Makeda

By: Randall Robinson

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

Political activist and best-selling author Randall Robinson is a pillar of scholarship and insight within the African-American literary community. His acclaimed novel Makeda stars Gray March, a young man who, beginning in the 1950s, embarks on a journey of spiritual and historical enlightenment through stories he hears from his blind grandmother.

©2011 Randall Robinson (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Eloquent and erudite, Robinson’s oft-times mystical coming-of-age saga teems with rich and evocative historical insights.” ( Booklist)

Beautiful Book

Beautiful fictional book wrapped around true African History. A surprising story.This made me nostalgic about my relationship with my own grandmother.

Such amazing writing in such a powerful story

I regret not having read this life-changing book earlier. It is an important work. See for yourself!

Makeda, Queen of Sheba

Beautifully written. Excellent narration.
Me: an aging white woman who identifies as black in her soul. Loved that this book was about past lives, told through Makeda's grandson.

Surprising Content; Disappointing Performance

I have read Randall Robinson’s nonfiction work and I was excited to see this foray into historically informed fiction but I have to say that my enjoyment was very much hindered by Kevin R. Free’s accent work. I have been pleased with Free’s narration in the past but at the time of this recording, he had not mastered the multitude of accents that were necessary to adequately read this story. I make pictures in my head when I hear things and there were too many characters that wound up looking like leprechauns in my version after hearing Free. It would have been better if had read the book in his own pleasant voice and accent than trying to inaccurately imitate someone else’s. His American southern accent was solid but the others were a distraction that I had to overcome.

Food for thought

This book whether based on truth or fiction was thought provoking and very well written. I enjoyed the book