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The Awkward Black Man
A masterful collection of stories that showcases one of the country’s most beloved and acclaimed writers—award-winning author, Walter Mosley. Bestselling author Walter Mosley has proven himself a master of narrative tension, both with his extraordinary fiction and gripping writing for television. The Awkward Black Man collects seventeen of Mosley’s most accomplished short stories to showcase the full range of his remarkable talent. Mosley presents distinct characters as they struggle to move through the world in each of these stories—heroes who are awkward, nerdy, self-defeating, self-involved, and, on the whole, odd. He overturns the stereotypes that corral black male characters and paints a subtle, powerful portrait of each of these unique individuals. In "The Good News Is," a man’s insecurity about his weight gives way to a serious illness and the intense loneliness that accompanies it. Deeply vulnerable, he allows himself to be taken advantage of in return for a little human comfort in a raw display of true need. "Pet Fly," previously published in the New Yorker , follows a man working as a mailroom clerk for a big company—a solitary job for which he is overqualified—and the unforeseen repercussions he endures when he attempts to forge a connection beyond the one he has with the fly buzzing around his apartment. And "Almost Alyce" chronicles failed loves, family loss, alcoholism, and a Zen approach to the art of begging that proves surprisingly effective. Touching and contemplative, each of these unexpected stories offers the best of one of our most gifted writers.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2020
501 people are currently reading
4830 people want to read
About the author
Walter Mosley
206 books3,903 followersWalter Mosley (b. 1952) is the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, as well as numerous other works, from literary fiction and science fiction to a young adult novel and political monographs. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the Nation, among other publications. Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Grammy, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
May 18, 2021
I’ve never read Walter Mosley before, though I’ve seen his name often enough over the last few years. I assumed he wrote mostly mystery novels, which is true. He has at least three popular detective fiction series to his credit. But after looking at his bio, I’ve discovered he’s also written some science fiction, literary fiction, and has even tried his hand at some erotica. I was in the mood for some literary short stories and came across these while searching the list from my library’s e-book offerings. As it turns out, this was a rather fortuitous discovery! There are seventeen stories in this collection, and other than two or three that failed to engage me properly, I was delighted with them overall.
Just as the title suggests, these are all stories about black men. The men are awkward in the sense that they are unique individuals facing challenges. They are often placed in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. They are intelligent but are sometimes discriminated against. Nearly all of them are lonely for one reason or another. Some of them are single men searching for connections; others are married or divorced men that have either betrayed or been betrayed by a woman.
“I wondered if I could start a business that would insure a person’s life to remain as it was after having been violated by betrayal or, worse, a simple loss of faith.”
At least a couple of the ‘men’ are actually adolescents in the midst of rather compelling coming-of-age situations. A few times Mosley pens very moving father and child relationships – either for better or worse. There’s a generous slather of melancholy in nearly all of the selections, but the sprinkling of humor and goodwill rescue this from being a depressing reading experience.
“I peered into the night, which was broken now and then by fluttering moths or the passing headlights of some car. If I had just looked into that abyss by myself I wouldn’t have seen a thing; but through Sherman’s eyes I could imagine the way the darkness, with the partial architecture of the urban night, was magical, alive. When I inhaled it felt as if that night was coming inside me.”
The two stories that failed to grab me were of the speculative fiction variety, though as a rule I’m not opposed to this genre. Personally, I preferred Mosley’s writing when he delved into the psyches of his characters, rather than experimenting with conceptual ideas. He does best when putting real people on paper. These are imperfect human beings that struggle, compromise, and adapt in whatever way they can. I was drawn to nearly all of them, even those that I at first did not particularly like. Mosley points to the fact that though we all have shortcomings, we’re not all that different from one another.
“I want people everywhere to stop for a minute and think about only the essential necessities of their lives. You know, air and water, food and friendship, shelter and laughing, disposal of waste and the continual need for all those things through all the days of their lives… If everybody everywhere had those thoughts in their minds, then they would realize that it’s not individuality or identity but being human, being the same that makes us strong.”
I’m not going to summarize the last story, “An Unlikely Series of Conversations”, but will just say it was remarkable. It ties the themes of nearly all of the other stories together perfectly and is highly relevant to current issues regarding race and culture. I’ll be reading more Walter Mosley for sure. He’s caught my attention!
“It intrigues me that you included a photograph of yourself but refused to identify by gender, race or age. There’s something genius in that.”
Just as the title suggests, these are all stories about black men. The men are awkward in the sense that they are unique individuals facing challenges. They are often placed in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. They are intelligent but are sometimes discriminated against. Nearly all of them are lonely for one reason or another. Some of them are single men searching for connections; others are married or divorced men that have either betrayed or been betrayed by a woman.
“I wondered if I could start a business that would insure a person’s life to remain as it was after having been violated by betrayal or, worse, a simple loss of faith.”
At least a couple of the ‘men’ are actually adolescents in the midst of rather compelling coming-of-age situations. A few times Mosley pens very moving father and child relationships – either for better or worse. There’s a generous slather of melancholy in nearly all of the selections, but the sprinkling of humor and goodwill rescue this from being a depressing reading experience.
“I peered into the night, which was broken now and then by fluttering moths or the passing headlights of some car. If I had just looked into that abyss by myself I wouldn’t have seen a thing; but through Sherman’s eyes I could imagine the way the darkness, with the partial architecture of the urban night, was magical, alive. When I inhaled it felt as if that night was coming inside me.”
The two stories that failed to grab me were of the speculative fiction variety, though as a rule I’m not opposed to this genre. Personally, I preferred Mosley’s writing when he delved into the psyches of his characters, rather than experimenting with conceptual ideas. He does best when putting real people on paper. These are imperfect human beings that struggle, compromise, and adapt in whatever way they can. I was drawn to nearly all of them, even those that I at first did not particularly like. Mosley points to the fact that though we all have shortcomings, we’re not all that different from one another.
