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Before I Forget: A Novel
This powerful novel of three generations of black men bound by blood — and by histories of mutual love, fear, and frustration — gives author Leonard Pitts the opportunity to explore the painful truths of black men's lives, especially as they play out in the fraught relations of fathers and sons. As 50-year-old Mo tries to reach out to his increasingly tuned-out son Trey (who himself has become an unwed teenaged father), he realizes that the burden of grief and anger he carries over his own estranged father has everything to do with the struggles he encounters with his son. Part road novel, part character study, and part social critique, and written in compulsively readable prose, Before I Forget is the work of a major new voice in American fiction. Pitts knows inside and out the difficulties facing black men as they grapple with the complexities of their roles as fathers.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
63 people are currently reading
1563 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Pitts Jr.
18 books420 followersLeonard Pitts Jr. was born and raised in Southern California. He is a columnist for the Miami Herald and won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was also a finalist for the Pulitzer in 1992. In 1997, Pitts took first place for commentary in division four (newspapers with a circulation of more than 300,000) in the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors' Ninth Annual Writing Awards competition. His columns on the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman have garnered much attention from his peers and readers alike.
Pitts's column, "We'll Go Forward From This Moment," an angry and defiant open letter to the terrorists, generated upwards of 30,000 emails and has since been set to music, reprinted in poster form, read on television by Regis Philbin, and quoted by Congressman Richard Gephardt as part of the Democratic Party's weekly radio address. He is a three-time recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Award of Excellence, a five-time recipient of the Atlantic City Press Club’s National Headliners Award and a seven-time recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award.
In a career spanning 35 years, Leonard Pitts, Jr. has been a columnist, a college professor, a radio producer, and a lecturer, but if you ask him to define himself, he will invariably choose one word: writer.
He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and children.
Pitts's column, "We'll Go Forward From This Moment," an angry and defiant open letter to the terrorists, generated upwards of 30,000 emails and has since been set to music, reprinted in poster form, read on television by Regis Philbin, and quoted by Congressman Richard Gephardt as part of the Democratic Party's weekly radio address. He is a three-time recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Award of Excellence, a five-time recipient of the Atlantic City Press Club’s National Headliners Award and a seven-time recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award.
In a career spanning 35 years, Leonard Pitts, Jr. has been a columnist, a college professor, a radio producer, and a lecturer, but if you ask him to define himself, he will invariably choose one word: writer.
He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
July 29, 2018
I really enjoyed Before I Forget. It felt rare and unique. I think its because I've read so few books that really examined what it means to be a good man and a good father. Rarer still is a novel that examines this in the Black community.
Pitts uses this journey to examine the elements of what makes a good man, what makes and motivates black men along with all the influences that go into the measure of a man: the environmental forces, the cycles of life, black women, class structures, wealth, family and racism all play a role. The book contains good role models and bad ones. The good and bad people are not gender specific. I think Pitts also attempts to explain that not everything is as it seems. It's often too easy to dismiss people as poor and therefore bad (as in decisions, choices, judgements, experiences). Pitts characters are multidimensional. There are many sides to every character. He also points out that there some people are just bad people regardless of environment. There is an old saying that behind every smile is a struggle you know nothing about. All of the characters in this book had struggles. With the exception of Fury, no character was completely bad without cause. I think even the character of Fury was designed to show that even bad people are somebody's child. Fury's brother Dog's journey was perhaps one of the most poignant and heartbreaking. So was the story of Michaela. The world is an ugly place and some of the pressures put upon parents can be overwhelming. I'm not sure if it was Pitts' intent but the examples of "good" fathers were all middle/upper class males with daughters. Those men in this novel were present in their daughters lives. They seemed to be absent for their sons, continuing the cycle as it were…
I think this was a wonderful, affecting novel. I haven't had the opportunity to read (nor do I know of) many novels that chronicle manhood or fatherhood in the African American community in such an emotional, affecting way. I like that Pitts treats all of his characters with tremendous respect. Another benefit was that this novel was a virtual travelogue through 70s R&B music. The novel is peppered with nods toward Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire, the Spinners, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye etc. Loved the musical journey back in time. More novels like this please…
4.5 Stars
Read on my kindle.
Pitts uses this journey to examine the elements of what makes a good man, what makes and motivates black men along with all the influences that go into the measure of a man: the environmental forces, the cycles of life, black women, class structures, wealth, family and racism all play a role. The book contains good role models and bad ones. The good and bad people are not gender specific. I think Pitts also attempts to explain that not everything is as it seems. It's often too easy to dismiss people as poor and therefore bad (as in decisions, choices, judgements, experiences). Pitts characters are multidimensional. There are many sides to every character. He also points out that there some people are just bad people regardless of environment. There is an old saying that behind every smile is a struggle you know nothing about. All of the characters in this book had struggles. With the exception of Fury, no character was completely bad without cause. I think even the character of Fury was designed to show that even bad people are somebody's child. Fury's brother Dog's journey was perhaps one of the most poignant and heartbreaking. So was the story of Michaela. The world is an ugly place and some of the pressures put upon parents can be overwhelming. I'm not sure if it was Pitts' intent but the examples of "good" fathers were all middle/upper class males with daughters. Those men in this novel were present in their daughters lives. They seemed to be absent for their sons, continuing the cycle as it were…
I think this was a wonderful, affecting novel. I haven't had the opportunity to read (nor do I know of) many novels that chronicle manhood or fatherhood in the African American community in such an emotional, affecting way. I like that Pitts treats all of his characters with tremendous respect. Another benefit was that this novel was a virtual travelogue through 70s R&B music. The novel is peppered with nods toward Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire, the Spinners, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye etc. Loved the musical journey back in time. More novels like this please…
4.5 Stars
Read on my kindle.
