The Right Mistake

Title: The Right Mistake 3.5 / 5
Author: Walter Mosley
2008
Began Reading: 5/24/2009
Ended Reading: 6/2/2009

Format: CD




Walter Mosley is a very thought provoking author. He makes you look at things in a different light. I have been listening to many books for a while now and they all seem to have a value to them. In this one, Mosley has us follow the life of Socrotes Fortlow. Socrotes is an ex - con who starts The Thursday Nights Thinkers Club. It is during this club that everyone pounds out theories and hypotheses that can change the world, for the better.

Socrotes' character is what is common in Walter Mosley's books. He is a strong physically and mentally man, yet flawed in some ways. Socrotes was a repentant rapist and killer. That is a very heavy charge.

Now, Walter made me feel for the character of Socrates. That is no easy feat considering in an everyday world I would never think of giving a man like Socrates a pass. He would in no way ever receive my sympathy. Luckily, this is a book and not real life.

Socrotes Fortlow left prison after a 26 year bid a bitter and broken man. He thought as most prisoners I have ever known they could change the world with their penitentiary psychology. Socrotes Fortlow used words and phrases only a "reformed" ex con would use, yet I still thought he was thought provoking.

Socrotes Fortlow is the example of the Damaged Black Man who goes to prison and comes home spouting off ideas on changing the world. Not only that, he finds a hurting Black woman who wants to set up house with him. She meets him and within weeks wants to give her life over to Mr. Fortlow. She is more gung ho on loving him than he is on her. This is not to say that he does not succumb to her charms. It is just the fact that he alludes to having penitentiary rendevouz and Luna, the future Mrs Fortlow has no problem with it. Could it be Luna has nothing left to live for? Could it be Luna has Daddy issues? She is 23, he's in his 50's. Late 50's.

Then there are the other characters in the book. The other damged individuals the gambler, the business owner the lawyer...

While this book was thought provoking in regard to the race relations issues, I found it lacking in characters that were worthy of remembering. But leave it to Mr. Mosley to make things not only black and white, but shades of gray.