ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, ALWAYS OUTGUNNED

Rating:
Summary: I learn from Mosely
Review: A friend gave me Mosley's book Walkin' the Dog, to show me what good writing was about. Mr.Mosley not only drew me in, but I wished I had received Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned first, just so I knew more about Socrates Fortlow and how he arrived. I've since devoured the stories in both books, and made them part of my permanent collection of greats. Mosley is a prolific writer, who asks you to walk beside him through the streets of Los Angeles, eyes wide opened, and nostrils flaring, and if you dare to, take in the sight,sound,feel,and smell of the Watts ghetto. Mr. Mosley deserves acclaim for his effort and moreso for his extraordinary success in the creation of Socrates Fortlow, his friends and foe. Mosley is a winner. If you can't learn from him, you aren't listening.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Before I read this book, I would never have known that I could fall in love with a character who is a violent ex-convict. Socrates Fortlow, two-time murderer and one-time rapist (at least the crimes of which he has been convicted) has spent most of his life learning to survive behind bars.

However, eight years after his release from the Indiana State Penitentiary, and his relocation to South Central L.A., he has become much more like his namesake. This collection of interrelated short stories together form a remarkable tale of subtle, and perhaps even unconscious, redemption. Socrates becomes a mentor, best friend, and invaluable member of society. In addition, he learns that not all is black and white, whether it be with regard to morality, or as between the races.

The stories and their moral teachings are subtle, like well-crafted fables. I read this in one evening, unable to put down this wonderfully written book.

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Summary: College Prep Review for Fellow High School Students
Review: The novel ~Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned~ by Water Mosley is a dramatic story that follows the adulthood of Socrates Fortlow; a convicted rapist and murderer who lives in Watts, Los Angeles. After being in prison for 27 years, Socrates tries to redeem himself by helping others with their own troubles and problems. Throughout the book, he comes across many people who change his life while he helps them. Socrates' journey shows him that life goes on even after it has stopped for him. He especially tries to help Darryl, a teenager who is on the same path of self-destruction that Socrates took, with his uneasy life in the ghetto. And as Socrates comes in contact with more and more people, he realizes that there is some humanity left within him and maybe even this world.

This book has many adult themes in it from the dialogue to the main character being a convicted rapist and murderer. We believe this book should be read by more advanced readers. The format of the book is very complex. It does not go in chronological order. A chapter might begin with something that happened three weeks before the initial reading, and the whole chapter might be on that sole event. If you have read ~House on Mango Street~ by Sandra Cisneros, which follows the same format, this novel is not so hard. However, if you have not experienced this kind of reading before, you might find yourself lost frequently. Anyone below high school will have a hard time with this book. ~Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned~ has many dramatic and depressing themes and chapters. We do not suggest this if you are looking for an uplifting book. Many controversial subjects are covered in this book like racism, discrimination, the life in a ghetto, murder, rape, and many other things that some people find uneasy to talk to about.

However, the book is fascinating, suspenseful, and makes you think. The novel is made to keep you on your toes with every twist of the story. Socrates becomes the unlikely hero that by the end of the book will leave you wanting more. We recommend this to anyone that is looking for an intense and wonderful novel that shows that there could be a little good still left in anyone no matter what.

Greg, Christian, Carrie & Ni - Culver Academy

Rating:
Summary: True wisdom
Review: This has to come close to being the best collection of short-stories written in English during the last twenty years.

At their best the taut writing and uncanny ability to explode the confusion and emptiness at the heart of many people's lives recalls Raymond Carver, but where Carver is content to leave his ethics enigmatic, Mosley is righteous and fierce. This is not to say that the central character, Socrates Fortlow is a judgemental moralist. Far from it. This burly ex-con with his huge rock-crushing hands and terrible past, is searching for truth in a world where truth is no much unfashionable as crushed out of people's souls by injustice. He is a seeker not a saviour.

