of those who are 'colorstruck'. Cathy, although not a demonstrative mother, clearly cares about Libertie and has trained her since a young age in the medical arts.
While under her mother's tutelage Libertie discovers that some conditions and or people cannot be cured, which causes her to doubt her mother. When one of her mother's patients, a man Libertie was fond of, fails to recover, Libertie partly blames her mother and grows increasingly disillusioned by her profession. Sensing her daughter's detachment, Cathy enrols Libertie at Cunningham College in Ohio where she will be the only female medical student. Libertie, who by this point has already begun to chafe against her mother's expectations, is far more drawn by the music department, and in particular, by the voices of Louisa and Experience, also knows as the Graces.
Libertie longs to belong to them, but, in spite of her attempts to form a friendship with the Graces, the bond between the two women is impenetrable. Greenidge's articulates Libertie's loneliness and yearning with lyric precision. It was easy to understand and sympathize with Libertie, her wish to be free of other people's visions of who she should be. We also understand how complex her relationship with her mother is: having grown without a father or other relatives Cathy is everything to Libertie.
I found this first half of the novel to be but poignant and engaging. Greenidge does not shy away from discussing the realities of slavery, racism, colorism, or sexism. Yet, her narrative does not dwell on pain and suffering. There are many moments of beauty and empathy, and I found Libertie's voice to be utterly captivating.
The latter half of the novel is where things get a bit messy. Libertie becomes entangled with Emmanuel, a young man from Haiti. While their first interactions had both chemistry and potential, their romance happens way too fast. Libertie's feelings toward Emmanuel aren't clearly addressed, which was weird since up to that point readers were privy to her innermost feelings and or thoughts. And then, bam, all of a sudden Libertie is in Haiti with Emmanuel and things there take a vaguely Jane Eyresque turn.
While the descriptions of Haiti, from its history to its physical landscapes, were vivid, and there were many thought-provoking discussions on religion and culture, I remained unconvinced by Libertie's motivations to move there. I wish the story had kept its focus on her and Cathy or her and the Graces, as I did not really feel the 'love' between her and Emmanuel. Their relationship was rushed and once in Haiti it never truly develops or progresses. His family drama steals the limelight, and although it did allow the narrative to touch upon some compelling issues, I just could not bring myself to believe in Libertie or Emmanuel's motives. Cathy's presence is relegated once more to letters that Libertie chooses not answer. The finale was both predictable and left a few too many questions unanswered.
Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed Greenidge's writing. I found that the inclusion of poetry, music, and fragments from Libertie/Cathy's letters added a layer of depth to the story.
While I wasn't blown away by the latter half of the novel nor its conclusion I would still recommend this as it is written in lyrical prose and it presents readers with a nuanced mother-daughter relationship while also delving into America's history and navigating issues such as racism, colorism, sexism, grief, and, as the title and heroine's name suggest, liberty.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3½ stars (possibly to be rounded up to 4)
“I saw my mother raise a man from the dead. It still didn't help him much, my love, she told me. But I saw her do it all the same. That's how I knew she was magic.”
I was hooked by Libertie's opening paragraph. Set during and after the American Civil War Kaitlyn Greenidge's novel is narrated by Libertie the daughter of a Black female doctor. As the child of a free-woman Libertie is born free at a time when slavery was yet to be abolished. But unlike her mother, who is light-skinned and able to study medicine by 'passing', Libertie herself is dark-skinned, and because of this she experiences both racism and the prejudices of those who are 'colorstruck'. Cathy, although not a demonstrative mother, clearly cares about Libertie and has trained her since a young age in the medical arts.
While under her mother's tutelage Libertie discovers that some conditions and or people cannot be cured, which causes her to doubt her mother. When one of her mother's patients, a man Libertie was fond of, fails to recover, Libertie partly blames her mother and grows increasingly disillusioned by her profession. Sensing her daughter's detachment, Cathy enrols Libertie at Cunningham College in Ohio where she will be the only female medical student. Libertie, who by this point has already begun to chafe against her mother's expectations, is far more drawn by the music department, and in particular, by the voices of Louisa and Experience, also knows as the Graces.
“Music at night, music after dark, music finding its way to you across sweetgrass, can feel almost like magic.”
Libertie longs to belong to them, but, in spite of her attempts to form a friendship with the Graces, the bond between the two women is impenetrable. Greenidge's articulates Libertie's loneliness and yearning with lyric precision. It was easy to understand and sympathize with Libertie, her wish to be free of other people's visions of who she should be. We also understand how complex her relationship with her mother is: having grown without a father or other relatives Cathy is everything to Libertie.
I found this first half of the novel to be but poignant and engaging. Greenidge does not shy away from discussing the realities of slavery, racism, colorism, or sexism. Yet, her narrative does not dwell on pain and suffering. There are many moments of beauty and empathy, and I found Libertie's voice to be utterly captivating.
The latter half of the novel is where things get a bit messy. Libertie becomes entangled with Emmanuel, a young man from Haiti. While their first interactions had both chemistry and potential, their romance happens way too fast. Libertie's feelings toward Emmanuel aren't clearly addressed, which was weird since up to that point readers were privy to her innermost feelings and or thoughts. And then, bam, all of a sudden Libertie is in Haiti with Emmanuel and things there take a vaguely Jane Eyresque turn.
While the descriptions of Haiti, from its history to its physical landscapes, were vivid, and there were many thought-provoking discussions on religion and culture, I remained unconvinced by Libertie's motivations to move there. I wish the story had kept its focus on her and Cathy or her and the Graces, as I did not really feel the 'love' between her and Emmanuel. Their relationship was rushed and once in Haiti it never truly develops or progresses. His family drama steals the limelight, and although it did allow the narrative to touch upon some compelling issues, I just could not bring myself to believe in Libertie or Emmanuel's motives. Cathy's presence is relegated once more to letters that Libertie chooses not answer. The finale was both predictable and left a few too many questions unanswered.
Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed Greenidge's writing. I found that the inclusion of poetry, music, and fragments from Libertie/Cathy's letters added a layer of depth to the story.
While I wasn't blown away by the latter half of the novel nor its conclusion I would still recommend this as it is written in lyrical prose and it presents readers with a nuanced mother-daughter relationship while also delving into America's history and navigating issues such as racism, colorism, sexism, grief, and, as the title and heroine's name suggest, liberty.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2021
I’ve been contemplating what I want to say about this book. I’m perplexed and deeply torn.