December 3, 2022
This book is great fiction, packing in themes across the human experience-the social, cultural, political, medical, personal-with good writing and great storytelling. The focus is black fatherhood in 20th century America, a topic which is actually pretty scarce, especially if penned by a male author of color.
Mo Johnson is our main character, a famous singer in the likes of Al Green and Marvin Gaye with one especially huge hit in the 70s but with enough of a following and reputation from his awards that he’s lived the life of a star his whole life. His fame is really the one unique, non-typical element in a story filled with people who could be almost anyone that any of us might know. We have teenage boys dreaming of being rappers, tired working women trying to keep their families together, teenage girls looking for someone to love them, cops profiling who gets pulled over, bad medical news coming out of nowhere to remind us of our mortality.
The nuances of parenthood, the hurts and regrets we carry, the ignorance of events that drive our behavior when as children adults don’t tell us everything, are explored here to great effect. While Pitts includes different permutations of parenthood, a happy marriage with both parents raising the kids together is no where seen. But his story is gritty fiction set in 20th century America, not a fantasy.
I really came to care for Tash, the mother of Mo’s only child, and Trey, their son, who is 19 in the story. Trey is fumbling into manhood, already the father of a 4 year old son. These three are the core set of characters, but Mo and Trey, and their human connections as males, as sons and fathers, grandsons and grandfathers, paramours to the women they don’t marry - are the real heart of a very special, strong and moving story.
Mo Johnson is our main character, a famous singer in the likes of Al Green and Marvin Gaye with one especially huge hit in the 70s but with enough of a following and reputation from his awards that he’s lived the life of a star his whole life. His fame is really the one unique, non-typical element in a story filled with people who could be almost anyone that any of us might know. We have teenage boys dreaming of being rappers, tired working women trying to keep their families together, teenage girls looking for someone to love them, cops profiling who gets pulled over, bad medical news coming out of nowhere to remind us of our mortality.
The nuances of parenthood, the hurts and regrets we carry, the ignorance of events that drive our behavior when as children adults don’t tell us everything, are explored here to great effect. While Pitts includes different permutations of parenthood, a happy marriage with both parents raising the kids together is no where seen. But his story is gritty fiction set in 20th century America, not a fantasy.
I really came to care for Tash, the mother of Mo’s only child, and Trey, their son, who is 19 in the story. Trey is fumbling into manhood, already the father of a 4 year old son. These three are the core set of characters, but Mo and Trey, and their human connections as males, as sons and fathers, grandsons and grandfathers, paramours to the women they don’t marry - are the real heart of a very special, strong and moving story.
January 28, 2011
Wow! Now I understand why Mr. Leonard Pitts is an award winning author. I thought "Before I Forget" was going to be a story about a 49 year old man's decent into the horrible world of Alzheimer disease, however it was so much more. As a matter of fact, the Alzheimer piece took about third place in the emphasis of this book. First and foremost it is a story of a group of black men, young, middle aged, and senior, and their relationships with each other and their families. What makes this story so unique is that the story is told from the point of view of Trey- a 19 year old wanna be rapper without a clue, Mo- Trey's dad a former 70's entertainer, Jack- Mo's dad who was mean, surly, or absent during most of Mo's childfhood.This is a serious "house of cards". A series of 'cause and effect' relationships. There were other important characters, but I will not memtion them for fear of giving away too much of the story. HOWEVER, one these characters that I am compelled to mention is Dog. I so wanted to hate him, but I couldn't. Mr. Pitts gave his personality such depth, that I could not just dismiss him as a "thrifflin thug".I didn't want to care about him, but I realize that I'll think about him for a long time.
Amazing book!
Amazing book!
September 15, 2009
This book is powerful! I could not put it down. Leonard Pitts has done a wonderful job of taking areas which he has often discussed in his essays - father-son relationships, personal responsibility, and manhood - and creating a novel that is intelligent, accessible, and compelling. I an very impressed. If you have a black man - or for that matter, any man - in your life, this should be his next gift.