“I want people everywhere to stop for a minute and think about only the essential necessities of their lives. You know, air and water, food and friendship, shelter and laughing, disposal of waste and the continual need for all those things through all the days of their lives… If everybody everywhere had those thoughts in their minds, then they would realize that it’s not individuality or identity but being human, being the same that makes us strong.”
I’m not going to summarize the last story, “An Unlikely Series of Conversations”, but will just say it was remarkable. It ties the themes of nearly all of the other stories together perfectly and is highly relevant to current issues regarding race and culture. I’ll be reading more Walter Mosley for sure. He’s caught my attention!
“It intrigues me that you included a photograph of yourself but refused to identify by gender, race or age. There’s something genius in that.”
June 24, 2023
I already knew I liked the way Walter Mosley puts words down on a page. I’d read a few of his novels and whilst I didn’t always love the story (actually, I really did like most of them) without fail I loved the way it was told. The man invents interesting characters and the dialogue is always snappy and clever. In the same way, I do like short story collections – the way you can work through a single story over a cup of coffee or immerse yourself more deeply by consuming a few in a longer sitting. So this book was a no-brainer for me, seventeen stories written by this talented man.
Each story is of a similar length and all put the spotlight on a black man (unsurprisingly) who finds himself in a wide variety of situations and/or conundrums. What drives these men and how they cope with the challenges that face them - or fail to - is where the focus lies. Some are looking for something, although they may not know what it is, others suffer bad luck or are wrestling with a problem and a few are simply adjusting to the ebb and flow of life. Many seem at first dark and yet end on a positive note whilst others throw up moral or social dilemma, the sort of thing we all have to deal with at some point in our lives.
I often stopped and just thought for a while after completing one of these tales. There are words of wisdom and lessons in life and there’s humour here too. Illness, mortality and death are all visited but I really didn’t feel that the tone was endlessly downbeat. As I’ve already reflected, there’s often a silver lining found in the dark cloud. The racial issue is, of course, present but it doesn’t crowd the stories, many of which are mini-masterpieces. In my opinion this is a book for everyone, we can all take something from these stories. The best short story collection I’ve ever read? Yes, I truly think it is.
My sincere thanks to Grove Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Each story is of a similar length and all put the spotlight on a black man (unsurprisingly) who finds himself in a wide variety of situations and/or conundrums. What drives these men and how they cope with the challenges that face them - or fail to - is where the focus lies. Some are looking for something, although they may not know what it is, others suffer bad luck or are wrestling with a problem and a few are simply adjusting to the ebb and flow of life. Many seem at first dark and yet end on a positive note whilst others throw up moral or social dilemma, the sort of thing we all have to deal with at some point in our lives.
I often stopped and just thought for a while after completing one of these tales. There are words of wisdom and lessons in life and there’s humour here too. Illness, mortality and death are all visited but I really didn’t feel that the tone was endlessly downbeat. As I’ve already reflected, there’s often a silver lining found in the dark cloud. The racial issue is, of course, present but it doesn’t crowd the stories, many of which are mini-masterpieces. In my opinion this is a book for everyone, we can all take something from these stories. The best short story collection I’ve ever read? Yes, I truly think it is.
My sincere thanks to Grove Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2020
I was drawn to this book because I had read 2 previous mystery books by this author. I like to read mysteries. However these short stories are not mysteries, but character studies, each one about an "Awkward Black Man" in today's American society. These short stories were uneven, ranging from depressing, about a homeless alcoholic, to the paranormal. In some cases, the man achieves a better place in life.
This quote is from the book blurb: "Mosley presents exceptional characters as they struggle to move through the world and navigate relationships, and paints a subtle, powerful portrait of each of these remarkable black people."
The stories do give the reader some insight into the lives and perspective of Black people in the US today.
One quote: "But a man like me, a man whose ancestors were kidnapped, chained, and dragged over here centuries ago is not and cannot be a hyphenate. At least not the kind of hyphenate that you say. You might call me an Abductee American, an originally Unwilling American. You might say that I'm a partly Disenfranchised American."
3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to Grove Atlantic for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheAwkwardBlackMan #NetGalley
This quote is from the book blurb: "Mosley presents exceptional characters as they struggle to move through the world and navigate relationships, and paints a subtle, powerful portrait of each of these remarkable black people."
The stories do give the reader some insight into the lives and perspective of Black people in the US today.
One quote: "But a man like me, a man whose ancestors were kidnapped, chained, and dragged over here centuries ago is not and cannot be a hyphenate. At least not the kind of hyphenate that you say. You might call me an Abductee American, an originally Unwilling American. You might say that I'm a partly Disenfranchised American."
3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to Grove Atlantic for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheAwkwardBlackMan #NetGalley
July 16, 2020
I've read enough Walter Mosley now that I trust him completely to lead me into the dark soul or the glorious heart or the brilliant mind of his characters, and this collection did not disappoint. The characters in these stories feel like living people who were waiting somewhere, whole and vivid, until Mosley came along and wrote them down. There is a melancholy to these stories that affected me. The dialog is remarkable. The storytelling is elegant. I feel like I'm being treated like an honored guest as I read, where every curiosity or need for scenic detail is anticipated and accommodated. This collection was my first experience with Mosley's short fiction and it was a delight to read.
June 27, 2022
I am neither black nor a man, yet I can find something to relate to in every one of these stories. Though race underlies many of the narratives, these experiences are not race dependent. Mosley's depiction of these awkward, lonely, sometimes vulnerable men is a-stereotypical, showing glimpses of black masculinity that are seldom portrayed in fiction.
Consider:
“People are so afraid of dying that they don’t even live the little bit of life they have.”