This book is about a woman, Dr. Sampson, who is the first and only Black woman doctor in the county. Light enough to pass for white, Dr. Sampson has a daughter, Libertie who has skin like midnight. This daughter of hers, she is grooming to have her join her practice and help/aid women in their county. However, this story is narrated from the daughter, Libertie’s perspective, and Libertie, is searching for her own liberty. Coming of age story, told in alternating voices of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, we meet Dr. Sampson and her daughter Libertie pioneering as young Black women in Kings County, helping people escape from slavery or re-establish themselves during the Reconstruction period.
Dr. Sampson wants to build a hospital, and she wants to share her hospital and practice with her daughter, Libertie. When Libertie becomes old enough to go to college, she travels to an all-Black college, on the heels of her mother’s recommendations, and is pursuing medicine like her mother. However, Libertie realizes that she doesn’t want the same things that her mother wants, and decides to pursue Experience and Louisa as they become traveling singers. However, Libertie has to face her mother eventually, and when she returns home, she meets an apprentice of her mother’s, and falls in love.
Her husband, also has some family issues that need to be handled. Her husband, a believer in vodoun has an idea of he wants to rally and strengthen the Haitian people. His father, a bishop of the local church, also has an agenda in mind. While his sister, Ella, is battling her own demons.
Libertie, a married woman and now expectant mother, she realizes how little liberty she actually has with her own life and choices in her marriage and life. Libertie has to make a choice. Will Libertie finally find her freedom? Will her mother ever accept her choices as a grown woman?
This book discusses a few topics of interest:
- Colorism
- Coming-of-age
- Parental influence
- LGBTQIA+
- Sexism
- Mysognoir
- Familial Relationships
- Abuse
- Patriarchy
- Tradition/religion
- Self-awareness/respect
Great ideas, but poorly executed.
What worked for me? The storyline isn’t that bad. It’s full of family drama, and action, with great potential. This book has some really beautiful writing, and the prose and cadence of the work is so well balanced.
What didn’t work for me? Everything else. The book was ALL OVER THE PLACE!! There is just so much going on! I don’t think any of the problems in the book were ever solved. The plot line has you careening off into various directions. The ending is anti-climatic and you are left putting your own pieces together as to what happened in the book. The book started off at a somewhat decent clip, and gradually went down in flames. I really wanted to like this book much more, but unfortunately I cannot. 3 stars.
To be honest: This book is so bad it will probably end up being on TV.
Thank you to Algonquin (@algonquin), Kaitlyn Greenidge for this book in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
This book is about a woman, Dr. Sampson, who is the first and only Black woman doctor in the county. Light enough to pass for white, Dr. Sampson has a daughter, Libertie who has skin like midnight. This daughter of hers, she is grooming to have her join her practice and help/aid women in their county. However, this story is narrated from the daughter, Libertie’s perspective, and Libertie, is searching for her own liberty. Coming of age story, told in alternating voices of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, we meet Dr. Sampson and her daughter Libertie pioneering as young Black women in Kings County, helping people escape from slavery or re-establish themselves during the Reconstruction period.
Dr. Sampson wants to build a hospital, and she wants to share her hospital and practice with her daughter, Libertie. When Libertie becomes old enough to go to college, she travels to an all-Black college, on the heels of her mother’s recommendations, and is pursuing medicine like her mother. However, Libertie realizes that she doesn’t want the same things that her mother wants, and decides to pursue Experience and Louisa as they become traveling singers. However, Libertie has to face her mother eventually, and when she returns home, she meets an apprentice of her mother’s, and falls in love.
Her husband, also has some family issues that need to be handled. Her husband, a believer in vodoun has an idea of he wants to rally and strengthen the Haitian people. His father, a bishop of the local church, also has an agenda in mind. While his sister, Ella, is battling her own demons.
Libertie, a married woman and now expectant mother, she realizes how little liberty she actually has with her own life and choices in her marriage and life. Libertie has to make a choice. Will Libertie finally find her freedom? Will her mother ever accept her choices as a grown woman?
This book discusses a few topics of interest:
- Colorism
- Coming-of-age
- Parental influence
- LGBTQIA+
- Sexism
- Mysognoir
- Familial Relationships
- Abuse
- Patriarchy
- Tradition/religion
- Self-awareness/respect
Great ideas, but poorly executed.
What worked for me? The storyline isn’t that bad. It’s full of family drama, and action, with great potential. This book has some really beautiful writing, and the prose and cadence of the work is so well balanced.
What didn’t work for me? Everything else. The book was ALL OVER THE PLACE!! There is just so much going on! I don’t think any of the problems in the book were ever solved. The plot line has you careening off into various directions. The ending is anti-climatic and you are left putting your own pieces together as to what happened in the book. The book started off at a somewhat decent clip, and gradually went down in flames. I really wanted to like this book much more, but unfortunately I cannot. 3 stars.
To be honest: This book is so bad it will probably end up being on TV.
Thank you to Algonquin (@algonquin), Kaitlyn Greenidge for this book in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
April 16, 2021
[3.5] Libertie lives in the shadow of her successful mother, a freeborn black doctor, and struggles to find a place for herself. Set during Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, an all Black college in Ohio and her husband's home in Haiti - I enjoyed the historical detail. I also appreciate Greenridge's writing and her nuanced character portrayals. For me, at least in my current mood, this novel moves too slowly. I was always aware of the page count which surprisingly is only 323 pages.
January 12, 2021
Libertie is growing up during the Reconstruction era, training under her mother, a black physician.
This book started out interestingly enough, but as it went on it got slower, and more boring, and then uncomfortable, then annoying, and then kid of infuriating. And the ending was pretty dissatisfying for me. I just really need a strong female character and Libertie didn't really make any choices for herself until the last couple pages, but then it just ended.
Trigger warnings: the n words, sexual assault, victim shaming.
This book started out interestingly enough, but as it went on it got slower, and more boring, and then uncomfortable, then annoying, and then kid of infuriating. And the ending was pretty dissatisfying for me. I just really need a strong female character and Libertie didn't really make any choices for herself until the last couple pages, but then it just ended.
Trigger warnings: the n words, sexual assault, victim shaming.
March 14, 2022
4.5 stars!
From girlhood to womanhood, Libertie is one woman's journey to freedom—both mental and physical—inspired by the life of one of America's first Black female doctors. Talk about some stunning writing and storytelling.
Writing: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
I think this book is going to be the source of a lot of discussion this year. It feels like a story that will last, not the least because of its captivating writing and strong sense of character.
Libertie is a free born Black woman growing up in Brooklyn in the mid-1800s. Her mother is a practicing doctor. The two women and their female assistant, Lenore, operate a medical practice for Black people in the New York area, and occasionally for white women, too, as Libertie's mother can pass for white.
In this uniquely matriarchal and progressive bubble, Libertie is raised. She is raised to be educated, to read and write and learn medicinal treatments, and to follow in her mother's footsteps as a free Black woman with ambitions of her own. She grows up with an abundance of food, education, and sense of self in a world where many Black individuals are still actively enslaved and seeking freedom.