May 20, 2010
whatever that counts, i was ready to give this book five stars. it's brilliantly written -- brillianty in the sense of displaying that assured steady hand fiction writers develop after a few tries at the press, except this is leonard pitts jr.'s first novel -- it's a most engaging read, its characters are well fleshed out, the dynamics it explores are compelling... basically, a solidly great read. and i wanted to give it five stars because this is a family story written by an african american man, the kind of novel women tend to write and read, one of those novels of mothers, fathers, children, choices, life-paths, redemption, hugs, tears, deaths, and births that guys typically avoid like the plague. so i was so, so pleased with leonard pitts jr. for being a guy who writes about life things, and for being a black man who writes without feeling any need to assert his virility, somehow. i kept thinking, this is a fabulous four-star book; if the end is as good as the rest of the book, i am going to give it five stars.
but then the end let me down. and the end is the thing one tends to remember best in a novel. the end let me down so much that i heard one of the four stars plink as it dropped on the floor. it was respect for the novel as a whole that made me pick that fourth start up. so this is my advice: read this, really, read it, but skip the last five pages.
last five pages aside, this is great. pitts shows a tender understanding of the tremendous pressure of african american life -- upper, middle, and lower class -- and i had to remind myself this is the same guy who wrote anti-affirmative-action columns when i still read the miami herald. this may very well be the Native Son of the 21st century, a brutal depiction by a black author of the daily bruising black men and women take at the hand of an awfully blindsided culture. this book drips exhaustion. you read it and you feel exhausted too.
at the same time, pitts is proud of who he is. i think even a fastidious african american writer like percival everett might like this book. this is neither a ghetto book nor a woe is me book. instead, it's full of ideas -- on how things are, how they got to where they are, how to start making them better.
but then the end let me down. and the end is the thing one tends to remember best in a novel. the end let me down so much that i heard one of the four stars plink as it dropped on the floor. it was respect for the novel as a whole that made me pick that fourth start up. so this is my advice: read this, really, read it, but skip the last five pages.
last five pages aside, this is great. pitts shows a tender understanding of the tremendous pressure of african american life -- upper, middle, and lower class -- and i had to remind myself this is the same guy who wrote anti-affirmative-action columns when i still read the miami herald. this may very well be the Native Son of the 21st century, a brutal depiction by a black author of the daily bruising black men and women take at the hand of an awfully blindsided culture. this book drips exhaustion. you read it and you feel exhausted too.
at the same time, pitts is proud of who he is. i think even a fastidious african american writer like percival everett might like this book. this is neither a ghetto book nor a woe is me book. instead, it's full of ideas -- on how things are, how they got to where they are, how to start making them better.
June 6, 2012
This book almost brought a tear to my eye in the end. It was a great reminder of why I love reading. Words have the power to do great things including invoke emotion. I mean you are aware that it's all fictional, but the writing, when done well, as it is here, can touch you. Although at times the plot is predictable, the story and dialogue is very real. Three generation of men, each a different expression of fatherhood. Can one be an effective father without the presence and precedence of one's own father? That is the salient question that permeates this novel.
James Moses Johnson Jr., a former r&b singing great has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. And as such, he wants to set some things straight before he forgets. He hadn't spent much time with his son, and has been estranged from his own father for 30 years. Trying to make the most of time before his memory begins to fail him, he and Moses III embark on a cross country trip to see his father and Trey's (Moses' III) grandfather.
The driving time gives Moses Jr. the opportunity to talk about his mis-steps, about honor, fatherhood, his relationship with his own father and his imminent battle with Alzheimer's. Through these conversations you will be drawn into these characters and take an interest in to how all this will end.
You will be nourished by this novel, and it is a meal most tasty and highly recommended. After reading this, you will certainly want to read another Leonard Pitts novel, and thankfully he has one, entitled Freeman. Happy reading!
James Moses Johnson Jr., a former r&b singing great has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. And as such, he wants to set some things straight before he forgets. He hadn't spent much time with his son, and has been estranged from his own father for 30 years. Trying to make the most of time before his memory begins to fail him, he and Moses III embark on a cross country trip to see his father and Trey's (Moses' III) grandfather.
The driving time gives Moses Jr. the opportunity to talk about his mis-steps, about honor, fatherhood, his relationship with his own father and his imminent battle with Alzheimer's. Through these conversations you will be drawn into these characters and take an interest in to how all this will end.
You will be nourished by this novel, and it is a meal most tasty and highly recommended. After reading this, you will certainly want to read another Leonard Pitts novel, and thankfully he has one, entitled Freeman. Happy reading!
February 13, 2016
Found this book on a list of favorite books of 2009 on author Carleen Brice's blog, which led me to suggest it to my bookclub. The book was brilliant. Started off a little too slow for my liking but it was my book club's pick so I had no choice but to finish...and I am so happy that I did. Pitts is a master at weaving layers to produce a full, powerful, and touching story. There were times when this book made my heart race (from chapter 18 until the end), times when it made me angry (Trey rapping over his father's song made me want to strangle somebody lol), times when I wanted to cry. Everyone in my bookclub LOVED it. We also felt that this should definitely be a book that all Black men should pick up, no matter their status, background, or history. The fact that the novel was multi generational makes it easy for a number of different ages to identify with the story (definitely want my mom to read it). Looking forward to ANYTHING else Pitts has to offer.
