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Title: Walkin' the Dog by Walter Mosley, Paul Winfield ISBN: 1-57042-710-0 Publisher: Time Warner Audio Major Pub. Date: 01 November, 1999 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $17.98 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.54 (28 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: socrates does it again
Comment: when i received always outnumbered, i devoured it without getting up. everyone to whom i suggested it loved it as well. there aren't many characters in literature like socrates fortlow. i facilitate a group in a local prison and the book spurred much discussion. it also showed me that mosley is right on with socrates' feelings. walkin' the dog is just as powerful as the first collecton. socrates is changing due to his conscious efforts to address the world with integrity. these twelve stories continue his quest. my only complaint is the dust cover in which the man with the sandwich board doesn't match my image of socrates. usually, when you know an author is planning a sequel (like mosley does here, i hope), i feel manipulated. this time i am anxiously awaiting the next collection.
Rating: 4
Summary: Post-Modern Socrates
Comment: Socrates Fortlow returns in Walter Mosley's second collection of stories about the ex-con trying to find his place and beliefs in a radically changed world now that he's out of prison. "Always Outnmubered, Always Outgunned" introduced the not-so-gentle giant and found a ready audience in Mosley fans and a new audience seduced by Socrates' coming to terms with his new life and learning to understand who is he is in relation to it. The dozen stories here deal with his slow progress into a post-modern world, sometimes against his will - he is a man who resists even getting a telephone because he is afraid it will make him too available and possibly vulnerable. But away from prison for a long enough time, eventually his defenses begin to transform, as in the church discussion group he joins where he discovers real hope within. This is a fascinating journal of one man's spiritual journey that reflects many of today's hot button issues, and makes me eager to see where Mosley will take the admirable Socrates Fortlow next.
Rating: 5
Summary: Releasing the Mind-Forged Shackles to Become Free
Comment: Mr. Mosley has written a brilliant book that explores the concept that freedom begins and ends in the mind. The physical world may put hand cuffs or handicaps on you, but you choose how you respond to those limitations. The roads you choose not to take limit your freedom far more than what anyone else will do to you. This is a timeless novel that will probably be considered a classic in the future. I encourage everyone to read it. You have much to gain.
Socrates Fortlow is an ex-con who is just trying to survive. His dreams are haunted by memories of his small cell and the murder he committed that placed him there. The book opens to find him operating like a future butterfly in its cocoon. He is constrained by his violent feelings, his distrust of progress and good fortune, and his discomfort with people. Like many who have sinned (all of us), he has many good qualities. He is mentoring a teenager he works with, will do more than his share of the work required, quietly endures mistreatment by white people, and cares for a badly handicapped dog who has only two legs. His great strengths are that he is interested in controlling his own actions (rather than just striking out in blind anger) and making the best moral choice (taking full responsibility for his actions).
Throughout the story, Socrates develops and finally emerges from his cocoon, and begins to seek out new opportunities and experiences. As a result, he grows as a person and as a moral force. Gradually, he begins to lose the mental bonds that hold him back from fulfilling his mighty potential.
The book is filled with much violence, hatred, and inhumanity. That backdrop will disturb many readers. Yet, for many people, life is like a battleground, and what is portrayed here is realistic in terms of inner city life for many black people.
On the other hand, the book is filled with much love, generosity, and caring. Seeing how these positive and negative forces confront and affect each other is extremely interesting in the plot that Mr. Mosley has developed. You will find it difficult to anticpate what will happen next, because of Mr. Mosley's inventiveness.
Like the Greek Socrates, Socrates Fortlow asks many questions and his questions help others to find their own solutions, as well. You will find yourself pondering the questions, long after you close the book.
The dog, Killer, is an astonishing metaphor for Socrates' life (and indeed our own), and will help every reader to appreciate the nuances in this story.
As much as I enjoyed the Easy Rawlins series, this book vastly transcends those fine books to move into the rarified air of great literature. Many will see the obvious similarities to Les Miserables, but I found Socrates Fortlow to be a greater creation than Jean Valjean was. Also, Mr. Mosley does a better job of character development with Socrates Fortlow than Victor Hugo did with Jean Valjean.
After you finish this story, think about where pessimism has stolen choices from you. What else can you choose to do that will set you free from the limitations of your mind? Like Killer, realize that you may need some help from others in order to accomplish everything you potentially can.
Choose to live free of your preconceptions!
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Title: ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, ALWAYS OUTGUNNED by Walter Mosley ISBN: 0671014994 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Fearless Jones (Fearless Jones Novels (Paperback)) by Walter Mosley ISBN: 0446610127 Publisher: Warner Vision Pub. Date: 28 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Fear Itself: A Fearless Jones Novel by Walter Mosley ISBN: 0316591122 Publisher: Little, Brown Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Bad Boy Brawly Brown (Easy Rawlins Mysteries (Paperback)) by Walter Mosley ISBN: 0446612316 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 30 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Six Easy Pieces: Easy Rawlins Stories by Walter Mosley ISBN: 0743442547 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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