The stories also form the link between Mosley's crime writing and his outstanding first SF novel, Blue Light, where issues of metaphysics are brought further into the foreground. Through the stories, Socrates acquires a kind of nobility that can only come from a totally honest struggle our own impulses as well as with the environment that surrounds us. There is a sense of place in 'Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned' that is very specific to 1980s Watts, but mythic and resonant and almost timeless at the same time. This only comes from genuine wisdom and understanding, qualities in which Mosley far outshines almost all contemporary authors.

There are one or two weaker stories, notably one in which Socrates gets involved with the courts again, but this is a collection to come back to. And as with Raymond Carver, I felt compelled to stop for quite some time after each one as the subtle but powerful emotional impact percolated through my brain.

Rating:
Summary: Socrates Strikes Back
Review: This book was quite a refreshing change from what I've recently read. I (and the other book club members) looked at our recent books. Each one was authored by an African American woman and had as its general theme strife within male/female relationships. The author of this book is an African American male (mystery writer turned novelist) and the general theme is one man's battle with himself. It was really really excellent.

From a pure text viewpoint, the writing was raw and gritty. None of the glossy, drippy, name-brand references of the women writers was present here. This was all generic stuff Mr. Fortlow used or wanted or thought about.

Mr. Fortlow comes from prison and eventhough he faces great opposition at almost every turn, he gets a job, helps an at-risk youth, comforts a dying friend, and most importantly learns how to control the anger that spurs his 'rock breaking hands' to action. He uses his powers for good instead of evil.

This book is definitely worth reading. The sequel, Walking the Dog, is probably worth reading, too.

Rating:
Summary: strong stories; read by a fantastic actor (Paul Winfield)
Review: These stories, as read by the great actor Paul Winfield, are powerful testaments to life, love, hard times, etc.. These stories and their central character, Socrates Fortlow, are fine examples of a man, who did wrong, seeks redemption, and tries hard to make amends. The continuing theme of the crime which he committed ties them all together. Mr. Winfield's reading cuts across all racial barriers, to teach all of us, black and white, about one man's struggle(s) with his demons. His reading also adds passion and depth to Mr. Mosley's writing. I'd highly recommend these stories (in audio and print). [Refers to the audio edition.]

Rating:
Summary: Better than Easy?
Review: 1. What is the text about? A series of interrelated stories about an ex-con living in Los Angeles; redemption and change
2. What is good about it? The stories are crispy written and evocative. Mosley writes with strong themes but doesn't bash you with them.
3. What is not so good about it? Nothing. But it's not a traditional narrative and those seeking that type of work may be disappointed (but not likely).
4. Who might like it? Fans of Mosley's other work (the Easy Rawlins series); fans of sociological fiction, African American themed fiction.
5. Personal bias: None really, except I like Mosley's work a lot. This is more "literary" than the Easy Rawlins stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written, great insight
Review: I heard it was a book of short stories, but found it to read like a novel. Socrates is a deep and thoughtful character who will stay on your mind a long time. He tries to do the right thing in very adverse conditions. This book was an easy read, but deep and beautiful. I'd recommend to every reader I know.

Rating:
Summary: A man of many seasons.
Review: Meet Socrates Fortlow, a man who served years of prison time for the deaths and rape of a young couple, getting out of prison and trying to adjust to life on the outside as well as trying to come to terms with the life he led before and during his incarceration. During this fourteen short story run, the supporting cast are just as strong as they are flawed, much like Socrates himself. It was this character trait that kept me reading until the end. Socrates lived a hard life and he paid the price for it, however, throughout this book, his anger and resentment has made him not only a heroic figure, but a tragic one as well. Where else can you come across a man that will put together a plan to run a drug dealer out of his neighborhood, and the next story will have him standing in the face of one of his friends and tell him that he will stab him in the back to get with his wife and kids if he doesn't straighten up and fly right? It's these complex traits that make Mr. Fortlow such a facinating character, and this a facinating book.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best books i've read
Review: I just wanted to say this book is one of the best I've ever read. I feel it should be on every high school's curriculum.