The Roux in the Gumbo

By: Kim Robinson

Narrated by: Claudette Kim Robinson

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The Roux in the Gumbo is an emotional and inspirational drama telling the story of a Louisiana family spanning the generations from the era of slavery to the present day. You will hear of the romances, challenges, and adventures they experience as their lives are intertwined by one common goal - basic survival during the Reconstruction era in Louisiana.

©2009 Claudette Kim Robinson (P)2019 Claudette Kim Robinson

Entertaining from strat to finish

This is a wonderful story and is so well written. I was hooked from.the start and you will be too!
I just finished listening and can't stop smiling.

What a book...

From the 1800’s in Louisiana to 1997 California

Experience the history of a family as the author makes you laugh and cry through their adventures.

Review:

“Every Person’s life is like a pot of gumbo, you get out what you put in”

This was one of my favorite sayings from Kim Robinson’s book right from the beginning.

I listened to the Audible version of “The Roux in the Gumbo” and I feel like I was able to get a real feel for the book, with all of the different characters and their voices and situations.

This story is sometimes heartbreaking and hard to hear. What they went through was often horrific! But, there were also a lot of happy points highlighted in the book, as well. Sometimes the difficult parts of the book concerned me about whether I could keep going, but I am glad I did.

I did find it a little difficult to keep up with all of the characters, as there were so many of them, but I think listening to the made that easier for me (versus reading the book) with the distinct voices.

The fact that she was able to create this novel from all of her elders stories through the years was truly amazing and a work of art.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for fair and honest review.

Outstanding Story!

This story brought tears to my eyes. The author Kim Robinson did a wonderful job. I would definitely recommend this story to a stranger. Loved it!!!

Review of The Roux in the Gumbo by Kim Robinson

After a short dedication to her grandmother, who was the inspiration for this book, Robinson carries us back to the Antebellum South and recounts her familial narrative of tenacity and growth.

She traces the family history through Gisselle (whose salvation and development were nothing short of miraculous), through several fortunes and loss of fortunes before, during and after the Civil War. She describes violent and inhumane acts by the KKK foisted upon the non-whites in Louisiana, at the time.

Inevitably, the family will leave to reestablish itself in California, and a new chapter begins.

Robinson gives a riveting, emotional and occasionally raucous accounting of events. Her characters can be honorable, charming, humorous, vindictive or treacherous...or a combination of these traits. She helps us understand the historical, moral , social and class structures and traditions of French, Indians and Black Americans, including systems of Hoodoo and Placage.

By the time of "Mother", the moniker by which everyone addressed Robinson's grandmother, the family claimed victory in survival and endurance. This book is the opening salvo of that survival story. Stay tuned and excited for more!

Hard to follow

Did not enjoy the narrators reading. Not well read at all. Story did not flow well.

Had potential? Save your money or credit

Maybe those positive reviews managed to hear something in the story I was not because I could not suffer through listening to the author reading it any more.
In general, authors don't make good readers. I did not see that in the beginning esp since the first names are different.
I may have also been able to eventually get beyond the authors raspy, horse voice IF she did not read the material as one long, non stop sentence without any periods. I could not tell when there were any transitions and quickly got lost between characters and what was going on.
Adding another reader for other characters did not help and lent nothing.
On top of all that, it sounded as if they were reading in a bathroom or some place other than a studio.
Can't believe this was an Audible "production"??? Would return it if I could