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The Awkward Black Man: Stories Kindle Edition

by Walter Mosley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,128 ratings
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A new collection of short fiction from the Edgar Award-winning author of Devil in a Blue Dress and Trouble is What I Do.

With his extraordinary fiction and gripping television writing, Walter Mosley has proven himself a master of narrative tension. The Awkward Black Man collects seventeen of Mosley’s most accomplished short stories to showcase the full range of his remarkable talent. Touching, contemplative, and always surprising, these stories introduce an array of imperfect characters—awkward, self-defeating, elf-involved, or just plain odd.

In The Awkward Black Man, Mosley overturns the stereotypes that corral black male characters and paints subtle, powerful portraits of unique individuals. In "The Good News Is," a man’s insecurity about his weight gives way to illness and a loneliness so intense that he’d do anything for a little human comfort. "Pet Fly," previously published in the New Yorker, follows a man working as a mailroom clerk—a solitary job for which he is overqualified—and the unforeseen repercussions he endures when he attempts to forge a new connection. And "Almost Alyce" chronicles failed loves, family loss, alcoholism, and a Zen approach to the art of begging that proves surprisingly effective.
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  1. Print length
    323 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Grove Press
  5. Publication date
    September 15, 2020
  6. File size
    2014 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Each protagonist seems simple and often shallow on the surface, but as the story progresses he unfurls into greater and frankly breathtaking complexity."

-- "New York Times Book Review"

"A beautiful collection about Black men who are, indeed, awkward in their poignant humanity...His portraits of Black men will have profound resonance."

-- "Booklist (starred review)"

"A vibrant collection of seventeen luminous stories, many with a focus on downtrodden and troubled protagonists."

-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"A tender, sad and gripping collection."

-- "AARP Magazine"

"[A] primo story collection by an author best known for his crime fiction."

-- "Shelf Awareness"

Thanks to Willis's upbeat delivery-check out his voicing of Billy the Texan-and Mosley's dabs of surrealistic relief (a plastic surgeon's blind date leads to a metaphysical breakthrough; a company delivers messages from the dead), this quirky audiobook always entertains.-- "AudioFile"

About the Author

Walter Mosley is the New York Times author of more than fifty novels in several series, most notably fourteen Easy Rawlins mysteries, several of which have been made into major motion pictures. In 2020 he was a recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and from the National Book Foundation. In 2013, he was inducted into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame, and he is the winner of numerous awards, including an Edgar Award, O. Henry Award, the Mystery Writers of Americas Grand Master Award, PEN Americas Lifetime Achievement Award, a Grammy Award, and and several NAACP Image Awards. His work has been translated into twenty-five languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085FPP7XL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press (September 15, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2014 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 323 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,128 ratings

About the author

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Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley

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Walter Mosley is one of America's most celebrated and beloved writers. His books have won numerous awards and have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Mosley is the author of the acclaimed Easy Rawlins series of mysteries, including national bestsellers Cinnamon Kiss, Little Scarlet, and Bad Boy Brawly Brown; the Fearless Jones series, including Fearless Jones, Fear Itself, and Fear of the Dark; the novels Blue Light and RL's Dream; and two collections of stories featuring Socrates Fortlow, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, for which he received the Anisfield-Wolf Award, and Walkin' the Dog. He lives in New York City.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

A Constant Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing read
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
An amazing read. Almost every story deserves a 5 rating, and the one or two that don't are worth a 4. The writing is typical of Mr. Mosley, that is to say it is fine. And there are many new ideas and thoughts throughout.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved This book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
The characters kept my attention. Each story was well thought out and wonderfully written. I enjoyed the unexpected turns and circumstances given to each man. I thoroughly enjoyed each story, and I didn't want it to end. Great book WM!!
2 people found this helpful
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Jim Holroyd
4.0 out of 5 stars Bright but unassuming Black Men
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024
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A collection of stories about awkward black men as the title suggests. Contemplative and thought-provoking, the stories touch on many themes including loneliness, alcoholism, infidelity... The men are awkward in that they face various challenges and are often found in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. These men are bright but unassuming, often playing second fiddle to an alpha male character.
2 people found this helpful
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La Tonya Sellers
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
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Soooooo good! This is a book of short stories. Well written, page turner and thought provoking. Not a dull moment. I will read it again in the summer.
2 people found this helpful
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Clem Maddox
5.0 out of 5 stars Walter Mosley the definition of a true genius in thought
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023
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I am a enormous fan and believer in the genius of his writing. My reading library is comprise of more than 30 books written by him. No greater writing mind in the existence humankind can touch the depth of his brilliance.
2 people found this helpful
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rayalen
5.0 out of 5 stars Walter Mosley Presents
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
'Walter Mosley Presents "The Awkward Black Man"' is great source material for a weekly thirty minute television series that would be on the same level of classics like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and 'Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone"'. That is my personal assessment of the book. Each of the seventeen short stories are fast reading and enjoyable. Mr. Mosley wastes no time hooking me into the lives of the main character and supporting characters. His writing style creates a vivid portrait of the setting, sounds, and people that help me visualize each scene as though I was actually watching a weekly television series. These seventeen stories could serve as the first season with future seasons written, directed, produced, and filmed by the wealth of African-American talent available in and out of the film industry. If only I had the influence, finances, and access to film studios like Mr. Perry, Mr. Lee or Ms. Winfrey to make it so. Thank you Mr. Mosley for inspiring me to dream again.
26 people found this helpful
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Michael Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect Title
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2023
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I almost stopped reading after the first two stories, then I understood the title, and the book became fantastic. As an often-awkward Black man I identified with all of them on some level. So many of the stories ended like I believe they should, asking more questions, or at least accepting some questions cannot or need not be answered. I truly enjoyed this book.
5 people found this helpful
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Donna
3.0 out of 5 stars I was curious!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
Some stories were provocative or stimulating. Some were flat. Some were strange. This book seemed to be a subject study of sorts. I hate this term but the book was interesting.
2 people found this helpful
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