One reason for getting married: "You get old and you want company and somebody to share the load."
"I want everybody everywhere to stop for a minute and think about only the essential necessities of their lives. . . . If everybody everywhere had those thoughts in their minds, then they would realize that it's not individuality or identity but being human, being the same that makes us strong. "
"Crash liked the book because it saw the world the way he did: not only good and evil but also light and dark mixing to make things so hard to understand."
"I am my own prison. . . . The truths I've wielded have hidden that fact from me. Whatever I do from this moment on will derive from those unassailable facts."
Mosley's writing is witty, sardonic, and polished. I feel his empathy for the complex characters he has breathed life into. These stories span several genres and all land successfully for me, though I do have preferences. There's a lot to unpack in each of these short stories. I am fortunate to have read this work with my IRL Book Club where we spent two hours discussing these stories.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this collection to read through at your leisure.
Consider:
“People are so afraid of dying that they don’t even live the little bit of life they have.”
One reason for getting married: "You get old and you want company and somebody to share the load."
"I want everybody everywhere to stop for a minute and think about only the essential necessities of their lives. . . . If everybody everywhere had those thoughts in their minds, then they would realize that it's not individuality or identity but being human, being the same that makes us strong. "
"Crash liked the book because it saw the world the way he did: not only good and evil but also light and dark mixing to make things so hard to understand."
"I am my own prison. . . . The truths I've wielded have hidden that fact from me. Whatever I do from this moment on will derive from those unassailable facts."
Mosley's writing is witty, sardonic, and polished. I feel his empathy for the complex characters he has breathed life into. These stories span several genres and all land successfully for me, though I do have preferences. There's a lot to unpack in each of these short stories. I am fortunate to have read this work with my IRL Book Club where we spent two hours discussing these stories.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this collection to read through at your leisure.
February 18, 2023
Just marvelous. I rarely find short story collections easy to read--it usually takes me a while to warm to the characters, and then the story’s over and I have to work at it again with the next one. Not so here. With maybe one exception, I fell easily into each of these stories.
Mosley is such a skillful and compelling writer. One thing that stood out to me was the way he handled names. From the first story, I noticed he named all of the characters intentionally and specifically, first and last names. It made them come alive as unique, and acknowledged their importance.
What connected all the stories was, as the title says, awkward, Black men. Awkward relationships and awkward conversations occurred throughout, as well as awkward sex and awkward thinking. I didn’t think so much of the awkwardness though, but more of the sheer variety of humanity and the complexity of the decisions and choices we must make.
One of my favorites was called "Between Storms." A man becomes paranoid after surviving a New York hurricane, and refuses to leave his house. This was written before the pandemic, but it’s so relatable now.
There was a ghost story, a cowboy story, some sci-fi, and lots of relationship stories. There were mothers and fathers (some very touching fathers) and spouses and lovers and children and cousins and brothers and friends and co-workers. Mosley even took some characters to the brink of death and beyond.
The final story, "An Unlikely Series of Conversations," explores words and meanings and honesty and integrity, ending the book on a profound note that I expect will play on in my mind for some time.
Mosley is such a skillful and compelling writer. One thing that stood out to me was the way he handled names. From the first story, I noticed he named all of the characters intentionally and specifically, first and last names. It made them come alive as unique, and acknowledged their importance.
What connected all the stories was, as the title says, awkward, Black men. Awkward relationships and awkward conversations occurred throughout, as well as awkward sex and awkward thinking. I didn’t think so much of the awkwardness though, but more of the sheer variety of humanity and the complexity of the decisions and choices we must make.
One of my favorites was called "Between Storms." A man becomes paranoid after surviving a New York hurricane, and refuses to leave his house. This was written before the pandemic, but it’s so relatable now.
There was a ghost story, a cowboy story, some sci-fi, and lots of relationship stories. There were mothers and fathers (some very touching fathers) and spouses and lovers and children and cousins and brothers and friends and co-workers. Mosley even took some characters to the brink of death and beyond.
The final story, "An Unlikely Series of Conversations," explores words and meanings and honesty and integrity, ending the book on a profound note that I expect will play on in my mind for some time.
October 6, 2020
"There is no one else, Mr. Jackson. It is either you or nothing."
Anybody who knows me knows I love Walter Mosley. I try to get my hands on every single thing he writes just about as soon as he writes it. Sometimes I use his books as gifts to myself.
The Awkward Black Man is seventeen short stories about - you guessed it - awkward black men. These men are bright and sometimes brilliant, but they are unassuming. They are often overlooked and taken for granted. Don't get me wrong here. They may lack the bravado and smoothness of Mosley's first man Ezekiel Rawlins or the brawn of his Fearless Jones, but they are no less endearing. I found some of them to be rather charming despite playing second fiddle to someone else's alpha male character. In these stories we see these men struggle through life. We watch some face bouts with mental illness or alcoholism and we are witness to their betrayal by the women they love. But Mosley reminds us through these stories why he is so treasured in the literary world. As with his other works of fiction The Awkward Black Man serves as a mirror for the black male experience. Through the eyes of Rufus, Felix, Otis and the others we the reader are reminded of their worth and singularity. By the end of The Awkward Black Man hopefully we realize just how invaluable these men are.
Anybody who knows me knows I love Walter Mosley. I try to get my hands on every single thing he writes just about as soon as he writes it. Sometimes I use his books as gifts to myself.