But like many daughters, Libertie doesn't necessarily recognize the unique circumstances of her mother's efforts as a gift to savor... she needs to carve her own path, regardless of the consequences.
Spanning from Brooklyn to Ohio to Haiti and beyond, Libertie was a physical, mental, and emotional journey that will remain with me for years to come.
I thought this novel was beautiful. The writing was show-stopping—Greenidge's prose lifted me into the story immediately and I found myself swept along for the ride in a consuming reading experience. Even though I disagreed with many of Libertie's actions and feelings, I couldn't help but read her story.
Complex themes of racial identity, divides between free born Black people and those escaping from enslaved situations in the American South, what it means to be female and Black in 1800s America, classicism, religion, a hint of magical realism... this novel packed in a lot in its 300-some pages. I thought it was masterfully done.
My one caveat to the reading experience is minor, and most likely personal. I found Libertie's refusal to trust and follow her mother's guidance to be intense. This might be because my own relationship with my mother is very close, but for whatever reason I found Libertie's decisions to be rash and filled with an odd level of anger and distrust. Clearly a personal reason, but still wanted to mention it here in case other readers feel the same way.
Overall, a beautiful story that I hope receives a wide readership this year. One of my favorite reads of 2021.
Thank you to Algonquin Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
From girlhood to womanhood, Libertie is one woman's journey to freedom—both mental and physical—inspired by the life of one of America's first Black female doctors. Talk about some stunning writing and storytelling.
Writing: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
I think this book is going to be the source of a lot of discussion this year. It feels like a story that will last, not the least because of its captivating writing and strong sense of character.
Libertie is a free born Black woman growing up in Brooklyn in the mid-1800s. Her mother is a practicing doctor. The two women and their female assistant, Lenore, operate a medical practice for Black people in the New York area, and occasionally for white women, too, as Libertie's mother can pass for white.
In this uniquely matriarchal and progressive bubble, Libertie is raised. She is raised to be educated, to read and write and learn medicinal treatments, and to follow in her mother's footsteps as a free Black woman with ambitions of her own. She grows up with an abundance of food, education, and sense of self in a world where many Black individuals are still actively enslaved and seeking freedom.
But like many daughters, Libertie doesn't necessarily recognize the unique circumstances of her mother's efforts as a gift to savor... she needs to carve her own path, regardless of the consequences.
Spanning from Brooklyn to Ohio to Haiti and beyond, Libertie was a physical, mental, and emotional journey that will remain with me for years to come.
I thought this novel was beautiful. The writing was show-stopping—Greenidge's prose lifted me into the story immediately and I found myself swept along for the ride in a consuming reading experience. Even though I disagreed with many of Libertie's actions and feelings, I couldn't help but read her story.
Complex themes of racial identity, divides between free born Black people and those escaping from enslaved situations in the American South, what it means to be female and Black in 1800s America, classicism, religion, a hint of magical realism... this novel packed in a lot in its 300-some pages. I thought it was masterfully done.
My one caveat to the reading experience is minor, and most likely personal. I found Libertie's refusal to trust and follow her mother's guidance to be intense. This might be because my own relationship with my mother is very close, but for whatever reason I found Libertie's decisions to be rash and filled with an odd level of anger and distrust. Clearly a personal reason, but still wanted to mention it here in case other readers feel the same way.
Overall, a beautiful story that I hope receives a wide readership this year. One of my favorite reads of 2021.
Thank you to Algonquin Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
January 17, 2022
3+
Greenidge's novel follows the life of Libertie, a free Black girl living in Brooklyn during the last days
of the Civil War and the early post-war years. The story is based on the life of Dr. Susan McKinney-Steward and her daughter. She was the first Black female doctor in New York. Libertie's mother, Dr. Cathy Sampson, is raising her daughter to follow in her footsteps. She envisions a day when a horse-pulled carriage will be inscribed with the words "Dr. Sampson and daughter".
This is a story about the many meanings of freedom: racial and gender freedom, freedom from haunting memories, freedom of choice, freedom to make and follow your own dreams. The story is told in the first person which enables us to authentically get into Libertie's head. Beginning with the arrival of Ben Daisy in a coffin, the very young Libertie questions what freedom means. Ben has escaped slavery, but only his body is free; he is tormented by the past. Even Dr. Sampson cannot cure him. As Libertie matures, she realizes she is predestined to follow a career path she is not interested in, nor does she want to cater to whites who cringe when she touches them. When she accompanies her new husband to Haiti, another freedom is denied. It is not the marriage of equals she had been promised.
Greenidge does an excellent job of describing the lives of free Black people in N.Y. at that time. Historical events, such as the N.Y.C. draft riots of 1863 and the torching of a "Colored Orphan Asylum" are embedded convincingly into the narrative. Her description of Haiti and its culture as well as medical practices of that period were vivid and fascinating.
I loved Libertie's independent spirit and her questioning of the norms. I was disappointed in her final decision. I felt she was going against her convictions and returning to a situation she had basically run away from. Freedom would still not be hers. Was this the author's point? Can we ever be truly free?
This book had many positives and was a worthwhile read. I will definitely read this author again, but I just wasn't as enamored with it as much as many of my GR friends.
Greenidge's novel follows the life of Libertie, a free Black girl living in Brooklyn during the last days
of the Civil War and the early post-war years. The story is based on the life of Dr. Susan McKinney-Steward and her daughter. She was the first Black female doctor in New York. Libertie's mother, Dr. Cathy Sampson, is raising her daughter to follow in her footsteps. She envisions a day when a horse-pulled carriage will be inscribed with the words "Dr. Sampson and daughter".
This is a story about the many meanings of freedom: racial and gender freedom, freedom from haunting memories, freedom of choice, freedom to make and follow your own dreams. The story is told in the first person which enables us to authentically get into Libertie's head. Beginning with the arrival of Ben Daisy in a coffin, the very young Libertie questions what freedom means. Ben has escaped slavery, but only his body is free; he is tormented by the past. Even Dr. Sampson cannot cure him. As Libertie matures, she realizes she is predestined to follow a career path she is not interested in, nor does she want to cater to whites who cringe when she touches them. When she accompanies her new husband to Haiti, another freedom is denied. It is not the marriage of equals she had been promised.
Greenidge does an excellent job of describing the lives of free Black people in N.Y. at that time. Historical events, such as the N.Y.C. draft riots of 1863 and the torching of a "Colored Orphan Asylum" are embedded convincingly into the narrative. Her description of Haiti and its culture as well as medical practices of that period were vivid and fascinating.
