Reviews

• Allgood

  All good Came quickly

• A first-class story cycle of a hard man hero with a soft centre.

  Like Michael Connelly's Hieronymous 'Harry' Bosch and John Connolly's Charlie Parker, Walter Mosley's Socrates Fortlow has a name to live up to, and like them, he certainly does. Socrates is not a young man; he's survived twenty seven years in jail for murder, and he now aims to spend his days trying to be helpful, to do good and not to be violent any more to help atone for his wrong-doing. However that violence is always still simmering underneath, and he's not afraid to use it in self-defence or defence of his friends. He tries hard to make ends meet, finds a job, and mentors young Darryl who would otherwise be in a gang, and he's a good peacemaker - even if he has to administer a punch or two to get it! This is a series of short stories, some previously published in other sources. They may belie this by each having a few similar sentences to establish Socrates situation at the outset, but they all entwine and work beautifully as a chronological cycle of tales too. Socrates is a classic hard man with a soft centre, a good friend to those who know him well and a sympathetic hero with real depth. Absolutely fantastic.

• Window to another world

  Well told story about an older ex-con who lives in Watts. He goes from living off bottle redemption to creating his own redemption. He has made friends, gotten a real job, taken care of a neglected teenager, adopted an injured dog, and collected a nice sum of reward money for discovering and turning in an arsonist.

• Excellent

  Great novel by a master of his craft.

• Excellant book

  This book was real winner. The movie, by the title 'Always Out-numbered,' was really engaging and entertaining, but the book better describes the story behind the actions of many of the charactors. After reading the book [if you've already seen the movie] you'll find yourself saying "Oh, so that's why that happened - it certainly does explain it now!'' The movie starred Lawrence Fishburn, Bill Nun (Radio Raheem from Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing), Bill Duke (The mean-looking black Interrogating detective from Mennace II Society), Bill Cobs, Cicley Tysen, Isaiah Washington, Laurie Metcalf (sister Jackie from sit-com 'Roseanne,' Natalie Cole, and last but not least - Don Cheedle's real-life true love Brigid Coulter. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that Natalie Coal cannot act, because she 'more than proved herself' in this minor, but powerful role as resteraunt owner Iowa Gibbs. Laurie Metcalf was every bit as much ''out of charactor'' in her role as Sandra Bullock was [in her role] in the movie 'Crash,' and like Bullock, she did an excellant performance! The supporting actor of this great movie was a thirteen-year-old new-commer Daniel Williams who played 'Darryle,' the wayward pre-teen thug-wannabe that Socrates (Fishburn) became a mentor and protector to. I'm really surprised that Williams hasn't had more roles in the years that followed [even to-date], because he struck me as such a promising candidate back then. Enjoy!

• good product

  have not started reading yet

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