Blind Willie and Other Stories

Rating:
Summary: Eyes For Blind
Review: I do volunteer work with the blind and find it a rewarding experience. I like to see the happiness on their faces when they are having fun. It is enjoyable being their eyes. Most are seniors and have been blind for life. When I discovered Blind Willie & Other Stories, it was a revelation. Here was a story where the hero is a dog who is more developed or evolved than his master. Willy's a good man, but he does not come close to the moral growth of his new dog, Perro. Willy does change in the end. The blind can accomplish and do. Loss of sight does not hinder personal growth. This story makes that clear.

The Other Stories leaves one with the sense that the writer drew on his own personal knowledge and experiences to illustrate love, friendship, loneliness, brotherhood, and compassion.

Toy Henry takes the reader into the soul and heart of a young urban teenager and his daily struggle to escape the life he is trapped in. He tries to use his artistic talent only to have his past immorality destroy him and all that he loved. I think this story is so real it deserves to be classed as a modern classic.

Rating:
Summary: Lowell-Lles, V.P. Office Products Division Fortune 500
Review: I liked Blind Willie, althogh it took me a couple chapters to get into it. I particularly liked the premise of some humans being able to communicate with animals. It definitely reminded me of the relationship between the two main characters in the book "Ishmael," particularly when Perro was discussing his former maste Lawrence. I also liked Willies perspective on religion, since my views are some what similar. I definitely think a sequal is in order for this story. Would love to see developed further.

I like the how the Pie story and Cookie Trilogy revolved around "karma," more or less, fate, and self fulfilling prophecy.
I especially liked the Fortune Cookie chapter. Twelve Boots in the saddle left me wanting more. I thought it was an interesting premise.

I enjoyed the Last Tribesman especially since I remember reading a short book about Ishi in grade school. The ending was a clever twist.

The Studio was a little implausible, but everything Hollywood falls into the implausible.

Of all the stories Toy Henry was the greatest. The characters jumped off the page. The story took me through a range of emotions. I hated the guy then loved him.

Overall I thought the book was well written.