August 3, 2015
Toni Morrison said, “If the book you want to read hasn’t been written, you must write it.��� This novel by Leonard Pitts is one of the novels that get me off the hook. This is a story I’ve wanted to read for a while, a rare glimpse into the hearts of Black men.
It opens with the main character Mo Johnson being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers disease and 5 days later his son Trey is involved in an armed robbery of a convience store. Thus, Mo begins a reflection of his life as he tries to make decisions about his future. Three generations are covered as we learn of Mo’s relationship with his estranged father and his relationship with his only son. Feelings of pride and regret, love and indifference, guilt and innocence are reviewed.
The characters in this book are well developed and very realistic. Many of them felt like people I know; not perfect, just human. There are surprises, secrets, a bit of humor and at the core - Love. Some may consider the ending a bit tidy but for me is was complete with no loose ends.
Poignant, enlightening and contemplative are a few words to describe this outstanding debut novel.
Favorite quotes:
“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
“Life is thinking about those consequences, even when you are not. Life says, you can do this, or you can do that. You take this, but it will cost you that.
Now choose.
Now Choose.”
p. 325
It opens with the main character Mo Johnson being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers disease and 5 days later his son Trey is involved in an armed robbery of a convience store. Thus, Mo begins a reflection of his life as he tries to make decisions about his future. Three generations are covered as we learn of Mo’s relationship with his estranged father and his relationship with his only son. Feelings of pride and regret, love and indifference, guilt and innocence are reviewed.
The characters in this book are well developed and very realistic. Many of them felt like people I know; not perfect, just human. There are surprises, secrets, a bit of humor and at the core - Love. Some may consider the ending a bit tidy but for me is was complete with no loose ends.
Poignant, enlightening and contemplative are a few words to describe this outstanding debut novel.
Favorite quotes:
“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
“Life is thinking about those consequences, even when you are not. Life says, you can do this, or you can do that. You take this, but it will cost you that.
Now choose.
Now Choose.”
p. 325
December 12, 2009
Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts, Jr. is a story of three generations of black men who are related by blood, but each struggles with their role of being a father and do not understand the heritage that bonds them and makes them who they are. The main character, Mo Johnson, a former soul star of the 70s, has just found out at age 49, he suffers from early-onset Alzheimer's, which will have him forget who he is before the disease kills him. This news, as expected, spins his world out-of-control. Trey, his son, at 19 also has a son, spends his time dreaming to be a rap star and has no means of supporting himself beyond what his mother and father provide to him, and he has just been arrested for robbery and murder. Jack, Mo's father, is dying of cancer and would like to see the son who has not spoken to him in 30 years, once more before he dies. While Mo's initial reaction to this request is no, the circumstances on why Mo refuses to speak to his father forces him to change his mind, as there are some things Mo needs to say before his memory is gone. So, Mo decides to embark on a trip back home to L.A. from Maryland, taking Trey with him as while Mo has supported his son financially he has not given him time and attention and wants to now spend time with his son.
Leonard Pitts weaves a wonderful story which is both painful and truthful, yet with compassion so the reader is able to view the lives of each of these characters and understand who they are. As Mo and Trey drive across country, the story unfolds in a series of flashbacks, alternating with action in the current time. The characters' voices for each of the generations were true to their times and I found myself smiling as I also heard the voices of the older and younger generations in my family. The most poignant of the storylines to me was the unfolding of the effect of Mo's early-onset Alzheimer's on him and his son, Trey.
Fathers are a major theme that affect both the major and secondary characters. The underlying question for the characters is what is a father and how do you effectively fill this role and more importantly, this book shows how black men wrestle with this issue and the different ways they come to terms with it. The author has the courage to address an issue that is on the minds of many in the black community and whether you agree with the characters' decisions or not - you will appreciate the honest portrayal.
Leonard Pitts weaves a wonderful story which is both painful and truthful, yet with compassion so the reader is able to view the lives of each of these characters and understand who they are. As Mo and Trey drive across country, the story unfolds in a series of flashbacks, alternating with action in the current time. The characters' voices for each of the generations were true to their times and I found myself smiling as I also heard the voices of the older and younger generations in my family. The most poignant of the storylines to me was the unfolding of the effect of Mo's early-onset Alzheimer's on him and his son, Trey.
Fathers are a major theme that affect both the major and secondary characters. The underlying question for the characters is what is a father and how do you effectively fill this role and more importantly, this book shows how black men wrestle with this issue and the different ways they come to terms with it. The author has the courage to address an issue that is on the minds of many in the black community and whether you agree with the characters' decisions or not - you will appreciate the honest portrayal.
December 18, 2014
Before I Forget was recommended to me by a good friend, and I'm so glad she has very good taste in books, because this story did not disappoint.
