The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

This is the first book I've actually read by Walter Mosley, and it did not disappoint. His writing is tight and sturdy; I knew from early in that I was in good hands. Mosley draws an exquisite internal portrait of a man whose mind is a blur; we get to watch in fine detail as the haze clears and he takes control of his life in its final days.

The characters are probably the strongest part of this book. Ptolemy himself, and the people he interacts with routinely, are portrayed with a masterful realism. There are more mythical characters as well, or perhaps I should say mythical relationships, and they are powerfully and beautifully rendered. I'm thinking especially of the time Ptolemy spends with his long-gone mentor Coydog McCann, and also of the acidic relationship Ptolemy develops with the doctor who treats him. There is so much color and light in these spaces, you can't help but be drawn in.

I enjoyed this immensely, and can't wait to dive into some more of Mosley's work.

Incredible take on the mind as it slips into dementia. Never read anything like this. Insights on life being poor and Black and old in LA. Loved the central relationship between the main characters - halfway romance , halfway family love. People make impacts on other’s lives in surprising ways