Book Review: The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

Book: THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY
Author: Walter Mosley

ISBN: 978-1-59448-550-3
No. of pages: 277

Book Type: Fiction

Walter Mosley’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey is one of those books that you find yourself thinking about long after a very precise and final ending. Published in 2010 by Riverhead Books, the book is the award winning New York based author’s thirtieth novel.

In The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Walter Mosley tells the story of a 91 year-old (Ptolemy Grey) who in the beginning is caught up in the throes of dementia – where the past, present and glimpses of everything in between are muddled into one, and memories run amok in his head, colliding with voices from a TV and classical music from the radio that stay on. He is a man locked up in his own mind.

The reader experiences this with him; the sadness, helplessness and seemingly hopelessness of a brain that is no longer functioning normally. Regardless of what you are going through, it begins to dawn on you that things in your life cannot be that bad.

The energy shifts when Ptolemy Grey meets young Robyn. She is a burst of sunlight that even his failing mind is quick to embrace (pg37)

“… and she was beautiful to Ptolemy. Her almond-shaped eyes looked right into his, not making him feel old or like he wasn’t there. And there was something else about her: she didn’t remind him of anyone he had ever met before.”

A relationship – based on giving and respect, love and trust – begins to play out, an unlikely kindred connection that crosses over 7 decades of a difference in age.

Ptolemy Grey makes a deal for a second chance; he has a few months to finish the unfinished.

As he regains clarity, what will he seek to accomplish and why? His plans and actions, deliberate and well-thought-out are informed by values that have guided him through life – loyalty to a grandnephew whom he loved dearly, how far is he willing to go for him? Upholding of strong family kinship bonds, what is he willing to put up with? Honor for the generosity of a child who is turning into a woman, where is he going to draw the line? The words of a mentor ring in his mind constantly, profound and memorable.

As the story unfolds, the reader cannot help but take stock of their own life, pondering beyond to a time when old age catches up with them. What is reassuring is that today’s experiences are indeed stage-setters of our tomorrows, the creators of lifetime memories that we may never escape from.

Gripping, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey reads like a real life story written by the main character himself. Walter Mosley clearly shows why he is one of the most respected and admired writers of today.

The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray is a psychological thriller that is intense and witty at the same time. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a straight up good book.

Available on Amazon
Author’s website: www.waltermosley.com

DUNIA Mag review: The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey

DUNIA Mag review: The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey

Lema’s website is www.lemaabeng.com; Twitter: @LemaAbeng

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