In this tale about a former singing artist, who goes by the name "Mo," readers are taken on a journey, as Mo discovers he has Alzheimer's Disease. The story unfolds as Mo is forced to not only try to remember his past before he soon forgets, but the memories obligate him to correct what is present, and what has happened a long time ago. Mo is such a tortured soul that I wanted to reach through the printed pages and hug him. His journey of discovery only becomes more darkened when he travels back to his hometown in Southern California. Mo is on a mission to save his young son, who goes by "Trey." Trey has chosen the wrong path, and a trip across country to his grandfather's funeral, awakens him to realities he's never thought of before. Meanwhile, his mother, Tash realizes some things about her own parenting with Trey via her boyfriend, Phillip. Leonard Pitts Jr. leaves no stone unturned as he addresses the cycle of father and son relationships as well as mothers and sons. He covers three generations that is layered with pain and heartache, but he tells the story with such candor and light humor that it doesn't come across as a story of gloom. In fact, there are underlining messages of hope.
I applaud Leonard Pitts for his obvious gift of storytelling. His words are like silk on paper. The details and the way he describes people and scenes are told with such simplicity that it's like watching a movie on the big scene. It's been years since a book has kept me up late at night only to wake up in the morning feeling anxious to read what's going to happen next. The story is one for every generation to read and discover new truths about themselves. Before we forget or before life passes us by, NOW is the time to make things right!
In this tale about a former singing artist, who goes by the name "Mo," readers are taken on a journey, as Mo discovers he has Alzheimer's Disease. The story unfolds as Mo is forced to not only try to remember his past before he soon forgets, but the memories obligate him to correct what is present, and what has happened a long time ago. Mo is such a tortured soul that I wanted to reach through the printed pages and hug him. His journey of discovery only becomes more darkened when he travels back to his hometown in Southern California. Mo is on a mission to save his young son, who goes by "Trey." Trey has chosen the wrong path, and a trip across country to his grandfather's funeral, awakens him to realities he's never thought of before. Meanwhile, his mother, Tash realizes some things about her own parenting with Trey via her boyfriend, Phillip. Leonard Pitts Jr. leaves no stone unturned as he addresses the cycle of father and son relationships as well as mothers and sons. He covers three generations that is layered with pain and heartache, but he tells the story with such candor and light humor that it doesn't come across as a story of gloom. In fact, there are underlining messages of hope.
I applaud Leonard Pitts for his obvious gift of storytelling. His words are like silk on paper. The details and the way he describes people and scenes are told with such simplicity that it's like watching a movie on the big scene. It's been years since a book has kept me up late at night only to wake up in the morning feeling anxious to read what's going to happen next. The story is one for every generation to read and discover new truths about themselves. Before we forget or before life passes us by, NOW is the time to make things right!
December 16, 2013
WOW. I finished this book last night, and I'm still just saying "WOW" to myself. It has been quite some time since I've read a work of fiction centered around an African-American cast that has left met truly amazed with the storyline and writing. Mr. Pitts is an incredicle storyteller and I may just need to go look up some of his newspaper articles at this point.
There were a few sections in the book where I thought the story was going to get really stereotypical and turn into another urban fiction title. Mr. Ptts truly dug deeper and gave the reader more than that. I feel like I know these characters and I'm still reeling over what happened to them. In the end I was extremely pleased regarding how Trey truly became a man.
Mr. Pitts wrote poignantly about fragile father/son relationships in the Black community and the consequences of broken families. More subtly discussed was the role of the mother in the Black family, especially pertaining to raising sons alone. Some parts stung, but Mr. Pitts was able to show a bit of humanity in nearly every flawed character. Brilliant, brilliant writing and I want to write like him when I grow up :)
There were a few sections in the book where I thought the story was going to get really stereotypical and turn into another urban fiction title. Mr. Ptts truly dug deeper and gave the reader more than that. I feel like I know these characters and I'm still reeling over what happened to them. In the end I was extremely pleased regarding how Trey truly became a man.
Mr. Pitts wrote poignantly about fragile father/son relationships in the Black community and the consequences of broken families. More subtly discussed was the role of the mother in the Black family, especially pertaining to raising sons alone. Some parts stung, but Mr. Pitts was able to show a bit of humanity in nearly every flawed character. Brilliant, brilliant writing and I want to write like him when I grow up :)
June 29, 2017
Wow! This is a very powerful novel.
I've never read any novel like this about African-Americans.
I'm very glad that I did.
I've read many of Mr. Pitts' newspaper columns but this is a whole different side of the author's talent.
I've never read any novel like this about African-Americans.
I'm very glad that I did.
I've read many of Mr. Pitts' newspaper columns but this is a whole different side of the author's talent.
January 14, 2011
Before starting this review I must first say I will try to limit any spoilers. It is not my intent to give away the story, but I will probably offer more detail than I have in other reviews. So consider yourself warned.
We've all heard the old adage "like father like son" and at first glimpse that seems to be the message in "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. Pitts uses different points of view to tell the story of the three James Moses Johnsons, each dealing with his own dilemma and less than perfect father-son relationship.