The Awkward Black Man is seventeen short stories about - you guessed it - awkward black men. These men are bright and sometimes brilliant, but they are unassuming. They are often overlooked and taken for granted. Don't get me wrong here. They may lack the bravado and smoothness of Mosley's first man Ezekiel Rawlins or the brawn of his Fearless Jones, but they are no less endearing. I found some of them to be rather charming despite playing second fiddle to someone else's alpha male character. In these stories we see these men struggle through life. We watch some face bouts with mental illness or alcoholism and we are witness to their betrayal by the women they love. But Mosley reminds us through these stories why he is so treasured in the literary world. As with his other works of fiction The Awkward Black Man serves as a mirror for the black male experience. Through the eyes of Rufus, Felix, Otis and the others we the reader are reminded of their worth and singularity. By the end of The Awkward Black Man hopefully we realize just how invaluable these men are.
November 18, 2020
There's something about the way that Walter Mosley writes. He makes you question morality. He makes you question what it is to act in certain ways and the long or quiet implications that your actions can have.
I was originally going to give this book 4 stars, but the final story, An Unlikely Series of Conversations, and it's abrupt ending really was a 5 star story on it's own and shot this book out of the stratosphere. Mr. Mosley definitely saved the best for last.
I want to talk some more about the thoughts that An Unlikely Series of Conversations arose in me. All the stories in The Awkward Black Man were so incredible, reflective of the slices of the black male experience, and the black male psyche that aren't typically explored or acknowledged by the mainstream. It's the parts of the black male experience that are overshadowed by a society that is currently in a renaissance, and has been for years, but that formerly attempted to cast black men as thugs, as undereducated and as angry without cause. There's always cause for black anger. Always.
The final story, An Unlikely Series of Conversations, dived into the complexities surrounding holding on to that anger, I wouldn't even call it anger, maybe being unyielding to the truth that people are unyielding and closed off to. It was a story that captured how hard it is to hold the truth even while you seek to use it to clarify situations of your experience for others. It explores the pain that speaking the truth causes, and how necessary it is, and how fulfilling it can be in one context and how lonely it can be in others. I thought Walter Mosley used this story to share something so luminous about the intellect of black men in particular. This story was mind-altering. Perspective-raising.
The other stories were great, fantastic. I loved Cut, Cut, Cut, Showdown on the Hudson was like experiencing an element of Solange's When I Get Home, Reply to a Dead Man, The Black Woman in the Chinese Hat. I loved all these pieces. They captured confusion, humanity, pride, rage, the need for love, isolation, to be comfortable in new relationship, breaking away from old relationships, the importance of friendship, the flexibility of sexuality, the necessity and frustrating thought processes around being vulnerable.
It was dope, the whole thing is and was dope and I can definitely see myself reading this 10x again in the future and buying it for my friends and relatives for their birthdays.
I was originally going to give this book 4 stars, but the final story, An Unlikely Series of Conversations, and it's abrupt ending really was a 5 star story on it's own and shot this book out of the stratosphere. Mr. Mosley definitely saved the best for last.
I want to talk some more about the thoughts that An Unlikely Series of Conversations arose in me. All the stories in The Awkward Black Man were so incredible, reflective of the slices of the black male experience, and the black male psyche that aren't typically explored or acknowledged by the mainstream. It's the parts of the black male experience that are overshadowed by a society that is currently in a renaissance, and has been for years, but that formerly attempted to cast black men as thugs, as undereducated and as angry without cause. There's always cause for black anger. Always.
The final story, An Unlikely Series of Conversations, dived into the complexities surrounding holding on to that anger, I wouldn't even call it anger, maybe being unyielding to the truth that people are unyielding and closed off to. It was a story that captured how hard it is to hold the truth even while you seek to use it to clarify situations of your experience for others. It explores the pain that speaking the truth causes, and how necessary it is, and how fulfilling it can be in one context and how lonely it can be in others. I thought Walter Mosley used this story to share something so luminous about the intellect of black men in particular. This story was mind-altering. Perspective-raising.
The other stories were great, fantastic. I loved Cut, Cut, Cut, Showdown on the Hudson was like experiencing an element of Solange's When I Get Home, Reply to a Dead Man, The Black Woman in the Chinese Hat. I loved all these pieces. They captured confusion, humanity, pride, rage, the need for love, isolation, to be comfortable in new relationship, breaking away from old relationships, the importance of friendship, the flexibility of sexuality, the necessity and frustrating thought processes around being vulnerable.
It was dope, the whole thing is and was dope and I can definitely see myself reading this 10x again in the future and buying it for my friends and relatives for their birthdays.
June 7, 2021
Very disappointing stories that failed to engage, and lack the style Mosley has been known for. Having read "John Woman" and "Odyssey" among other of his novels I assumed the characters and plots would be unique. As others that are familiar with Walter's books have stated, these are character studies and poor ones at that. Short story writing is a unique skill; I think it best he sticks with novels.
July 13, 2022
I have quite a passion for reading short stories but often find myself slightly disappointed overall with some collections - not so with this one!
17 cracking stories featuring black men of various ages but all affected in some way by the perils of everyday living - divorce, job insecurity or dissatisfaction, lost love, loneliness etc. - and told with heartfelt yet restrained prose. There are some great lines (too many to pick out a few), the characters are excellent and the storylines varied.
Can't say there was a story that I didn't like, which is exceptional for this genre. Glad that I have a couple of the author's novels on my shelf for future reading! - 9/10.
17 cracking stories featuring black men of various ages but all affected in some way by the perils of everyday living - divorce, job insecurity or dissatisfaction, lost love, loneliness etc. - and told with heartfelt yet restrained prose. There are some great lines (too many to pick out a few), the characters are excellent and the storylines varied.
Can't say there was a story that I didn't like, which is exceptional for this genre. Glad that I have a couple of the author's novels on my shelf for future reading! - 9/10.
January 15, 2021
I had intended to read this author’s work for some time now, and collected a couple of his paperbacks that have sat unread for years. I’ve been so busy reading galleys, with the goal of being done by their dates of publication, that I read very few of the books I’ve bought for myself. When this galley came available, I figured my problem was solved; and in a way, it has been. My thanks go to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for the review copy. This book is for sale now.
