Helpful Score: 3
The writing style was good but the plot dragged. The main character is racially mixed and married to a Caucasian female. Their marriage is on the rocks and he has moved out of the house. The book is about the main character reflecting on his past and the disappointments in his life. With no real ambition for the future he meanders throughout his life. The author attempts to make you feel sorry for the main character. I guess because he is part African American. I didn't buy it. I never felt sorry or blue for the character at all. In fact, I wanted to kick him in the ass to get him going. I felt like the main character was the cause of most of his problems because he never really shows any gumption or drive to do better. He has several reasons he feels that his life has been somewhat of a disappointment, but the biggest reason is himself. The main characters problems are no bigger than any other everyday Americans. Welcome to life son.
Helpful Score: 2
I had to read this book for my a literature class and though I think the writing is good and thought provoking It was really hard for me to get into the book. Mostly because I couldn't relate with the character and couldn't read through the hidden meanings of many of the messages he was trying to convey.
Helpful Score: 1
I am mixed about this book. It took me a very long time to read, because it moved slowly for me. It is written stream-of-consciousness and bounces back and forth from past to present often without segue, so I found myself a bit lost at times. It was hard to concentrate. It was like listening to jazz and reading poetry at the same time. Very nice but sometimes losing oneself. With that said, the story line was very good. The writing was beautiful and melancholy but finally hopeful. When I finished I felt as if I knew the narrator, which in the end shows great writing.