We start out with the "junior" of the bunch, Mo Johnson, an aging 70's soul singer who is confronted with a medical condition that forces him to re-evaluate his life. If this was not enough to deal with, Mo learns five days later that his 19 year-old son Trey, is in trouble with the law. While not estranged from young Trey, Mo has not been the model father or a regular presence in the young man's life. As if all of this drama was not enough, Mo also learns that his estranged father, Jack, is also suffering from a serious medical condition.
All of this conflict happens within the first 75 pages of "Before I Forget" which definitely piques the interest of the reader and will keep you reading. Set between Baltimore and Los Angeles, the remaining 280 or so pages takes Mo and Trey on a cross country drive and a better understanding of one another. Along the way an old would is healed, but the story does not end there.
To offer depth to this story, Pitts introduces secondary characters and story lines that instead of taking away from the story had flavor, and substance. The underlying story of absentee fathers was presented in a light that is rarely seen - the father's perspective. Although the reasons noted are not all forgiving, you are at least given a glimpse into the inner workings of some young fathers.
"Before I Forget" is a well written story with a number of intermingled story lines that work very well together. I really enjoyed the character development and the realism exhibited in this work. I would highly recommend this book.
We've all heard the old adage "like father like son" and at first glimpse that seems to be the message in "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. Pitts uses different points of view to tell the story of the three James Moses Johnsons, each dealing with his own dilemma and less than perfect father-son relationship.
We start out with the "junior" of the bunch, Mo Johnson, an aging 70's soul singer who is confronted with a medical condition that forces him to re-evaluate his life. If this was not enough to deal with, Mo learns five days later that his 19 year-old son Trey, is in trouble with the law. While not estranged from young Trey, Mo has not been the model father or a regular presence in the young man's life. As if all of this drama was not enough, Mo also learns that his estranged father, Jack, is also suffering from a serious medical condition.
All of this conflict happens within the first 75 pages of "Before I Forget" which definitely piques the interest of the reader and will keep you reading. Set between Baltimore and Los Angeles, the remaining 280 or so pages takes Mo and Trey on a cross country drive and a better understanding of one another. Along the way an old would is healed, but the story does not end there.
To offer depth to this story, Pitts introduces secondary characters and story lines that instead of taking away from the story had flavor, and substance. The underlying story of absentee fathers was presented in a light that is rarely seen - the father's perspective. Although the reasons noted are not all forgiving, you are at least given a glimpse into the inner workings of some young fathers.
"Before I Forget" is a well written story with a number of intermingled story lines that work very well together. I really enjoyed the character development and the realism exhibited in this work. I would highly recommend this book.
February 4, 2025
WOW! Very rarely does a book elicit a 5 star rating from me. This was a bookclub selection and it was perfect for a stimulating bookclub discussion because of the depths of the themes presented. So often I read books that disappoint me in terms of character development. This time I was pleasantly surprised. Each character was well developed and you could see their evolution, sometimes good, sometimes not throughout the story. My only issue was that the author used odd words at times - it felt like he grabbed a thesaurus and chose the most obscure word he could find and it affected the flow of the novel. The plus side to that is that I have learned some new vocabulary. All in all I was impressed with this book. A very thought provoking, emotional read.
September 12, 2017
I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it. The relationships and the character development were really well done. There's also humor and suspense. We get to meet Mo, a once-famous singer from the 70's, Mo's son Trey, who is a 19 year old father of a 4 year old, and we meet Mo's dad and get to hear his story. Along with all of that of course are the mothers, girlfriends, step-fathers, etc. While it does get into the Alzheimer's disease, the book is really more an exploration of the relationships and decisions of black men in the 21st century.
October 20, 2013
This is a beautiful and tragic story. I loved every page of it, even the ending full of deaths. The characters in this book seemed so real and complicated.
But the storyline that really confused me was Dog. I just knew that eventually he was going to choose his nasty family over Ronnie, but I really expected that he was going to cut a deal with the judge - I'll leave your daughter alone if you manage to get my brother off. But then the baby was born and he decided that he hated his mother (I hated her too, at this point) so I thought perhaps I was wrong and someone from this book would get a happyish ending. I suspected all along that Ronnie was with him to piss off her father, and of course his mother was a nasty, bitter, jealous woman who just had to tell him instead of letting him try to make a family life. I guess Dog believed it too, and that's what drove him at the end? For me as a reader, that was the biggest tragedy of the book. Dog was probably so hurt and angry that he thought murder and suicide were all he was worth. His wretched, selfish mother and brother just could not bear to see him happy (for as long as it could have lasted).