Like some other reviewers, I assumed that these short stories would be from the detective fiction genre that has made Mosely famous. As it happens, they aren’t. I could live with that; they aren’t especially compelling, but they’re not badly written. If not for one problem, I would go with three stars, or perhaps even three-and-a-half and consider bumping it up. However.
Mosely seems to have a problem regarding women. It isn’t that he hasn’t gotten the memo that women would like to be regarded as human beings; his writing gives one the impression that he simply disagrees. The first story of the collection is the title story, and it’s one of a physically large but socially clumsy African-American man that takes a liking to a receptionist where he works. His duties take him to her desk now and then, and he begins finding extra reasons to drop by. He chats with her a bit, but her response is unenthusiastic, and she doesn’t make eye contact. Believing that his intentions aren’t plain, he commences leaving a gift at her work station each day, beginning with a simple token and culminating, at the end of the week, with a Bonsai tree that costs him hundreds of dollars. She never thanks him for any of these, which confuses him. When he approaches her, she deals quickly with his work business, and then asks if there’s anything else she can do for him. His every overture is politely turned aside. Eventually, he is called into the boss’s office; he is accused of sexual harassment. The young woman he’s been trying to woo is scared to death of him, and only then does he realize that she actually can’t leave her station when he approaches her. It’s her job to be there. But he is distraught at having his reputation at work sullied, his position nearly terminated. He’s pretty sure it’s because he’s large and Black.
Huh. Well, perhaps the thing to do here, would be to not hit on women he works with. Maybe that’s the best plan for any man in any work setting, unless someone is clearly, plainly interested in him, has, for example, offered him a phone number. But I remind myself not to dismiss an author, especially one so well regarded for so many years, on the basis of a single story. So I read the others.
Indeed, the other stories don’t overtly demonstrate the same dismissiveness toward sexual harassment in the workplace, but the stereotypes never stop with this guy. Women that appear in his stories do so exclusively in relation to men. Even when they show up as mothers, their worth is in relation to their families; sons, grandsons, nephews, and of course, husbands. Women can be vixens, scheming and deceiving for their own evil ends; they can be victims. What women never are in Mosely’s stories are respected professionals, or community members, or anything else that suggests that they make a valuable social contribution that stands alone, that doesn’t bear directly and primarily on the life of whatever male character the story is really all about. It’s almost as though the last fifty years of the women’s movement and its achievements never. Fucking. Happened.
So, who wants my paperback copy of Devil in a Blue Dress? Cause now I know I won’t be reading it.
Recommended to those that love short stories and have no respect for women.
Like some other reviewers, I assumed that these short stories would be from the detective fiction genre that has made Mosely famous. As it happens, they aren’t. I could live with that; they aren’t especially compelling, but they’re not badly written. If not for one problem, I would go with three stars, or perhaps even three-and-a-half and consider bumping it up. However.
Mosely seems to have a problem regarding women. It isn’t that he hasn’t gotten the memo that women would like to be regarded as human beings; his writing gives one the impression that he simply disagrees. The first story of the collection is the title story, and it’s one of a physically large but socially clumsy African-American man that takes a liking to a receptionist where he works. His duties take him to her desk now and then, and he begins finding extra reasons to drop by. He chats with her a bit, but her response is unenthusiastic, and she doesn’t make eye contact. Believing that his intentions aren’t plain, he commences leaving a gift at her work station each day, beginning with a simple token and culminating, at the end of the week, with a Bonsai tree that costs him hundreds of dollars. She never thanks him for any of these, which confuses him. When he approaches her, she deals quickly with his work business, and then asks if there’s anything else she can do for him. His every overture is politely turned aside. Eventually, he is called into the boss’s office; he is accused of sexual harassment. The young woman he’s been trying to woo is scared to death of him, and only then does he realize that she actually can’t leave her station when he approaches her. It’s her job to be there. But he is distraught at having his reputation at work sullied, his position nearly terminated. He’s pretty sure it’s because he’s large and Black.
Huh. Well, perhaps the thing to do here, would be to not hit on women he works with. Maybe that’s the best plan for any man in any work setting, unless someone is clearly, plainly interested in him, has, for example, offered him a phone number. But I remind myself not to dismiss an author, especially one so well regarded for so many years, on the basis of a single story. So I read the others.
Indeed, the other stories don’t overtly demonstrate the same dismissiveness toward sexual harassment in the workplace, but the stereotypes never stop with this guy. Women that appear in his stories do so exclusively in relation to men. Even when they show up as mothers, their worth is in relation to their families; sons, grandsons, nephews, and of course, husbands. Women can be vixens, scheming and deceiving for their own evil ends; they can be victims. What women never are in Mosely’s stories are respected professionals, or community members, or anything else that suggests that they make a valuable social contribution that stands alone, that doesn’t bear directly and primarily on the life of whatever male character the story is really all about. It’s almost as though the last fifty years of the women’s movement and its achievements never. Fucking. Happened.
So, who wants my paperback copy of Devil in a Blue Dress? Cause now I know I won’t be reading it.
Recommended to those that love short stories and have no respect for women.
October 17, 2020
I love Walter Mosley and this book of short stories is one of my favorites that he has written.
February 19, 2022
Outstanding! The Awkward Black Man is a wry assortment of stories about Black men navigating the ups, downs, swerves, and curves of modern life in America. Most of the stories are set in New York City and feature men on the outs with their wives or girlfriends, out of luck, and out of time. Walter Mosley manages to decenter race and racism in the stories--although these topics are still apparent--to allow these Black men to grapple with other issues such as mental illness, unemployment, midlife malaise, and sociopolitical angst. I loved almost every story in this collection, but standouts include "Between Storms," "Haunted," "Cut, Cut, Cut," and "Almost Alyce."