I loved Libertie's independent spirit and her questioning of the norms. I was disappointed in her final decision. I felt she was going against her convictions and returning to a situation she had basically run away from. Freedom would still not be hers. Was this the author's point? Can we ever be truly free?
This book had many positives and was a worthwhile read. I will definitely read this author again, but I just wasn't as enamored with it as much as many of my GR friends.
Read
May 30, 2022DNF @ 15% just not interested
April 16, 2021
3.5 stars.
Thought-provoking and emotional, Kaitlyn Greenidge's Libertie is a reflection on what freedom really means and how relationships of all kinds are sometimes the things keeping you from being free.
“How is it possible to become free when you do not even know who you are?”
Libertie is a girl growing up in post-Civil War Brooklyn. Her fearless mother is a doctor, and Libertie marvels at the things she can do. And her mother has a plan—Libertie will become a doctor, too, and they can have a practice together.
While her mother is light-skinned enough to pass, Libertie is constantly reminded her skin is too dark. As she grows, she starts to chafe under her mother’s rules and plans, and wonders if her only course of freedom is doing what someone else wants her to do.
When she meets one of her mother’s protégés, she is utterly charmed by him. He promises her a life as his equal back at his home in Haiti, so she abandons everything to follow him. It’s not long, of course, before she learns that the promise of freedom he sold her is an illusion, and that the role of a Haitian wife is actually subservient. As Libertie considers her future, she must make a decision which could truly determine the course of her life.
Greenidge is an exceptional writer. I was so blown away by the characters she created, how evocative the different settings were where the book took place, and the realizations Libertie made along her journey.
One thing, however: I would’ve loved an epilogue for this book, because I thought the ending happened abruptly. I’d love to know what happened after the decision Libertie made.
I was honored to be part of the tour for Libertie . Algonquin Books provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Thought-provoking and emotional, Kaitlyn Greenidge's Libertie is a reflection on what freedom really means and how relationships of all kinds are sometimes the things keeping you from being free.
“How is it possible to become free when you do not even know who you are?”
Libertie is a girl growing up in post-Civil War Brooklyn. Her fearless mother is a doctor, and Libertie marvels at the things she can do. And her mother has a plan—Libertie will become a doctor, too, and they can have a practice together.
While her mother is light-skinned enough to pass, Libertie is constantly reminded her skin is too dark. As she grows, she starts to chafe under her mother’s rules and plans, and wonders if her only course of freedom is doing what someone else wants her to do.
When she meets one of her mother’s protégés, she is utterly charmed by him. He promises her a life as his equal back at his home in Haiti, so she abandons everything to follow him. It’s not long, of course, before she learns that the promise of freedom he sold her is an illusion, and that the role of a Haitian wife is actually subservient. As Libertie considers her future, she must make a decision which could truly determine the course of her life.
Greenidge is an exceptional writer. I was so blown away by the characters she created, how evocative the different settings were where the book took place, and the realizations Libertie made along her journey.
One thing, however: I would’ve loved an epilogue for this book, because I thought the ending happened abruptly. I’d love to know what happened after the decision Libertie made.
I was honored to be part of the tour for Libertie . Algonquin Books provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 30, 2021
4.5 stars
Libertie is an historical fiction set in the late 1800s. Our titular character is named for her dying father's wish for her to know true freedom. But Libertie, although intelligent, well spoken, and beautiful will struggle to be released from society's strongholds. In the book her mother's character is loosely based on Susan McKinney Steward, the first black doctor in New York state. Although this bit of history is interesting, Libertie is not focused so much on the mother's accomplishments but on the relationship between mother and daughter. Throughout the book we are asked to consider what freedom is in all its nuances and to examine the chains that hold us captive.
The book opens with Dr. Sampson raising a man from the dead. Libertie stands in awe of her mother and begs her to teach her how to heal. But she soon realizes that this man -- although he escaped the shackles of slavery and the grip of death -- he is not free. His undying devotion to a dead woman leaves him haunted by her memory and Libertie skeptical about love.
Libertie's mother is able to get her medical degree as she passes for white. But she knows this option is not open to her dark skinned daughter. She goes about trying to find a way to ensure her daughter's agency in a new unsure landscape where freedom has just been won for the slave. But in her doing so, she ends up thrusting her aspirations upon Libertie.
Despite her status and fair skin our doctor is still bound by other women's perception of her, their judgment and their fickle natures. She is confined by grief over the loss of her husband and family and fear for the safety of her daughter. Her tongue is tied every time a white patient shuns Libertie or remarks on her color.
When Libertie travels to Haiti we are able to see the contrast between the two countries. Haiti gains its independence early on and is under the rule of black people. But there still exists a separation between those that serve and those that are in authority.
Through these experiences Libertie comes to know that freedom is not just escaping that which binds you, but knowing who you are, what you want and finding the voice to proclaim it boldly.
Libertie is an historical fiction set in the late 1800s. Our titular character is named for her dying father's wish for her to know true freedom. But Libertie, although intelligent, well spoken, and beautiful will struggle to be released from society's strongholds. In the book her mother's character is loosely based on Susan McKinney Steward, the first black doctor in New York state. Although this bit of history is interesting, Libertie is not focused so much on the mother's accomplishments but on the relationship between mother and daughter. Throughout the book we are asked to consider what freedom is in all its nuances and to examine the chains that hold us captive.
The book opens with Dr. Sampson raising a man from the dead. Libertie stands in awe of her mother and begs her to teach her how to heal. But she soon realizes that this man -- although he escaped the shackles of slavery and the grip of death -- he is not free. His undying devotion to a dead woman leaves him haunted by her memory and Libertie skeptical about love.
Libertie's mother is able to get her medical degree as she passes for white. But she knows this option is not open to her dark skinned daughter. She goes about trying to find a way to ensure her daughter's agency in a new unsure landscape where freedom has just been won for the slave. But in her doing so, she ends up thrusting her aspirations upon Libertie.
Despite her status and fair skin our doctor is still bound by other women's perception of her, their judgment and their fickle natures. She is confined by grief over the loss of her husband and family and fear for the safety of her daughter. Her tongue is tied every time a white patient shuns Libertie or remarks on her color.
When Libertie travels to Haiti we are able to see the contrast between the two countries. Haiti gains its independence early on and is under the rule of black people. But there still exists a separation between those that serve and those that are in authority.
Through these experiences Libertie comes to know that freedom is not just escaping that which binds you, but knowing who you are, what you want and finding the voice to proclaim it boldly.
May 1, 2021
This was a tough one for me to get through! I ideals, concept and writing was beautiful, but the story and ending were particularly dull. I understand what the author was trying to do however the characters and execution did not keep this reader engaged.