But the storyline that really confused me was Dog. I just knew that eventually he was going to choose his nasty family over Ronnie, but I really expected that he was going to cut a deal with the judge - I'll leave your daughter alone if you manage to get my brother off. But then the baby was born and he decided that he hated his mother (I hated her too, at this point) so I thought perhaps I was wrong and someone from this book would get a happyish ending. I suspected all along that Ronnie was with him to piss off her father, and of course his mother was a nasty, bitter, jealous woman who just had to tell him instead of letting him try to make a family life. I guess Dog believed it too, and that's what drove him at the end? For me as a reader, that was the biggest tragedy of the book. Dog was probably so hurt and angry that he thought murder and suicide were all he was worth. His wretched, selfish mother and brother just could not bear to see him happy (for as long as it could have lasted).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2010
A masterpiece! The story of James Moses Johnson Jr driving his neglected son, James Moses Johnson III, from Baltimore to Los Angeles to see his estranged dying father, and along the way trying to find a way to tell his son of his early onset Alzheimer's disease, is a compelling tale about what it takes to be a father and a man. Pitts' prose soars, and his ear for dialect is keen. I didn't want it to end.
June 20, 2011
I personally enjoyed this book.. I got the chance to meet Leonard Pitts Jr. and after talking to him about his novel, I understood the book even more. The cycle of having bad a bad relationship with a father was one of the biggest themes. However, I was very glad it ended when Tray was able to love his father, and save his relationship with his own son. Very great read.
March 26, 2013
An honest view of dysfunctional relationships between three generations of men (in one family) and the price they pay for restitution and lack of restitution. This thread runs deeply through the novel -- between the primary characters and in the description of the lives of the secondary characters.
This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A great first novel.
This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A great first novel.
July 2, 2015
I've always loved Leonard Pitts' columns but hadn't read any of his fiction. I'm really glad that's changed. Pitts is an excellent storyteller, making us care about a variety of characters, the hard choices they have to make and how circumstances shape those choices. This book is definitely worth the time.
August 16, 2024
I had always been a fan of his newspaper columns but only learned of his switch to novels when he came to my town recently for an author talk/signing. I read this book before his visit, and bought another to read in the future. Before I Forget is a powerful book tackling family dynamics, father-son relationships , accountability, choices, and so much more. It’s just a very good story. It’s the story of three generations…3 Black men as they struggle to define themselves within the social realities of their times. The story tackles issues with a voice not usually found in literature…it is a welcome and needed addition. It’s one I won’t forget.
April 30, 2019
For years I've enjoyed reading Leonard Pitts Jr.'s columns, never once giving thought that he was also a writer of novels. Happily, I am now aware of his story-telling abilities in the form of novels.
As often happens in life, the characters in Before I Forget have had to hit rock bottom in order to see themselves and their lives clearly and to make necessary changes in thoughts and behavior -- as well as amends for past transgressions. This is a poignant story of three men: a grandfather, his son and his son's young adult son and an examination of relationships and the impact of action and inaction.
As often happens in life, the characters in Before I Forget have had to hit rock bottom in order to see themselves and their lives clearly and to make necessary changes in thoughts and behavior -- as well as amends for past transgressions. This is a poignant story of three men: a grandfather, his son and his son's young adult son and an examination of relationships and the impact of action and inaction.
March 28, 2012
This book is a quiet little gem, and I can see why many have voted for it on the Lost African American Treasures book list. It really is a treasure, a glimpse into territory that is often unexamined.
The book is told from the perspective of a grandfather, son, and grandson - all black men, a product of their times. The story weaves in an out from each man's perspective, telling about his life choices, the things that matter, why they did what they did, and why they thought it was right at the time, then the eventual self-reflection that comes with age. Jack Johnson, grandfather, full of pride and poor as dirt. All he had left was his pride. And, Mo, the son of Jack - a man that rose above his crappy childhood and held on to the dream of the 70's, of finding a better place in the world, so much so that he became just his public image. And, then Trey, Mo's son, no role model, nothing good to look up to, and easily drawn into the crowd that is ready to bring him down. He is childish, selfish, not a man at all, sadly like so many of his generation.
Life events bring these men to a crossroads. It is a touching story of how Mo tries to finally teach his son how to be a man, as he realizes, he failed miserably - maybe because it was easier for him to run away. Trey finally listens, really listens.
What I love about this story is that it is almost exclusively about men and their relationships with each other. Sure, there are female characters, and they are good characters, but the story is still really about men. I find it fascinating that a man wrote this too. There is a depth to mens' relationships that is often overlooked or ignored.
Their are a few side stories that are heartbreaking as well. I don't want to give away any spoiler, but my heart broke for Dog. The patterns of abuse are so hard to break. You never realize how incredibly hard one generation must work in order to break that pattern and get out. And, this is why so many fail at it.
I am so glad I read this book. I believe I will be thinking about it for quite some time.
The book is told from the perspective of a grandfather, son, and grandson - all black men, a product of their times. The story weaves in an out from each man's perspective, telling about his life choices, the things that matter, why they did what they did, and why they thought it was right at the time, then the eventual self-reflection that comes with age. Jack Johnson, grandfather, full of pride and poor as dirt. All he had left was his pride. And, Mo, the son of Jack - a man that rose above his crappy childhood and held on to the dream of the 70's, of finding a better place in the world, so much so that he became just his public image. And, then Trey, Mo's son, no role model, nothing good to look up to, and easily drawn into the crowd that is ready to bring him down. He is childish, selfish, not a man at all, sadly like so many of his generation.
