Spoilers Abound.
This is a good book. It dragged at times but overall it was good. It is sad of course. I figured that one of the young men would be saved and the other not, and through the trip to LA we got to see the potential for change within Trey so I hoped that Trey would come through the story OK.
One criticism though is that you might be able to argue that the women in the story were presented in a one-sided way.

I have enjoyed reading Leonard Pitts's newspaper columns for several years, and then I heard him interviewed on WFAE's Charlotte Talks about this book, his first novel. I found this book very powerful. It's more than the story of the three generations of African-American men and their complicated relationships as fathers and sons, which is what I was expected, one of whom has early-onset Alzheimers. I really appreciate how Pitts wove in other stories -- of Tash, Mo's lover and Trey's mother, and of Ray's story as well. All of these stories really show the importance of growing up, of acting like a man, and doing the right thing -- specifically for men, but also for all of us.

I loved the language that Pitt uses as well -- there was one line that really jumped out at me -- "Life sat on him like a mountain." (p. 69) It was so powerful, and really captured that feeling for me of when you're so tired that life's burdens just overwhelm you.

Another quote I liked -- "To lose your memory is not just to lose everything you have. It's to lose everything you are. It's to lose your very self. What are you without the things you remember?" (p. 59) ( )

After entering my most recently-read and pending to-read titles into Library Thing, this title was one of the top suggestions based on what I'd told it.

Not bad.

This isn't the kind of book in which I highlighted chunks of prose to go back and savor again later, but it is an incredibly well-told story with vivid and unforgettable characters. I think that this is Mr. Pitts' first novel and I look forward to what he does next. ( )

I was excited to read this book because of it dealt with a prevouisly ignored topic (early onset Alzheimers) from the rather unique male perspective. In addition, the author told the story using the voice and imperfect life of a fictitious R&B crooner, and deftly navigated lessons on manhood without being preachy or tying the characters' lessons up in neat little bows. As a matter of fact, I was surprised how many times the story's twists and turns caught me off guard and kept me turning pages 'til the very end.

This is not a story about the tragedy of Alzheimers, nor will you read a story about the day-to-day debilitating effects of the disease. You will, however, see the main character (James Moses "Mo" Johnson, Jr. aka "The Prophet') look back on his life in an attempt to make amends for his shortcomings, understand his upbringing, acknowledge his mistakes, and make peace with his fate. At the end, what you find is that each of the novel's characters are doing the same thing....each with unique results that twist the story's outcome to an unexpected conclusion.

This novel would be appreciated by both young male and female readers, old school parents and the new generation facing unexpected parenthood and unflinching adulthood. This was an unexpected gem! ( )