 Time Is Not On Your Side |
| Review Date: March 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Beverly Jackson, Huntersville, NC |
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.
I recommend this book to all readers who are interested in a well-written story on current topics. This is a wonderful debut novel and I look forward to reading Mr. Pitts' next book.
Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO BookClub
March 3, 2009
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Before I Forget
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| Review Date: May 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Rose Mary Hughes, W Henrietta, NY USA |
| Leonard Pitts, Jr. has the wonderful skill of taking a series of words and making an incredible sentence out of them. I have long been an admirer of the syndicated column written by Mr. Pitts--this esteem led me to purchase his novel, "Before I Forget." I was not disappointed--the author tells a story just as masterfully as he writes his opinions. The book is about three generations of African-American men--the eldest dying of cancer, the middle generation who discovers he has Alzheimer's, and the youngest who has participated in a serious crime--all with serious problems and all who need to be understood. It is a sad tale, but one that leaves the reader with a feeling of hope and redemption. I am a senior citizen who learned so many things from this wonderful story and look forward to more books from this talented and prolific writer. Don't let us down, Mr. Pitts. Keep on writing! |
Won't forget this book
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| Review Date: February 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bernadette Headley Biggs, |
| Loved it! Imani Literary Book Club of Atlanta read this book for our January book selection and rate it among our top reads. Leonard Pitts does an excellent job of giving us believable characters & a storyline that touches on several issues within our community. |
This Can't Be Happening!
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| Review Date: May 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers, RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net |
In BEFORE I FORGET by Leonard Pitts, Mo, a well-known musician from the 70s, gets lost on his way to a gig. He goes there every week so he can't figure out what happened. He goes to the doctor and finds out. At age 49, he has early onset of Alzheimer's. Mo is shattered but is referred to a group of others just like him. They tell their stories, give each other comfort and make life better for each other. Mo realizes he has some unfinished business, mainly with his son, Trey, whom he has ignored most of his life. There were always jobs to be done, recordings to be made, trips on the road and so he really doesn't know Trey.
Meanwhile, Trey has taken a wrong turn. He has a four-year-old son whom he ignores, he wants to be a rapper and become famous like his Dad. Trey doesn't have the money to get started, so he agrees with his fellow rappers to rob a neighborhood store. Things go terribly wrong but fortunately, for once, his father is there for him and bails him out. His friends are afraid he was released because he blamed them. What will they do to Trey? How will they make him pay?
Mo finds out his father is dying of cancer. He and Trey take a road trip to California. Along the way, Mo confesses to Trey what his issues are - Alzheimer's and warns Trey it could very well happen to him also.
BEFORE I FORGET is a wonderful story of the generations of Black men who have definitely not been the best fathers they could be. Will Trey be able to take his father's advice and change how he is treating his son? Will the neglect end with him? Trey's character shows that he can change and really isn't happy with how he has been behaving. Even Mo begins to change. It was a real page-turner. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It would be a great book for many young black men to read and take to heart.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
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"Befroe I Forget" is an Unforgettable Read!
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| Review Date: June 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Angela of Color Me Purple, Atlanta, GA |
I haven't become so involved in the storyline of a book in many months; I read quite a bit--smile. "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. is as much a saga about the relationships between fathers and their sons as Ernest Gaines' poignant "In My Father's House" was in an earlier decade! Why is there still a disconnect between fathers and their sons? How can a son reconnect with his father--and why should he; THEN, at the same time forge a relationship with his only son---when he himself, is dying? That is Mo Johnson's predicament in Before I Forget.
Acclaimed journalist and non-fiction writer, Leonard Pitts, Jr. has penned his first novel "Before I Forget," about a 48 year old, one time famous R&B crooner, who discovers that his mind is being destroyed by Alzheimer's, that his son has been arrested for armed robbery and murder, that his estranged father is dying of cancer. This should be enough for you check out this poignant new novel. TRUST, you will not be disappointed in the storyline or the impeccably detailed imagery Pitts displays throughout the novel. If the well-crafted story isn't enough, all you need do is pull out your classic 1970s R&B Solid Gold hits to play as you read--smile. Pitts, unlike some journalists, has made a successful leap into the fiction genre with "Before I Forget."
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