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falconerreader's review against another edition
4.0
The Easy Rawlins books are compulsively readable mysteries. I've always enjoyed the unusual (to this white suburban girl) perspective on recent American history, and if it sometimes seems like Mosley is hitting us over the head with racism, that is only because for most non-white Americans, life hits them over the head with racism every day. My main complaint about the series is that every single woman Easy meets is dying to go to bed with him. All of them. Bad girls, good girls, married women, grandmothers...it makes his angst over the love of his life hard for me to take seriously, because at least once each book, he grants someone's wish. Every woman is assessed in terms of why or why not she is someone Easy will screw. I get tired of it, and keep meaning to stop reading the series, but then a new book comes out, and I know the mystery will be a good one, so I succumb. From the final page of the book, it seems I may no longer need to worry about it, but we'll see.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
After going through most of Walter Mosley’s Leonid McGill series, I decided to switch back to the books that drew me to his work in the first place: good ol’ Easy Rawlins.
Having read most of the McGill books (and unlike the Rawlins series, they’re mostly the same in terms of plot and tone) I have a fresh perspective on the Rawlins ones and Mosley’s evolution as a writer. McGill has always felt like the character Mosley wanted to write but didn’t get to until later in his career, when he had a better sense of his voice. This is inference on my part; I’ve read several interviews with Mosley and he’s never said as much. But there’s a striking tone, a confidence to the McGill books that there aren’t with Rawlins. The former is sort of an angel of death, the latter lives in the shadow of it constantly and it informs his decisions.
One thing both have in common, finally, is how they articulate race. At this point in Easy’s journey, it’s 1967. After the passing of the Civil Rights Act, black people are allowed to go places they weren’t before. Yet here, Mosley plays it a similar way McGill does: just because the law says so doesn’t mean white people are okay with it. They continue to let him know. At one point, Easy opines to his date how things aren’t much better now, just different in how oppression manifests.
I spend most of my time reflecting on Easy and McGill because Blonde Faith really is a peak into how Easy is doing in those days. Yeah there are mysteries, two that somewhat merge into one. But this is really a moment in Rawlins’ life, which is not going great due to the absence of Bonnie and despite the support of his kids. Easy tries to avoid destruction but given the trials he’s faced in life, his instinct is towards self destruction. His clash with it is the heart of this novel.
And it works effectively. This is a book about Easy for fans of Easy books. A keystone novel, if you will. And if you’ve rode with Mosley this long, you’ll probably appreciate what he’s doing here. At least I did. This is one of the better books in the series because of how deep it gets into Easy’s psyche and his need to change and the circumstances and decisions which prevent it. It’s true to the series and it keeps the series moving forward.
Having read most of the McGill books (and unlike the Rawlins series, they’re mostly the same in terms of plot and tone) I have a fresh perspective on the Rawlins ones and Mosley’s evolution as a writer. McGill has always felt like the character Mosley wanted to write but didn’t get to until later in his career, when he had a better sense of his voice. This is inference on my part; I’ve read several interviews with Mosley and he’s never said as much. But there’s a striking tone, a confidence to the McGill books that there aren’t with Rawlins. The former is sort of an angel of death, the latter lives in the shadow of it constantly and it informs his decisions.
One thing both have in common, finally, is how they articulate race. At this point in Easy’s journey, it’s 1967. After the passing of the Civil Rights Act, black people are allowed to go places they weren’t before. Yet here, Mosley plays it a similar way McGill does: just because the law says so doesn’t mean white people are okay with it. They continue to let him know. At one point, Easy opines to his date how things aren’t much better now, just different in how oppression manifests.
I spend most of my time reflecting on Easy and McGill because Blonde Faith really is a peak into how Easy is doing in those days. Yeah there are mysteries, two that somewhat merge into one. But this is really a moment in Rawlins’ life, which is not going great due to the absence of Bonnie and despite the support of his kids. Easy tries to avoid destruction but given the trials he’s faced in life, his instinct is towards self destruction. His clash with it is the heart of this novel.
And it works effectively. This is a book about Easy for fans of Easy books. A keystone novel, if you will. And if you’ve rode with Mosley this long, you’ll probably appreciate what he’s doing here. At least I did. This is one of the better books in the series because of how deep it gets into Easy’s psyche and his need to change and the circumstances and decisions which prevent it. It’s true to the series and it keeps the series moving forward.
jerseyfemme's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
But that ending tho! 👀
bdplume's review
5.0
A fitting close to the Rawlins series...although I'm not sure if I like the last couple pages.
dlwchico's review
3.0
I first heard of Walter Mosley back about the time Bill Clinton was elected President, the first time. In some interview or another he said that his favorite write was Walter Mosley. Usually when a politician is asked for their favorite book or author they answer with something that makes them sound religious (The Bible) or smart somehow (some old Greek dude). I was sort of intrigued by Clinton’s answer so I checked for Mosley at the library. Most of his books are about a black guy in L.A. (Easy Rawlins) who does detective work. At the start of the series he isn’t licensed but in this book he is.
The cover of this one says it’s the 10th Easy Rawlins book. I’m not sure if I have read em all, but I’ve read most of them. A movie was made of the first one, I think. Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington as Easy and Don Cheadle as his dangerous buddy, Mouse (I think Don stole the movie too, he’s great). Unfortunately they didn’t make any more Easy Rawlins movies. I think it would have been a good franchise series.
The cover of this one says it’s the 10th Easy Rawlins book. I’m not sure if I have read em all, but I’ve read most of them. A movie was made of the first one, I think. Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington as Easy and Don Cheadle as his dangerous buddy, Mouse (I think Don stole the movie too, he’s great). Unfortunately they didn’t make any more Easy Rawlins movies. I think it would have been a good franchise series.
readermonica's review
4.0
I'm saying this for almost every installment in this series and I'm going to say it again. This series is absolutely wonderful! Easy is a wonderfully complicated and relatable character. Easily one of my all time favorite characters.
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
falconerreader's review
4.0
The Easy Rawlins books are compulsively readable mysteries. I've always enjoyed the unusual (to this white suburban girl) perspective on recent American history, and if it sometimes seems like Mosley is hitting us over the head with racism, that is only because for most non-white Americans, life hits them over the head with racism every day. My main complaint about the series is that every single woman Easy meets is dying to go to bed with him. All of them. Bad girls, good girls, married women, grandmothers...it makes his angst over the love of his life hard for me to take seriously, because at least once each book, he grants someone's wish. Every woman is assessed in terms of why or why not she is someone Easy will screw. I get tired of it, and keep meaning to stop reading the series, but then a new book comes out, and I know the mystery will be a good one, so I succumb. From the final page of the book, it seems I may no longer need to worry about it, but we'll see.
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