January 19, 2022
What a great collection of short stories. It’s so rare to hear the black male voice in literature, so glad that I read this.
July 28, 2020
I haven't read Walter Mosley in way too long so when I saw this offering at NetGalley, I leaped at the chance to rectify that error.
This is a fine collection of stories all built around the title. As a result, the genre may change, but emotions don't as you largely feel sympathy for these men who life has ignored, tortured, or abused in some way. Yes, some are victims of their own ineptitude or ego, while others are born this way and never receive help from a society that they desperately need.
The writing is sharp and clear-eyed, with just enough detail to draw you in but he lets the dialogue or first-person narration carry most of the weight.
While all are set in modern-day, they veer all over the map so you go for the inner city to the upper-class portions of the city. In every case, these men just do not fit in, no matter how much they try. They fail at relationships, jobs, parenthood -- and their skin color is often only part of the reason.
Recommended not just for fans of Mosley but of good short stories.
This is a fine collection of stories all built around the title. As a result, the genre may change, but emotions don't as you largely feel sympathy for these men who life has ignored, tortured, or abused in some way. Yes, some are victims of their own ineptitude or ego, while others are born this way and never receive help from a society that they desperately need.
The writing is sharp and clear-eyed, with just enough detail to draw you in but he lets the dialogue or first-person narration carry most of the weight.
While all are set in modern-day, they veer all over the map so you go for the inner city to the upper-class portions of the city. In every case, these men just do not fit in, no matter how much they try. They fail at relationships, jobs, parenthood -- and their skin color is often only part of the reason.
Recommended not just for fans of Mosley but of good short stories.
May 19, 2021
A new collection of Mr. Mosley's unique and creative shorts with more than a few shinning quite brightly. Good times.
October 12, 2020
Walter Mosley is best known for his mysteries, especially Easy Rawlins the famed L.A. detective. He is a master of noir, but I am more certain that readers a hundred years in the future will be reading The Awkward Black Man, his recent collection of short stories than even “Devil in a Blue Dress.”
There are seventeen short stories in this collection and there is an awkward Black man in each one of them. The stories are rich in empathy and human understanding. In one story, a man dies hating another man so much that he awakes to discover himself haunting the man he hated, but the haunting is certainly harder on him than on the man he haunted. Another story tells of a man with tremendous promise who ends up homeless and begging on the street, but there is so much more to him that on the surface.
More than what is on the surface seems to be the thread uniting these stories. The men sometimes seem very simple on the surface but are much more complex.
These stories are subtle. A man is told “People are so afraid of dying that they don’t even live the little bit of life they have,” so he smokes a cigarette on a bet. From that small action, reactions reverberate through the rest of his life. In another, you think you’re reading a romance and suddenly it’s a sci-fi revolution. One of the more fascinating and heartbreaking is “After the Storm” when a man decides he simply cannot leave his apartment, frightened of all the dangers of modern life. But somehow rather than seeing him as an agoraphobe, the world decides he is a new prophet, but that just makes him depressed.
I loved The Awkward Black Man. I like short stories and Mosley is one of the best. In a sentence or two, he creates an entire world. His stories are rich and complex. While the plots vary widely, they are all empathetic and in love with humanity. This is why when I see a new Walter Mosley book, I get excited.
I received an e-galley of The Awkward Black Man from the publisher through Edelweiss
The Awkward Black Man at Grove Atlantic
Walter Mosley author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
There are seventeen short stories in this collection and there is an awkward Black man in each one of them. The stories are rich in empathy and human understanding. In one story, a man dies hating another man so much that he awakes to discover himself haunting the man he hated, but the haunting is certainly harder on him than on the man he haunted. Another story tells of a man with tremendous promise who ends up homeless and begging on the street, but there is so much more to him that on the surface.
More than what is on the surface seems to be the thread uniting these stories. The men sometimes seem very simple on the surface but are much more complex.
These stories are subtle. A man is told “People are so afraid of dying that they don’t even live the little bit of life they have,” so he smokes a cigarette on a bet. From that small action, reactions reverberate through the rest of his life. In another, you think you’re reading a romance and suddenly it’s a sci-fi revolution. One of the more fascinating and heartbreaking is “After the Storm” when a man decides he simply cannot leave his apartment, frightened of all the dangers of modern life. But somehow rather than seeing him as an agoraphobe, the world decides he is a new prophet, but that just makes him depressed.
I loved The Awkward Black Man. I like short stories and Mosley is one of the best. In a sentence or two, he creates an entire world. His stories are rich and complex. While the plots vary widely, they are all empathetic and in love with humanity. This is why when I see a new Walter Mosley book, I get excited.
I received an e-galley of The Awkward Black Man from the publisher through Edelweiss
The Awkward Black Man at Grove Atlantic
Walter Mosley author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
November 23, 2020
Walter Mosley has what I would call ‘the touch.’ His prose is rich without being extravagant and each sentence works as a sentence should. At once, the reader is both propelled forward and asked to linger just a nanosecond to ponder what has been said. One is never obliged to love or reject a character. Rather, Mosley offers his characters to us. It is up to the reader to determine the fate of each character as much as Mosley will tell us. There are few hard lessons to be gleaned from his characters. Perhaps understanding is all we can find.
This collection of stories offers many unique characters who, individually, either find their way through life or are forced to bend to life’s impatient judgements. That is as it should be in any book that presents honesty to the reader rather than make oppressive morals or demand revulsion. Life most often slips into our lives, rests a moment, and then leaves. Mosley knows this.
Short stories are time capsules. The best of short stories record our day-to-day lives and place them within the constellation of humanity. I nightly recommend this collection.