February 27, 2023
A poetically crafted novel which illuminates the internal struggles on concepts of freedom, choice, equality, and sacrifice. Libertie poses the questions: can we ever achieve absolute freedom? Why is it our pasts that define us most heavily to others? Why do we try so hard fo change the people we love? Is it ego or expectation that rules our choices? Tense and brooding, this novel is a expose of motherhood, colorism, family secrets, and toxic relationships.
December 16, 2021
Libertie is written in a very lyrical style that immediately sucks you into the story. I loved her voice and thought the narrator did a great job capturing it. Despite it's Reconstruction era setting it's not very graphic in violence against Black people so if that usually deters you from picking up books set within that time period it's not a problem here.
This story starts with Libertie as a young girl living with her mother who is one of the few Black women physicians. Her mother has big dreams of her following in her footsteps and teaches her from a young age to care for people. It was quite fascinating listening to the tales of her mother aiding formally enslaved people within their community. One thing this book touched on was the ramifications slavery had on the mental state of those people. How they could be free but their mind is still enslaved.
The discussions of colorism were also well done. Libertie's mother is a light skinned close to white woman and that afforded her the opportunity to move through spaces most Black people could not. It also caused the white women to be more trusting to her. When Libertie's mother opens a clinic originally for the freed people it slowly becomes a space for white women to seek care. Libertie and her mother end up at odds over this as the patients often recoil in her presence and her mother lets them treat her terribly instead of standing up for her.
Once she comes of age, Libertie is poised to attend medical school but while away realizes the dream isn't exactly for her. Falling in love with a man named Emmanuel who is interning for her mother she decides to quickly marry. He sells her promises of a dream life in Haiti where they can create their own nation. This section touched upon the same anti-Haitianism that we still see present to this day. During this time Libertie must come to understand what it truly means to be a free woman.
This book was so addicting that at times I didn't want to stop listening. And it was surprisingly very easy to follow along while doing household tasks which is something I sometimes struggle with when it comes to audiobooks. I was cooking in the kitchen but fully engaged to this at the same time. This one is a very character driven story that is sure to keep you enthralled.
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
I received a free copy from Libro FM
This story starts with Libertie as a young girl living with her mother who is one of the few Black women physicians. Her mother has big dreams of her following in her footsteps and teaches her from a young age to care for people. It was quite fascinating listening to the tales of her mother aiding formally enslaved people within their community. One thing this book touched on was the ramifications slavery had on the mental state of those people. How they could be free but their mind is still enslaved.
The discussions of colorism were also well done. Libertie's mother is a light skinned close to white woman and that afforded her the opportunity to move through spaces most Black people could not. It also caused the white women to be more trusting to her. When Libertie's mother opens a clinic originally for the freed people it slowly becomes a space for white women to seek care. Libertie and her mother end up at odds over this as the patients often recoil in her presence and her mother lets them treat her terribly instead of standing up for her.
Once she comes of age, Libertie is poised to attend medical school but while away realizes the dream isn't exactly for her. Falling in love with a man named Emmanuel who is interning for her mother she decides to quickly marry. He sells her promises of a dream life in Haiti where they can create their own nation. This section touched upon the same anti-Haitianism that we still see present to this day. During this time Libertie must come to understand what it truly means to be a free woman.
This book was so addicting that at times I didn't want to stop listening. And it was surprisingly very easy to follow along while doing household tasks which is something I sometimes struggle with when it comes to audiobooks. I was cooking in the kitchen but fully engaged to this at the same time. This one is a very character driven story that is sure to keep you enthralled.
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
I received a free copy from Libro FM
dnf
April 6, 2021I'm unsure if this is a forever DNF, but it is a 'right now' DNF. I'm struggling. I made it to 53% through the book. I read the first 154 pages and then switched to the audio in hopes that it would reinvigorate my interest in the story. There were passages that were written beautifully and I was highlighting like crazy, but there is something missing to really bring the story to life for me. I don't feel invested in any of the characters or the story. Maybe I'll try again someday, but when I'm not looking forward to reading or listening - I think its time I move on to something else.
April 30, 2021
A book with stunning cover art and attention-grabbing opener, but was ultimately the most boring thing I've read so far this year.
Libertie seemed like a lot of telling—I felt like I was just going through the motions of someone's life rather than experiencing anything alongside them. The writing, while at times beautiful, was frequently clumsy. Though considered a coming-of-age, I don't feel as though Libertie actually grew or developed in any sense; I'm not sure what the message is meant to be. I rushed through this book, eager to move on to something else.
Libertie seemed like a lot of telling—I felt like I was just going through the motions of someone's life rather than experiencing anything alongside them. The writing, while at times beautiful, was frequently clumsy. Though considered a coming-of-age, I don't feel as though Libertie actually grew or developed in any sense; I'm not sure what the message is meant to be. I rushed through this book, eager to move on to something else.
April 1, 2022
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge is an unforgettable story about one young black girl's attempt to find a place where she can fully be herself.
Set in America and Haiti in the late 1800's this novel is full of historical and cultural information.
A beautifully written coming of age story!
The narrator was superb!
Set in America and Haiti in the late 1800's this novel is full of historical and cultural information.
A beautifully written coming of age story!
The narrator was superb!
May 12, 2021
4.5 stars. What a gorgeous and rich novel. Having read Greenidge's previous book I wasn't surprised at how big a swing this is and how much she takes on to explore in addition to the central mother-daughter narrative.
LIBERTIE explores what it means to be free and the many ways people carve out their own kind of freedom in the world. Libertie herself has always been free and as the daughter of a female doctor in her Black Brooklyn community she has a privilege she doesn't recognize. As a child, her mother helps escaped enslaved people to set up new lives and for a time Libertie is awestruck by her mother's power. But as she gets older, all Libertie can see is her mother's demands of her, her mother's faults, the ways in which her mother compromises herself. The second and third acts of the book show us Libertie's attempts to make her own way in the world and how they impact her relationship with her mother.
I loved Libertie, especially in the latter two sections of the book, though I recognize that many readers may have the opposite reaction. I loved how angry and frustrated and even spiteful she was. Even though Libertie is smart and capable, even though she has seen the aftermath of horrible things, she has enough imagination and sense of self to envision a world where she doesn't have to become the person her mother wants her to be. But she isn't experienced enough to understand why her mother acts the way she does, either. Greenidge's hand with this is so delicate, even though we see through Libertie's eyes all the things that make her furious with her mother, we can also see that Libertie's anger is bigger than it needs to be and that there is a lot she's been protected from. I loved her rash decisions, I wanted them for her even when I knew they would not do what Libertie expected, because I knew that was how she would learn.