Life events bring these men to a crossroads. It is a touching story of how Mo tries to finally teach his son how to be a man, as he realizes, he failed miserably - maybe because it was easier for him to run away. Trey finally listens, really listens.
What I love about this story is that it is almost exclusively about men and their relationships with each other. Sure, there are female characters, and they are good characters, but the story is still really about men. I find it fascinating that a man wrote this too. There is a depth to mens' relationships that is often overlooked or ignored.
Their are a few side stories that are heartbreaking as well. I don't want to give away any spoiler, but my heart broke for Dog. The patterns of abuse are so hard to break. You never realize how incredibly hard one generation must work in order to break that pattern and get out. And, this is why so many fail at it.
I am so glad I read this book. I believe I will be thinking about it for quite some time.
January 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this novel. What do fathers teach their sons? Mo,James Moses Johnson, II, becomes a world famous singer. He blames his father, James Moses Johnson, aka Jack, for his mother's death. Mo has a son, James Moses Johnson, III, aka Trey. Mo has been busy with making music and living life. He sees his son every now and then, but has not been there like he should have. In spite of his sporadic appearances, Trey loves his father. Trey has a four year old son named DeVante. Mo is forty-nine and has been diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's. Mo feels his world caving in when Trey is arrested for armed robbery and he then receives a call from Cooley (his father's best friend)telling him that Jack is dying. Mo's first reaction is not to go since it has been thirty years since he has had any contact with Jack. But Jack is his father. Mo decides to make the trip to Los Angeles and he takes Trey with him. Mo doesn't like airplanes, so he gases up his Escalade and heads West. The road trip covers more than distance. Lies are revealed, truths are learned, words are spoken, and love covers a multitude of sins.
September 23, 2009
A powerful and wonderfully written book about the ties that bind parents and children (particularly fathers and sons)and the many different ways they can misjudge each other. A first novel by Leonard Pitts Jr, who is a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper columnist, this is a story that will stay with you long after you read the last page. Many of Pitts' columns deal with the crisis of fatherless children in African-American society, and the characters in the book are black. But these are universal themes that cross all lines of color and class. If you are a parent or a child--or both--don't miss reading this one.
January 4, 2013
This was a great book. The story sheds light on Alzheimer's disease and the issue of a absentee famous father seeking redemption from his son. The ending was sad but very realistic. Life doesn't always have happy endings and people don't always get what there purposes are. I think this would be a great read for troubled inner city youths dealing with peer pressure and other life issues. The story had me in tears the last 10 pages. That's why I rated it 5 stars. I can't remember the last time a book made me cry.
July 4, 2012
What an excellent story!
I was drawn to Mo's story ... I'm just a couple years younger than him and I can't imagine finding out I had Alzheimer's and didn't have long to live.
There were lots of characters and you get to know the main ones really well and are cheering for them.
I'd never heard of Pitts Jr. ... I came across this book at the library and am glad I did.
I'd definitely recommend it!
I was drawn to Mo's story ... I'm just a couple years younger than him and I can't imagine finding out I had Alzheimer's and didn't have long to live.
There were lots of characters and you get to know the main ones really well and are cheering for them.
I'd never heard of Pitts Jr. ... I came across this book at the library and am glad I did.
I'd definitely recommend it!
September 20, 2013
This was a very moving and complex story about relationships lost and found. The setting called for some language, but the language was really rough and I almost stopped reading it, but oddly enough the book also had somewhat of a Christian undertone to it...go figure. I'm glad I stuck it out and finished it, there are some good resolutions, but probably not one I'd recommend widely on the account of the rough language.
January 19, 2021
sometimes facile but also thoughtful; how generations collide, intersect. some stereotypes presented, challenged.
redemption?
had no idea when I started this about its focus on dementia. as a caregiver to a musician recovering from a stroke and suffered his own lapses in memory it cut close to the bone in some ways. not so much in others. an airing of views - wealthy, not, oppressed by race, gender, systemic violence.
redemption?
had no idea when I started this about its focus on dementia. as a caregiver to a musician recovering from a stroke and suffered his own lapses in memory it cut close to the bone in some ways. not so much in others. an airing of views - wealthy, not, oppressed by race, gender, systemic violence.
December 31, 2019
Wow... a must read!
I LOVED this book. I can’t believe that it was written ten years ago! It felt so fresh, and real...timeless, really. The characters, the story, the plot and all of the content was powerfully written and I especially liked the pace of the book. It’s one of those rare reads when you feel like you’ve gotten just the right amount of everything, and left satisfied. A fantastic read.
I LOVED this book. I can’t believe that it was written ten years ago! It felt so fresh, and real...timeless, really. The characters, the story, the plot and all of the content was powerfully written and I especially liked the pace of the book. It’s one of those rare reads when you feel like you’ve gotten just the right amount of everything, and left satisfied. A fantastic read.
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