This collection of stories offers many unique characters who, individually, either find their way through life or are forced to bend to life’s impatient judgements. That is as it should be in any book that presents honesty to the reader rather than make oppressive morals or demand revulsion. Life most often slips into our lives, rests a moment, and then leaves. Mosley knows this.
Short stories are time capsules. The best of short stories record our day-to-day lives and place them within the constellation of humanity. I nightly recommend this collection.
November 29, 2020
I'm one who enjoys a collection of short stories. It amazes me how a good one can collapse beneath my feet and suck me in like a forty-foot cenote.
I fancied a few stories immensely in this collection. One of my favorites is The Good News Is. Sammy was indeed an awkward man, but in the end, he faired greatly, although he had a heartless ex-wife, setbacks, and insecurities.
There were about four stories that I enjoyed more than the others. It was evident that almost all of the stories dealt with kindred topics. You have the awkward man trying to deal with his failed relationships or the one head down with a pink slip and a box of ten years or more worth of collected junk as the policeman escorts you out of the building for the last time.
The collection dealt with other subjects like dying as malice consumes you, suicide, absent fathers, and much more.
Some of the stories were a bit dry and had me itching to get to the next one, but overall I enjoyed this compilation of short stories by the phenomenal writer Walter Mosley.
3.5*
I fancied a few stories immensely in this collection. One of my favorites is The Good News Is. Sammy was indeed an awkward man, but in the end, he faired greatly, although he had a heartless ex-wife, setbacks, and insecurities.
There were about four stories that I enjoyed more than the others. It was evident that almost all of the stories dealt with kindred topics. You have the awkward man trying to deal with his failed relationships or the one head down with a pink slip and a box of ten years or more worth of collected junk as the policeman escorts you out of the building for the last time.
The collection dealt with other subjects like dying as malice consumes you, suicide, absent fathers, and much more.
Some of the stories were a bit dry and had me itching to get to the next one, but overall I enjoyed this compilation of short stories by the phenomenal writer Walter Mosley.
3.5*
December 18, 2020
I picked up this book and unconsciously put down ever responsibility I had foe the day. Sorry. Not sorry.
January 12, 2021
First off the dedication... that right there is where I knew I was in for an amazing heartfelt ride.
Secondly the stories I loved:
Almost Alyce
Starting Over
Cut, cut, cut
Local Hero
Otis (I read this one twice)
Showdown on the Hudson (I read this one twice)
Reply to a Dead Man (read twice)
The Letter (it was so sad...😞 )
The Sun of Dreams
Damn, that’s most of them... I guess that’s why it’s a five star for me.
Secondly the stories I loved:
Almost Alyce
Starting Over
Cut, cut, cut
Local Hero
Otis (I read this one twice)
Showdown on the Hudson (I read this one twice)
Reply to a Dead Man (read twice)
The Letter (it was so sad...😞 )
The Sun of Dreams
Damn, that’s most of them... I guess that’s why it’s a five star for me.
November 11, 2020
Exceptional collection of short stories from Mosley. Beautiful prose, interesting and fantastical stories and a real talent for names. He touches on all aspects of the black experience in a unique and humane way.
November 27, 2024
I really enjoy a good short story. Writing them is an art form that many successful novelists can't come close to mastering.
I definitely enjoyed this collection. Mr. Mosley is a terrific novelist and, it turns out, a gifted short-story writer as well. Of course some are better than others but there is no weak link in this collection. They all make you think. If you enjoy this form of fiction you should definitely check out this collection.
I definitely enjoyed this collection. Mr. Mosley is a terrific novelist and, it turns out, a gifted short-story writer as well. Of course some are better than others but there is no weak link in this collection. They all make you think. If you enjoy this form of fiction you should definitely check out this collection.
September 23, 2020
Self discovery is weird
📚Bookish Thoughts📚
“We say African-American because that is the parlance,”
“Used to be the parlance was colored, Negro, Afro, nigger, coon, jigaboo. Parlance don’t make a word right."
📚 The Awkward Black Man: Stories
by Walter Mosley
The concept of manhood and definitions of realness and masculinity was really explored in this book. I appreciated the fluently and boldness in portraying various personalities. As the sole sister to eight, I recognized some of my siblings within these pages. Self discovery is weird. It leads to insecurity before a foundation of strength is solidified. It is funny in its awkwardness and yet not ha-ha funny. It is unusual with no clear path, because to fully embrace who we are, we must break away from the molds that seek to confound us and forge our own paths. Discovering yourself can be downright scary especially in a world determined to see you fail. This book is a collection of short stories on the Black ma. These stories are vulnerable, beautiful, and manly.
The above quote caught my attention because the character delivered a monologue on his disagreement in a really passionate way. It makes me ponder on the language we use. Let’s have a conversation about parlances. Even in a time when certain language is common, any given word is sure to offend someone. My mother hated the words “moist” and “funky”. I cringe at more than a few I care to mention, because that would be a very long list.
What words offend you?
💋 xoxo,
Kat
📚Bookish Thoughts📚
“We say African-American because that is the parlance,”
“Used to be the parlance was colored, Negro, Afro, nigger, coon, jigaboo. Parlance don’t make a word right."
📚 The Awkward Black Man: Stories
by Walter Mosley
The concept of manhood and definitions of realness and masculinity was really explored in this book. I appreciated the fluently and boldness in portraying various personalities. As the sole sister to eight, I recognized some of my siblings within these pages. Self discovery is weird. It leads to insecurity before a foundation of strength is solidified. It is funny in its awkwardness and yet not ha-ha funny. It is unusual with no clear path, because to fully embrace who we are, we must break away from the molds that seek to confound us and forge our own paths. Discovering yourself can be downright scary especially in a world determined to see you fail. This book is a collection of short stories on the Black ma. These stories are vulnerable, beautiful, and manly.