Along the way Libertie sees the way all kinds of Black people, particularly women, at the time have chosen a way to their own kind of freedom. She also sees the way colorism and sexism create barriers people have to work around and sometimes work inside. Every character is there to show us a way of living, all of them have their own specific wisdom that Libertie cannot always understand at first.
I started this in print and was hitting a wall, for absolutely me-during-pandemic reasons. I switched to audio in hopes it would help and I'm so glad I did. I would have missed out on so much if I hadn't come back to it. The reader is fantastic, one of the best performances I've come across in a while, giving so much life to the story.
LIBERTIE explores what it means to be free and the many ways people carve out their own kind of freedom in the world. Libertie herself has always been free and as the daughter of a female doctor in her Black Brooklyn community she has a privilege she doesn't recognize. As a child, her mother helps escaped enslaved people to set up new lives and for a time Libertie is awestruck by her mother's power. But as she gets older, all Libertie can see is her mother's demands of her, her mother's faults, the ways in which her mother compromises herself. The second and third acts of the book show us Libertie's attempts to make her own way in the world and how they impact her relationship with her mother.
I loved Libertie, especially in the latter two sections of the book, though I recognize that many readers may have the opposite reaction. I loved how angry and frustrated and even spiteful she was. Even though Libertie is smart and capable, even though she has seen the aftermath of horrible things, she has enough imagination and sense of self to envision a world where she doesn't have to become the person her mother wants her to be. But she isn't experienced enough to understand why her mother acts the way she does, either. Greenidge's hand with this is so delicate, even though we see through Libertie's eyes all the things that make her furious with her mother, we can also see that Libertie's anger is bigger than it needs to be and that there is a lot she's been protected from. I loved her rash decisions, I wanted them for her even when I knew they would not do what Libertie expected, because I knew that was how she would learn.
Along the way Libertie sees the way all kinds of Black people, particularly women, at the time have chosen a way to their own kind of freedom. She also sees the way colorism and sexism create barriers people have to work around and sometimes work inside. Every character is there to show us a way of living, all of them have their own specific wisdom that Libertie cannot always understand at first.
I started this in print and was hitting a wall, for absolutely me-during-pandemic reasons. I switched to audio in hopes it would help and I'm so glad I did. I would have missed out on so much if I hadn't come back to it. The reader is fantastic, one of the best performances I've come across in a while, giving so much life to the story.
June 26, 2021
It's so moving when historical fiction gives an entirely new view of a particular time period while also raising larger questions which resonate with the world today. That's what Kaitlyn Greenidge “Libertie” does admirably while also telling a deeply engaging coming of age story about Libertie, a free-born black girl in Brooklyn being raised by her single mother in the time before and after The American Civil War. Recent novels such as “The Water Dancer”, “Conjure Women” and “The Prophets” created a radically new perspective about the abolition of slavery. These stories re-view our assumptions of the past and provide a deeper understanding of the resonance of history.
Greenidge's novel considers the lasting impact of slavery for individuals who've been freed but are permanently burdened with the trauma sustained during their subjugation: “The people of Culver's back room had all lost themselves. They had returned in their minds back to the places they'd run from, the places they didn't name, even to their fellow travellers.” It also questions whether liberty can truly be found when systems of government are overhauled by people who also abuse their power - especially against women and the impoverished/under-educated working classes. It's gripping following Libertie's journey as she strives to obtain independence from her country, her mother and the husband who lures her into a life she doesn't expect. Through her eyes we see the hidden costs of compromise and how difficult it is to live in society without being subject to the will of insidious ideologies.
Read my full review of Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge on LonesomeReader
Greenidge's novel considers the lasting impact of slavery for individuals who've been freed but are permanently burdened with the trauma sustained during their subjugation: “The people of Culver's back room had all lost themselves. They had returned in their minds back to the places they'd run from, the places they didn't name, even to their fellow travellers.” It also questions whether liberty can truly be found when systems of government are overhauled by people who also abuse their power - especially against women and the impoverished/under-educated working classes. It's gripping following Libertie's journey as she strives to obtain independence from her country, her mother and the husband who lures her into a life she doesn't expect. Through her eyes we see the hidden costs of compromise and how difficult it is to live in society without being subject to the will of insidious ideologies.
Read my full review of Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge on LonesomeReader
January 20, 2022
This was an interesting book about life during Reconstruction in a black community in New Jersey. It has some good characters and is relatively well-written. Some of the book takes place in Haïti as well, which I found even better from a description point of view. I thought the premise was interesting basically following Libertie's development as a girl and later a young woman, but I had a hard time building a deeper bond with her or the other protagonists. That being said, I preferred it to other recent Pulitzer laureates such as The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead as in this book, we don't have a fictionalized literal train, but a real, gruesome explanation of how the train worked.
February 1, 2022
Libertie is being brought up in Brooklyn during Reconstruction by her physician mother to take on her work, but flees to Haiti with a brand new husband to try to follow her own path.
I learned some pieces of history I didn't know about previously like the 1863 draft riots and the attempts to relocate free Black people to Haiti, but I'm not sure the pieces all flowed together. The pacing is also quite slow, but I am not a frequent reader of historical fiction so this may not be my thing.
It is, however, one more from the Tournament of Books
I learned some pieces of history I didn't know about previously like the 1863 draft riots and the attempts to relocate free Black people to Haiti, but I'm not sure the pieces all flowed together. The pacing is also quite slow, but I am not a frequent reader of historical fiction so this may not be my thing.
It is, however, one more from the Tournament of Books
August 25, 2021
What would it be like to be black and live in a black community post-Civil War era, to be a girl whose mom is a black female doctor? Freedom, identity, gender, caste, and plain ole’ relationships stitch together the canvas of this well constructed tale. Channie Waites, narration performer, also did a great job.
January 11, 2021
I give this book a 3.5. Libertie is loosely based real people. Dr. Sampson is based on free born Dr. Susan Stewart. The 3rd AA black female doctor in the US. She also had a daughter who married the son of a Haitian Episcopalian Bishop. Other than that, I'm not sure how true the rest of the story is.
This is supposed to be a coming of age story for Libertie but I'm not sure it translated into that. We do go through Libertie's life from childhood to adulthood but I didn't see any growth or profound revelations. It just seems like this book just told parts of her life. The parts do link, they aren't completely random but I feel like the same unknowns and insecurities that Libertie had in the beginning of the book she still had at the end. Unless there plans on being a sequel, this ending left me with questions.
That being said, it was still an entertaining read. I recommend it, if not for the entertainment, then at least for the historical components.
This is supposed to be a coming of age story for Libertie but I'm not sure it translated into that. We do go through Libertie's life from childhood to adulthood but I didn't see any growth or profound revelations. It just seems like this book just told parts of her life. The parts do link, they aren't completely random but I feel like the same unknowns and insecurities that Libertie had in the beginning of the book she still had at the end. Unless there plans on being a sequel, this ending left me with questions.
