The Harris Men

Rating:
Summary: Growing up fatherless...
Review: I really enjoyed this realistic story of a family torn apart by the father's absence and the effect it had on the sons and their relationships as grown men. I could definitely see the author in his characters even though I haven't met him.
As soon as I finished I was ready for the next book!! -ES

Rating:
Summary: The World through the eyes of a man
Review: What happens when a father walks out on his wife and children?
Will for Julius Harris, the thought of walking out on his wife and children was a wrong idea. Julius Harris if a fifty five year old man, who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer, this is were the story begins. On the other side on map lived his three son Marcus, Caleb, and Austin. Austin is the oldest son who is a successful lawyer and who is also take the responbilities of begin a father and husband. For Austin begin a father to his son and a husband to his wife is starting to take a buren on him, Austin did what he father did to him, he walked out on his wife and child.

Then there is Marcus, he is the middle child. Marcus is caught int he middle of his two brother agruing, and decides to give his father a chance in his life. Which does not make the other's to happy.

And now for Caleb, the wild young brother of the Harris Men. Not only is Caleb struggling to find hisself, but he also has a child the needs to be taking care of. Caleb has a rap sheet that is as long as the Mississippi River. Julius not only want to reconcile with his children, but show them that he is dorry for walking out on them the way he did.

I think this book is a great example of what some men my go through. It has a ubran street to it that makes you sit down and continues it with out stopping. The harris men is a book that most of us can relate to, and think abot what family can do for us.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Believe the Hype
Review: This is among the worst books I have ever read! It is simply not well-written. "Hackneyed" isn't an accurate enough description. It is filled with cliches. There are internal contradictions in single paragraphs. The characters are one-dimensional, and no explanation is given for what drives them, either by the narrator, or in the characters' internal musings. My recommendation would be for the author to take a few basic creative writing classes, read some truly good writers, and find a good editor. I tried to rate it "0" but was forced to give it a single star just to get the review accepted. Save yourself time, money and aggravation, and pick up a good book; this is clearly not it.

Rating:
Summary: Emotionally Handicapped Black Men
Review: This book was selected over The Commitments to be read for our next black women's book club meeting. After finishing this puerile nonsense, I have to proudly report that I was one of the people who voted to read the other book.

I found this novel to be painful in its stereotypes and ideology. Each brother was predictable and unsympathetic. They were emotionally handicapped and had no sense of what it meant to "be a man." This was ostensibly due to the father's abandonment of them, yet the father also had no sense of what it took to be a man. One wonders whether things would have been any different had the father actually stayed around rather than choosing to be typical and leaving when he felt too much "pressure" at the responsibilities of fatherhood. Also, the male characters never seemed to have any epiphany about how emotionally messed up they really were. Calling Dr. Phil, please?!

Johnson created his female characters in one of the two veins traditionally depicted by black male writers: saint or slut. His female characters were all saintly and supportive of their emotionally handicapped men. Sane women would have separated themselves from these problem-children until they straightened out their acts and got lots of therapy.

I love reading positive stories about my people, but this one was a complete downer. It was painful for me to finish and I felt worse after having done so. If you are looking for a simplistic and predictable read, this is your book. If you are looking for something with depth and complexity, then stay far away from this drivel. There are other black male authors who do much better than Mr. Johnson does here...thank goodness for that.

Rating:
Summary: Men Making Mends
Review: The Harris Men was a great story to me dealing with men making mends in their life. Trying to pice up the pieces of broken hearts when their father walk out on the family some twenty years ago.
While I was certainly rooting for Marcus .I could understand him the most and my heart went out to him.
I could not understand Austin and his thinking for leaving his wife and family. Could it have been history repeating it self? He had no reason to leave his wife and family.
I did have sympathy for the father and some forgiveness,but I could not understand Caleb and his thinking . He was the character that frustated me the most. I kept thinking would he ever learn.
This was a great story showing how three brothers,and a father affected by the decision when the father left the family and marriage. I would rate Rm Johnson,s debut novel with 4.5* and I look forward to reading the sequel The Harris Family soon.

Rating:
Summary: page turner
Review: the characters in this book were just like family members anyone could easily relate to. they all seem to have almost a predictable course in life but then they would suprise you. this was a good read and i am now reading the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: good job
Review: this book was excellent. its about this man who has sons and really didnt spend any time with them. he becomes ill and now he want to spend his time before he passes away. each of his sons are so different but yet they are interesting characters. this book is a page turner and the characters will keep you going. good job r.m.

Rating:
Summary: An Emotional Page Turner...A MUST READ
Review: I really enjoyed The Harris Men, and typically I do not like to read about issues, single moms, lost dads etc. But I found myself dreaming about Caleb and had to wake up in the middle of the night to see what he was going to do next. I finished the book in 2 days. I was really rooting for Caleb verbally saying out loud "Oh NO! Caleb please don't"! I'm getting emotional just thinking about the book now. There were points in the novel where my mouth just flew open and I had to take a moment to reflect on what I just read. The material stirred all my emotions. My expressions while reading the book were livid and compassionate; one would have thought I was actually there as it was happening. During the robbery I was teary eyed. Thanks for a good, page-turning read! My customers went out and bought the book. I showcase an author every month at my deli. Again...great job with the serious issues! I simply love Johnson's work! He has become one of my favorite authors. I always suggest to men who do not have kids or are brand new fathers to read your book. There is a lesson for them to learn and embrace. Johnson was right those that need to read this book are those whom it does or did not directly affect!

Can't wait until his next book...the sequel to The Harris Men.

Rating:
Summary: An Eye-Opener In Understanding Why Men Do What They Do!
Review: This book was truly awesome! R.M. Johnson took three brothers affected by one situation, but who lives were affected in three totally different ways by this event. Not only a must-read for men, but definitely a must-read for women in understanding why men do the things they do. R.M. Johnson didn't stop there - wait until you get your hands on "Father Found". Truly an amazing talent!

Rating:
Summary: At least it was a different perspective...
Review: The subject of this book, and the fact that it was written by a male author drew me to it initially, but only common curiousity about how the plot would end kept me reading. I didn't find any of the characters appealing. I agree with some of the other readers that the women(Cathy, Sonya, Trace, and Reecie) all seemed creepily similar in their perfect attire and flawless looks, and tireless "Stand-by-your-man" attitiude; their descriptions read like male fantasy. The three brothers and their father all leaned quite heavily on their women for emotional nourishment and support, without feeling that they needed to reciprocate, aside from the superficial contribution of bringing home a paycheck. I felt the author's portrayal of male-female relationships reflected his belief in tradtional gender roles and expectations, and the tired idea that a woman should be her man's unoffical therapist. I wanted to learn something from this book, but felt the only really interesting parts involved Caleb's struggle, and his conversations with his friends. Their twisted justification for their situations made me sad, and made me wonder about how many Black men have those very same conversations every day, with the same level of hopelessness and despair.