THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GRAY: WALTER MOSELY

I think the blogger from Read All Day said this Walter Mosely novel was her favorite; I would agree, better than the Easy Rawlins, though I haven't read one in quite a while.  But I really enjoyed this, the story of a nine-one year old black man, who lived all his life in the ghettoes of California, perhaps LA but its not clear.  The picture of old age, of what it's like to be infirm, confused, mixing the past and the present, unsure of almost anything is marvelous, a poignant and realistic description of aging, especially aging of a black man, with all his memories of the past, especially the violence that surround the underclass, both self inflicted and those caused by racism.

Ptolemy befriends a niece, Robyn, homeless yet independent and tough.  She takes a liking to Ptolemy, and decides to clean up his life, starting with his house, a house which would put most hoarders to shame.  This act, of throwing out the past, begins the narrative, energizes Ptolemy, and he makes a pack with a doctor (the devil according to Ptolemy), who promises Ptolemy his mind for a few weeks or a month, with an experimental drug, suggesting that it will help future generations who are suffering from dementia.  Against the fears of Robyn, he takes it, regains his memory and he decides to make up, in his last few weeks, for some of the past.  The novel then roans between past loves and injustices, early childhood days with Coydog, a grandfatherly figure to Ptolemy, who is lynched by white men, while a seven year old Ptolemy watches. Anyways, we get to see his relatives, most ready to take advantage of an old man, the loves of his life, the integrity of Robyn, and Ptolemy's ventures into making sure the underclass are taken care of when he dies.  The story line is a bit improbable but all of the characters are well drawn and interesting and their conflicts and passions are real. As a picture of what it was like to grow up black and poor in America in the 20th century, it's indelible.  It's a book well worth reading and I wish there were a prequel or sequel.