That being said, it was still an entertaining read. I recommend it, if not for the entertainment, then at least for the historical components.
July 2, 2021
3 stars Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for allowing me to read and review this book. Published March 30, 2021.
This is a book that I tried by two different methods and it still barely kept my interest. The print copy seemed to drag it's feet and appeared to be going nowhere fast. The audio version was just hard to listen to. I credit that to the narrator - Channie Waites - trying to sound like a child and it did not take long to just end up grating on your nerves.
Obviously due to the problem starts with both the book and the audio, it became hard to enjoy this novel. I felt that the premise was good and I was eager to learn about the first Black female doctor, but the slowness of the novel and then the grating voice of the narrator won out and I did little more than sleep through the story.
This is a book that I tried by two different methods and it still barely kept my interest. The print copy seemed to drag it's feet and appeared to be going nowhere fast. The audio version was just hard to listen to. I credit that to the narrator - Channie Waites - trying to sound like a child and it did not take long to just end up grating on your nerves.
Obviously due to the problem starts with both the book and the audio, it became hard to enjoy this novel. I felt that the premise was good and I was eager to learn about the first Black female doctor, but the slowness of the novel and then the grating voice of the narrator won out and I did little more than sleep through the story.
May 2, 2021
Libertie is a coming of age story set in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, based loosely on real historical figures. The writing is lovely and it's a story about a fraught mother/daughter relationship, discovering who you want to be, the true meaning of freedom, and colorism (the valuing of lighter skin over darker skin). I do think the book description is a bit misleading, as this was much darker than I expected and the main characters love for music actually plays a relatively small roll in the story.
Libertie is the daughter of the first Black female physician, and her mother expects her to follow in her footsteps. But Libertie has complicated feelings about her mother's chosen profession, both longing for her mother's approval, and wanting different things for her life. Her mother has also seen the pain men have brought to women and wants independence for her daughter, but Libertie still longs for love. In some ways this book is quite tragic and it is hopeful, but in a very measured way. There is a great deal of pain, abuse, misogyny, and racism. There is some representation of queerness, through two women side characters who love each other and we get a sense of how LGBT people found ways to live in the past.
Ultimately, while I thought the writing was lovely and think there is a lot to like here, I had mixed feelings about the direction this story took and how the ending came together. I don't want to spoil things but a lot was very unsettling in an unsatisfying way. For instance, there is a person in power abusing women and that is left unresolved. Which certainly does happen, but....maybe the best way to put it is this book was less empowering and more an exploration of how women following their hearts and making foolish choices can lead to pain and entrapment. It was frustrating to see Libertie make bad or foolish choices over and over again. Readers who don't like miscommunication in books will probably struggle with how that affects Libertie's closest relationships. This is a rambling mess, but I had a lot of feelings about this book and I'm still sorting through them. I received an audio review copy from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include racism, colorism, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse (off page), manipulative relationships, emotional abuse and control of women, death, suicide, rituals.
Libertie is the daughter of the first Black female physician, and her mother expects her to follow in her footsteps. But Libertie has complicated feelings about her mother's chosen profession, both longing for her mother's approval, and wanting different things for her life. Her mother has also seen the pain men have brought to women and wants independence for her daughter, but Libertie still longs for love. In some ways this book is quite tragic and it is hopeful, but in a very measured way. There is a great deal of pain, abuse, misogyny, and racism. There is some representation of queerness, through two women side characters who love each other and we get a sense of how LGBT people found ways to live in the past.
Ultimately, while I thought the writing was lovely and think there is a lot to like here, I had mixed feelings about the direction this story took and how the ending came together. I don't want to spoil things but a lot was very unsettling in an unsatisfying way. For instance, there is a person in power abusing women and that is left unresolved. Which certainly does happen, but....maybe the best way to put it is this book was less empowering and more an exploration of how women following their hearts and making foolish choices can lead to pain and entrapment. It was frustrating to see Libertie make bad or foolish choices over and over again. Readers who don't like miscommunication in books will probably struggle with how that affects Libertie's closest relationships. This is a rambling mess, but I had a lot of feelings about this book and I'm still sorting through them. I received an audio review copy from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include racism, colorism, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse (off page), manipulative relationships, emotional abuse and control of women, death, suicide, rituals.
February 8, 2021
"Their need was monstrous."
It wasn't only the barn cats that frightened Libertie by their demands and needs. Every one seemed to want something from her.
First, her mother, a free, black, homeopathic doctor who determined that Libertie would follow into her career. Her mother was deemed a saint, caring for the whole world, secreting slaves into freedom, and healing black and white alike.
Libertie was overwhelmed by the diseases of the body, but it was the diseases of the mind that most troubled her soul, including the unrequited love of a newly freed slave, and the broken people who gathered in a back room, free but never safe from the trauma of their past. Her mother's cures could not heal broken spirits.
Libertie's light-skinned mother was allowed to touch the white women's bodies, but they flinched at Libertie's touch. She was Black Girl. How could her mother minister to the people who hated them for the war? How could her mother ignore history for the sake of money?
During the Civil War, the women gathered to create a hospital, and Libertie felt the power of their communal energy. She learned from their example how to scheme to right a wrong world.The world felt full of possibilities and Libertie marveled over her choices.
Libertie was sent to college where she first experienced the world outside of her mother. She hoped to forge her own path. She hated the medical coursework, and her classmates were 'colorstruck' against her.
Music saved her; hearing two girls singing, she presents herself as their pupil. Singing, her soul soared. But she discovers the girls have a special relationship that can never include her.
Returning home, Libertie meets the recent medical school graduate working under her mother, the light skinned, straight haired, Haitian, Emmanuel. He weaves stories of a beautiful country ruled by Negroes, a place where blacks can be truly free.
Emmanuel enchants Libertie with his stories of the Haitian African gods still worshiped, although attacked by his Bishop father. He proclaims to believe in 'companionate marriage,' a modern understanding. She accepts his marriage proposal. She had failed as a daughter, as a medical student; perhaps she would find herself as a wife and mother.
Haiti is beautiful, but is not the paradise she had imagined. Emmanuel's family resents her, and she discovers a double standard that her husband is complicit in maintaining.
In her quest to discover who she is, to find real freedom, Libertie finds herself boxed in by expectations and limited choices, until she finds the courage to take control of her destiny.
Every generation must find its own way, every woman pushes against the societal, familial, and political forces that bind her. Libertie's story is set in the past, but her story will be recognized by young women today. What does it mean to forge your own path, to be free to be yourself? How do we discover who we really are in a world of demands?
