Review: Free Men by Katy Simpson Smith

Free Men by Katy Simpson Smith
Published by Harper on February 16, 2016
Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover

1788: Three men from vastly different lives meet in the woods of Alabama.

Bob is a man who knows no other life than slavery. His own brother took his life, unable to endure the life that fate dealt him.  Though bound by his wife and children, Bob is desperate to discover the land his brother talked about, a land out west where even black men were given the freedom to own their own land and home.

Cat is an orphan, brought up without the kindness and nurturing of a mother.  When his abusive father dies, Cat is sent off to an orphanage. Though this new life is better than the last, he yearns to experience that sense of family, of belonging.  When he finds love it is quickly taken away, the guilt festering within him, ever-present.

Istillicha, a Creek Indian, dreamed of becoming the chief of his tribe.  When that was stolen from him, he leaves his tribe to seek revenge for the atrocities committed against him.  His new path is indefinite, yet he knows that he cannot obtain his rightful spot in his tribe until it is complete.

These three men meet by circumstance, perhaps fate. All on a journey to find a better life, an existence they each believe they have earned. However, in order to obtain that life, they must complete an unspeakable act, one that bonds them much like the pain they each endure.

Told from the points of view of each character, the author has created an incredibly unique voice for each of them. Their history and the pain they endured is quite evident in their voices.  Though the level of anguish and hatred varies between the characters, they all share a pain that is buried deep within them, a pain that will take long to heal. This, plus the act they commit, bonds them indefinitely.

It was interesting to follow the characters on their journey, both before they were joined and following. Though they came from vastly different pasts, it was remarkable to see their similarities, how the manner in which their fates were dealt influenced their lives indefinitely.

This was quite the moving read, one that I truly did not want to end.  Though weighty and oftentimes difficult to read, the way the characters came to life on the page compelled me to continue.  When reading, have you ever forgot that you are reading a book, instead feeling as though you are in a room with the characters, listening to them tell you their story.  This is exactly how I felt while reading this book. It commandeered my every waking moment, forcing me to do go down my own road of contemplation and discovery. This is one of those haunting titles that will make you re-evaluate your own life, your own struggles, weighing them against the lives of those carrying much heftier weights on their shoulders.  Highly, highly recommended.

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me an opportunity to review this title.