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nuhafariha's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Now available.
One of my current regrets is that I haven't come across legendary Black author Walter Mosley until this collection of short stories. By turns bizarre, comedic and tragic, "The Awkward Black Man" is a series of musings by an aging Black man. Every story has a powerful voice, a new perspective, a wild plot chase. My personal favorite was the love affair with mad scientist who kept altering people to achieve their "God Potential". What a tongue in cheek, adventurous narrative! Like the best literature, "Awkward Black Man" is a collection that will force you to look at the world just a little bit differently, with newer, fresher eyes and perhaps a little jolt of energy. Take a walk with Walter Mosley and you might never know where you'll end up.
Now available.
One of my current regrets is that I haven't come across legendary Black author Walter Mosley until this collection of short stories. By turns bizarre, comedic and tragic, "The Awkward Black Man" is a series of musings by an aging Black man. Every story has a powerful voice, a new perspective, a wild plot chase. My personal favorite was the love affair with mad scientist who kept altering people to achieve their "God Potential". What a tongue in cheek, adventurous narrative! Like the best literature, "Awkward Black Man" is a collection that will force you to look at the world just a little bit differently, with newer, fresher eyes and perhaps a little jolt of energy. Take a walk with Walter Mosley and you might never know where you'll end up.
mauricekofi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
parkersjoint's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pleasantly surprised. found most of these short stories a delight, and a solid other few just mid. only one of these stories were a HARD five stars for me, just blew me out of the fucking water.
Walter is a great writer. I fount out he has his own course in MASTERCLASS on writing fiction, certified baby! .... I never knew of his impact and who he was before reading this, I just saw the book title in barnes and noble and grabbed it. will def come back to some of these stories in the future.
Walter is a great writer. I fount out he has his own course in MASTERCLASS on writing fiction, certified baby! .... I never knew of his impact and who he was before reading this, I just saw the book title in barnes and noble and grabbed it. will def come back to some of these stories in the future.
kindasweetish's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn’t particularly enjoy the short stories but it was interesting. All of the characters seemed to be a slightly different version of the same person. I’m guessing an awkward black man. It seemed to characterize a black that continuously fails to launch and then finds himself in a mid life crisis of his own making. Hard to empathize with them but it’s definitely another look at what can happen to black men in America. All of the stories somehow ended with these men being revered or finally figuring “it” out. It was difficult to read or relate to. The science stories were cool though.
rybly's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
franklola's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
patreceluvbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bkish's review against another edition
5.0
What an outstanding writer!
this is various short stories written by this writer over the years. It is my first experience of Walt Mosley who is known as a mystery writer. He is jewish and african american in NYC (my hometown). all his stories about the lives and thoughts and relationships of black older men in NYC. Each story is completely different and yet what is common to all aside from the main characters and his relationships is that he is looking at humanity with a touch of sadness and a lot of irony and honestly. These stories are direct and blunt and deal with the truths about people and their lives and some of it is endemic to men who are black or african american and some fits for many if not all men. He is absolutely marvelous with words and the scenes he recreates in words. At times I smiled and at times I laughed and at times I felt a deep sadness...
Judy g
this is various short stories written by this writer over the years. It is my first experience of Walt Mosley who is known as a mystery writer. He is jewish and african american in NYC (my hometown). all his stories about the lives and thoughts and relationships of black older men in NYC. Each story is completely different and yet what is common to all aside from the main characters and his relationships is that he is looking at humanity with a touch of sadness and a lot of irony and honestly. These stories are direct and blunt and deal with the truths about people and their lives and some of it is endemic to men who are black or african american and some fits for many if not all men. He is absolutely marvelous with words and the scenes he recreates in words. At times I smiled and at times I laughed and at times I felt a deep sadness...
Judy g