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
It wasn't only the barn cats that frightened Libertie by their demands and needs. Every one seemed to want something from her.
First, her mother, a free, black, homeopathic doctor who determined that Libertie would follow into her career. Her mother was deemed a saint, caring for the whole world, secreting slaves into freedom, and healing black and white alike.
Libertie was overwhelmed by the diseases of the body, but it was the diseases of the mind that most troubled her soul, including the unrequited love of a newly freed slave, and the broken people who gathered in a back room, free but never safe from the trauma of their past. Her mother's cures could not heal broken spirits.
Libertie's light-skinned mother was allowed to touch the white women's bodies, but they flinched at Libertie's touch. She was Black Girl. How could her mother minister to the people who hated them for the war? How could her mother ignore history for the sake of money?
During the Civil War, the women gathered to create a hospital, and Libertie felt the power of their communal energy. She learned from their example how to scheme to right a wrong world.The world felt full of possibilities and Libertie marveled over her choices.
Libertie was sent to college where she first experienced the world outside of her mother. She hoped to forge her own path. She hated the medical coursework, and her classmates were 'colorstruck' against her.
Music saved her; hearing two girls singing, she presents herself as their pupil. Singing, her soul soared. But she discovers the girls have a special relationship that can never include her.
Returning home, Libertie meets the recent medical school graduate working under her mother, the light skinned, straight haired, Haitian, Emmanuel. He weaves stories of a beautiful country ruled by Negroes, a place where blacks can be truly free.
Emmanuel enchants Libertie with his stories of the Haitian African gods still worshiped, although attacked by his Bishop father. He proclaims to believe in 'companionate marriage,' a modern understanding. She accepts his marriage proposal. She had failed as a daughter, as a medical student; perhaps she would find herself as a wife and mother.
Haiti is beautiful, but is not the paradise she had imagined. Emmanuel's family resents her, and she discovers a double standard that her husband is complicit in maintaining.
In her quest to discover who she is, to find real freedom, Libertie finds herself boxed in by expectations and limited choices, until she finds the courage to take control of her destiny.
Every generation must find its own way, every woman pushes against the societal, familial, and political forces that bind her. Libertie's story is set in the past, but her story will be recognized by young women today. What does it mean to forge your own path, to be free to be yourself? How do we discover who we really are in a world of demands?
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
March 29, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, Kaitlyn Greenidge, and Algonquin Books for the opportunity to read this book!
“In his final moments, as he lay sweating his life away in her arms, he told her to name me Libertie, in honor of the bring, shining future he was coming.”
LIBERTIE
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge is sure to become a classic. Libertie was born free and her mother in a doctor. Her mother has lighter skin than Libertie and just light enough to be able to be a practicing physician. As a child, her mother helps those who are enslaved escape to freedom. She explores new ways of medicine, that is until one of her patients takes his own life. As she grows, Libertie becomes aware of the vision her mother has for her future. But she is drawn to music and poetry, rather than medicine. She takes advantage of a proposal thinking it will bring her freedom to choose, but she discovers that she is still not free.
“Their bodies are here with us in emancipation, but their minds are not free. Their spirits have not recovered from the degradation of enslavement, despite the many hardships and privations they have suffered to come here.”
LIBERTIE
Freedom (noun): the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
But there are many different kinds of enslavement as Kaitlyn Greenidge displays in this coming-of-age novel. Even after emancipation, the color of one’s skin determined their class, what they could do, and not do. —so not freedom. Then there is the status of a Black woman. Then there is the status of a married Black woman. This book can teach readers about the concept of freedom and how easily it can be manipulated.
“I’ve raised you wrong,” Mama said to her reflection. “I’ve raised you all wrong if some white folks being cruel is a surprise to you.” I felt my face go hot with anger again. “I am not surprised by the cruelty, Mama,” I said. “I am surprised we are expected to ignore it, to never mention it, to swim in it as if it’s the oily, smelly harbor water the boys dive into by the wharves.”
LIBERTIE
This book is emotional and inspired by the first Black female doctors in the United States. It is profound and the historical detail is absolutely stunning! There are so many aspects of this book to love. This has one of the best mother-daughter relationship portrayals. The mother wants what is best for her daughter, showing her the hardships she will face but how she believes Libertie should face them. The daughter pushes back, tries to show her mother what her true passion is, then all leading up to the final moment where they both understand the other. I must say, the ending is astounding. It wrapped everything up perfectly and left me utterly breathless.
This book should be read in highschools. I cannot recommend it enough. 5 beautiful stars. Be sure to grab your copy tomorrow!
“In his final moments, as he lay sweating his life away in her arms, he told her to name me Libertie, in honor of the bring, shining future he was coming.”
LIBERTIE
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge is sure to become a classic. Libertie was born free and her mother in a doctor. Her mother has lighter skin than Libertie and just light enough to be able to be a practicing physician. As a child, her mother helps those who are enslaved escape to freedom. She explores new ways of medicine, that is until one of her patients takes his own life. As she grows, Libertie becomes aware of the vision her mother has for her future. But she is drawn to music and poetry, rather than medicine. She takes advantage of a proposal thinking it will bring her freedom to choose, but she discovers that she is still not free.
“Their bodies are here with us in emancipation, but their minds are not free. Their spirits have not recovered from the degradation of enslavement, despite the many hardships and privations they have suffered to come here.”
LIBERTIE
Freedom (noun): the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
But there are many different kinds of enslavement as Kaitlyn Greenidge displays in this coming-of-age novel. Even after emancipation, the color of one’s skin determined their class, what they could do, and not do. —so not freedom. Then there is the status of a Black woman. Then there is the status of a married Black woman. This book can teach readers about the concept of freedom and how easily it can be manipulated.
“I’ve raised you wrong,” Mama said to her reflection. “I’ve raised you all wrong if some white folks being cruel is a surprise to you.” I felt my face go hot with anger again. “I am not surprised by the cruelty, Mama,” I said. “I am surprised we are expected to ignore it, to never mention it, to swim in it as if it’s the oily, smelly harbor water the boys dive into by the wharves.”
LIBERTIE
This book is emotional and inspired by the first Black female doctors in the United States. It is profound and the historical detail is absolutely stunning! There are so many aspects of this book to love. This has one of the best mother-daughter relationship portrayals. The mother wants what is best for her daughter, showing her the hardships she will face but how she believes Libertie should face them. The daughter pushes back, tries to show her mother what her true passion is, then all leading up to the final moment where they both understand the other. I must say, the ending is astounding. It wrapped everything up perfectly and left me utterly breathless.
This book should be read in highschools. I cannot recommend it enough. 5 beautiful stars. Be sure to grab your copy tomorrow!
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