The above quote caught my attention because the character delivered a monologue on his disagreement in a really passionate way. It makes me ponder on the language we use. Let’s have a conversation about parlances. Even in a time when certain language is common, any given word is sure to offend someone. My mother hated the words “moist” and “funky”. I cringe at more than a few I care to mention, because that would be a very long list.
What words offend you?
💋 xoxo,
Kat
September 15, 2020
4 stars
I love Walter Mosley and have never been disappointed by a Mosley novel. He creates flawed but endearing characters, is a master of tone and mood, and employs a straightforward style to explore challenging concepts. I wondered if I'd have a similar love for his short stories...and I did!
This is a great collection. I was mildly intrigued by the title, but by the end, I found it utterly endearing. These characters really live up to the titular awkwardness and all in different, creative ways.
Overall, this is a solid collection that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I love Walter Mosley and have never been disappointed by a Mosley novel. He creates flawed but endearing characters, is a master of tone and mood, and employs a straightforward style to explore challenging concepts. I wondered if I'd have a similar love for his short stories...and I did!
This is a great collection. I was mildly intrigued by the title, but by the end, I found it utterly endearing. These characters really live up to the titular awkwardness and all in different, creative ways.
Overall, this is a solid collection that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
July 27, 2021
Interesting that NONE of my friends HAS reviewed this yet, *I* get to correct the grammar of the person who wrote that "None of my friends HAVE........"
Okay, given that I adore Walter Mosley, I have to say that if I didn't know his work, I'd have given this book a 3. But I do know his work, one of his books changed the way I live (Always outnumbered, always out-gunned. READ IT).
I prefer Mosley's long fiction, and do not particularly enjoy texts wherein suspension of disbelief is very difficult. Which refers to about 1/4 of these short stories. But the rest? Brilliant! Some cover too much time (a short story should cover a rather brief time period), but they are all gems of psychological interplay, character development and depiction, semi-reasonable zinger conclusions.
I especially liked Showdown in New York, being a some-time mother of a some-time 18 year old son....... Go to your local library. Read the first story (Book is downstairs and I'm up, so I'm not going to run for it) and then check it out. No one will chastise you if you don't read the whole thing, but you might surprise yourself....
POSTSCRIPT Days later. Before turning the book back into the library, I sat down with it again. WOW there are some really remarkable stories in here....
Okay, given that I adore Walter Mosley, I have to say that if I didn't know his work, I'd have given this book a 3. But I do know his work, one of his books changed the way I live (Always outnumbered, always out-gunned. READ IT).
I prefer Mosley's long fiction, and do not particularly enjoy texts wherein suspension of disbelief is very difficult. Which refers to about 1/4 of these short stories. But the rest? Brilliant! Some cover too much time (a short story should cover a rather brief time period), but they are all gems of psychological interplay, character development and depiction, semi-reasonable zinger conclusions.
I especially liked Showdown in New York, being a some-time mother of a some-time 18 year old son....... Go to your local library. Read the first story (Book is downstairs and I'm up, so I'm not going to run for it) and then check it out. No one will chastise you if you don't read the whole thing, but you might surprise yourself....
POSTSCRIPT Days later. Before turning the book back into the library, I sat down with it again. WOW there are some really remarkable stories in here....
September 16, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this advanced readers copy of The Awkward Black Man by Walter Mosely.
I knew very little about this book going in except that I knew the author's name and that it was a collection of short stories. I love short story collections and so was very excited to dive into this one. As short story collections go, it's a good read. All of the stories are well-written and enjoyable. Each story occupies its own universe rather than the stories being interconnected in any way. I enjoyed each story equally, with no specific story standing out as better than the others.
That being said, I waited a couple of days to think about what I wanted to write in this review and I find that I remember very little about the actual stories. There is nothing wrong with this book but for me, it wasn't very memorable. It's an easy read, like most short story collections are, since the plots are all self-contained and if you don't like one story you know it won't last for long.
For short story fans, this is a good read. Worth your time but not worth moving to the top of your TBR.
I knew very little about this book going in except that I knew the author's name and that it was a collection of short stories. I love short story collections and so was very excited to dive into this one. As short story collections go, it's a good read. All of the stories are well-written and enjoyable. Each story occupies its own universe rather than the stories being interconnected in any way. I enjoyed each story equally, with no specific story standing out as better than the others.
That being said, I waited a couple of days to think about what I wanted to write in this review and I find that I remember very little about the actual stories. There is nothing wrong with this book but for me, it wasn't very memorable. It's an easy read, like most short story collections are, since the plots are all self-contained and if you don't like one story you know it won't last for long.
For short story fans, this is a good read. Worth your time but not worth moving to the top of your TBR.
Read
September 1, 2020Walter Mosley returns with a literary collection of stories about awkward black men of varying ages. For me, the writing is excellent and the characters are well etched, but there is a certain sameness to tone of the stories that stops the collection from elevating itself to another level. There were a few stories that stood out including the opener, "The Good News Is", "Between Storms", "Local Hero" and "Reply to a Dead Man".
There's plenty to like here, but I think I just prefer Mosley's crime and thriller work to these stories. Expertly put together, but just didn't fully engage me throughout.
There's plenty to like here, but I think I just prefer Mosley's crime and thriller work to these stories. Expertly put together, but just didn't fully engage me throughout.
December 2, 2020
4.75 I've never read Mosley before, which seems ridiculous, but anyways, this collection is wonderful. I found my self identifying with the protagonists in these stories more than any of the characters in books that I've read recently. Which might seem strange as they are all black men, mostly older than me and mostly from New York. However, that's what's so great about these stories. They make the point that we all have more in common than we think, and that commonality can be found in our imperfections. I found myself rooting for these characters because despite their failings, they all seemed to be incredibly kind and if there is anything I believe, it is that kindness matters.
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