Customer Reviews

When I Get Free: A Novel

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book turned out to be better than I'd expected. Not only was it dealing with a serious topic. It also provided humor in the process which made the book even more interesting. Whether some of us wish to admit it or not. I believe that we all have those two little voices that are constantly battling each other to help us come to a decision.

Most of all, I like the way the story ended. I think it was so beautiful how Gail and Tower manage to help one another after all.

First of all the prison life and afterlife portrayed in this book is right on point. The author captures the mindset of an ex-con perfectly. You can tell she did her research instead of relying on some glorified media version of events of prison and parole.

The secondary characters were developed just enough for you to have feelings about them. You hated them or liked them but you weren't indifferent about most of them. The main character's father was probably my favorite character, he was hilarious.

I will definitely check out past and future works by this author.

This was a great book, although I read the book a while back I wanted to list my recommendation to interested readers. The author really got into the mind of anonymous and told his story as if we were experiencing the events with him. He got caught up in the game, like so many others.

When does one become free? Is it when you are released from a 4x7 cell that you have called home for 10 years? Is it when your mind is able to release the locked-up mentality? Is it when you are able to be on your own and not have to report to a parole officer? These are the questions that Tower (Theodore) Evans is in search of in Cheryl Robinson's latest novel, When I Get Free.

Tower is released from a prison in Oklahoma after serving ten years of a forty-year sentence for drug trafficking. Charges that may not have come about if he were also not the victim of racial profiling. While incarcerated Tower had a lot of time to sort out his life. Instead of focusing on seeking revenge against the other guys who were in the car, he completed the requirements for an associate degree, buffed himself up in the gym and survived. He returned home a changed man. A man whose paranoia is more pronounced and the mean and nice voices he hears are constantly in conflict. He no longer is the "big man", as he has to start from nothing. He has the support of his family who remained behind him during his years in prison.

It is the women in Tower's life who are causing him the most problems. Mary, his probation officer, is the key to his freedom and until she decides to release him, he is not free. Gail is an aspiring writer he meets one rainy night. They become close friends as she tries to write a book about his experiences as a prisoner. Tonya is the woman he meets at church who will do anything for him, but he has nothing to give her in return. Lisa, his woman before he goes to prison and the mother of his child whereabouts are unknown.

This fictional account of a real ex- convict's life is raw, gritty and intriguing. There are no holds barred as Tower graphically tells what goes on in prison. It is the best example of the survival of the fittest theory. Life away from prison is not easy and the trials of an ex-convict continue longer after they walk away from the prison. The author does an excellent job of taking the reader inside the prison and the mind of Tower. She also provides humor, shows strong family, and makes the reader feel some compassion toward Tower when it appears he is getting a raw deal. I would highly recommend this novel. If you have never been to prison reading this book will dissuade you from making the mistakes that can take you to one. It is not a pretty place.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

"When I Get Free" tell the story of Theodore "Tower" Evans, and the struggles he faces after recently being paroled from prison.. Determine not to use his prison record as a excuse, Tower, begins to enjoy being with his family again, starts looking for a job and tries to abide by the rules set by his parole. Unfortunately he get assign to Mary, the parole officer who decides Tower is going to be her next lover. Not realizing what he's getting into, Tower starts a secret relationship with Mary, but dosen't releaze he's in over his head until its too late.

However a new relationship brings hope to Tower in a unexpected form. After Tower meet Gail, an author who becomes interested in his life in prison, the two begins a rocky friendship. After convincing him to let her write his story Tower must face the issues and drama he thought he left behind in prison.
As in her novel, "Memories of Yesterday", Cheryl Robinson displays a great knack for writing from a male point of view. Highly intriguing and nicely written, Cheryl Robinson really shines in "When I get Free".

Nubian Sistas Book Club www.geocities.com/nubiensistas

I was so glad I got the chance to read this book It gave me some good insight about the world of prison and how hard it is for a person to start over after being in prison. I enjoyed Tower the main person in the book. He was a trip with his voices talking to him. All I can say is read this book you will not be disappointed.

Cheryl Robinson does not disappoint! When I Get Free is a deeply poignant story, realistic to the core. There are so many Tower's that could benefit from the `soul searching' the main character has to endure to conquer real world obstacles, societal handicaps and self destruction in order to taste and breathe true freedom. What one takes away from this read is the persons in society need to be more cognizant of how their actions hold others fleeting through rehabilitation in bondage.

