4 out of 4 stars
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Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream by Dr. Frank L. Douglas is an autobiography. This non-fiction novel includes frequent topics of explicit racism, discrimination, and other mature topics. I recommend this novel to mature audiences only.
Frank Douglas has just married and is on his way to the U.S. Where the social culture is vastly different. Frank came to the U.S. to study at medical school. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. Frank managed to make it, despite the racism and labels they placed on him because of the color of his skin. He works for the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he undergoes lots of research and self-reflection. He navigates through this foreign political world, building his career and his family. His story, his research, and his life are in this novel.
If there is anything someone should prioritize, it would be family. Frank promptly puts his family first by dedicating his autobiography to his parents, wife, children, and grandchildren. He listed off each of their names. I found my self starting to respect this author because I value family above all else. As I kept perusing his book, I respected the author more because of how he chose to live his life, despite everything he went through.
One key thing I appreciated about this novel, was the complex language and extensive dialogue. This author uses plenty of weighty words, such as "evangelical" and "epitomize". Occasionally, I had to look up the meaning of some of his words. My reading ability was definitely challenged by reading this book. This is definitely a book for those who are more advanced. Other examples of this are demonstrated in the complex dialogue. One example is, "Wha ya wan today, boy?" While it is not technically the traditional spellings, this is how people used to speak. Every so often, it takes a few moments to interpret what they are articulating.
I was thoroughly captivated while reading this novel. It only took me a couple of days to read because I found myself wanting to know more. The author's story is truly tragic. He went through so much and yet he still achieved his goals. This novel was an inspiration. I thank the author for recounting his personal stories of sorrow and triumph with the world. In my opinion, I loved this book. I did not come across anything that I disliked. Obviously, only people who love autobiographies would maintain an interest in this novel.
Taking everything into consideration, I am delighted to give this autobiography a well-deserved rating of four out of four stars. This novel was exceptionally edited. I heartily recommend this novel to anyone who wishes to expand their knowledge on racial subjects. This was a truly marvelous story.
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Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
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