Jeanette Bowzer-Reviewer

Meet Theodore "Tower" Evans, an ex-con struggling to pull his life together after spending 10 years in the Oklahoma prison system. Tower shattered my thoughts on how those imprisoned behind bars assimilate back into "normal" society for he wasn't a hardened thug that had nobody but street sense to get him out of situations. Tower had a family who was very supportive of his need to make a successful transition back into life. His mother and stepfather, who kept me laughing throughout the book, really could have transformed this book from fiction to fact. I think that Cheryl Robinson has done a great job of capturing the many facets of life so realistically.

Not only is imprisonment for crimes a physical state it's also a mental challenge and Tower was determined to not only free himself from incarceration but also from the mentality associated with it. He was determined to take back his physical, spiritual and mental freedom and decided that purging his experience in prison through a lady he met who was a budding author. Her name is Gail and their relationship was forged through a chance meeting and even stranger bond that resulted. Gail had amazing ability to live in her own world and be content in it no matter who thought that she was a wee bit weird. But through it all, sharing his story with Gail strengthened them both even though they both wished for a more romantic relationship at different times in their journey. Tower had many setbacks it would seem - his parole officer took advantage of his status, his attempts to gain strength from church resulted in a relationship with his prayer partner, he lost his good paying job because of his conviction - but he did reach a different and better place.

With this type of novel, the reader is torn between expecting a happy ending and facing reality. This is the type of motivation that keeps us reading to the very end. Once I started this book and learned the cast of characters I couldn't put the book down. I wanted the best for Tower for he wanted to free himself from the demons that had found a home inside his mind while he was serving time. An excellent character study in how a person has control of his destiny in spite of outside forces.

This is the first ever review I have written and I have read several books. This author depicts a tale of a boy becoming a man and that development being delayed by a society that is working hard to exterminate that which they are afraid of. Being a single parent and having to raise two black boys to be productive, contributing members of society is hard, but having this as a reference for when my sons say I am paranoid is very helpful. This book jumped out at me at the library. I was there to pick up some non-fiction books about the attack on black men in white-male dominated society and your title really hit home. Though I am in college right now and do not have a lot time for pleasure reading, I just could not leave your book in the library. I read the book in one and half days and will be quoting some of the things in this book. I think it was especially important to realize that most people live inside themselves, afraid to deal with pain and to let others see that pain. Gail's character was just as important to me as was Tower's (Theodore).I also really liked the strong sense of family and the loyalty you demonstrated in the book. I also liked the way you portrayed most of the black men in the novel. Though we do have alot of black men who fall prey to the whims of society (fast cars, fast women & fast money), there are some who genuinely want to achieve the American dream and what they believe it to be. Edwin, George, the father, Mr. Leonard Wilkes and even Marshall all appeared to very genuine in their concern for their personal well being and their families well being. I also thought it was especially important to show how our women can be detrimental to the psyche of a man. Mrs. Davis is a perfect example of how men can get trapped in a web of deceit, by being controlled by the physical aspects of life. I was glad you made him a victor over that evil and freed him from his torment. I especially love how at the end you showed Tower coming into his own. Demonstrating a close balance in his mental, emotional, spiritual and physical self. I am taking a psychology class right now and watching the ID, EGO and Superego (the voices Tower's hears) at work in this novel was a wonderful way to reinforce how they work together and/or apart to bring you up and/or down. Thank you so much for this book. I will advise all of my friends to read it and get it for their private library. I know its going in mine.

This was such a Great Novel. When I Get Free was true to life. This novel kept it real and did not fake or sugar coat anything. I am a native of Fort Worth, born and raised on the South Side, so I knew when things were genuine. Everything matched up correctly all the neighborhoods,streets, restaurants, and etc. The novel was well put togather and at times made it seem if the reader was in the story. I would get carried away sometimes and think I was there, and I really started to have feelings for the characters and what they were going through. This novel is basically a mini-movie because when you read it, you can see it. I recommend this book to anyone who like drama, reality, and twist & turns. The author used good writing techniques which causes alot of anticipation so before you read this novel I suggest you sit down and Buckle-Up. This Novel is by far the Best of 2003.