Guest review: The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
On a recent visit to my parents, my sister discovered my tote bag of review books, grabbed a couple of them and asked me about them. I got very protective and told her she’d have to wait to read them until I was done. After I got home, I wondered why I didn’t ask her if she’d like to read a few of them and write some guest reviews. I called her and after she thought about it for a few days she agreed to my proposal. So, without further ado, I’m thrilled to welcome my sister, Karen, with her first guest review.
Ninety-one years old and, “His mind had fallen in on itself like an old barn left unmended and untended through too many seasons.” Ptolemy Usher Grey is confused and befuddled. Afraid to leave his home for fear of being accosted by an addict desperate for money, afraid to throw anything away for fear of discarding something important, he sleeps underneath a table amid piles of filth and clutter. Dependent on his great nephew Reggie for help, his world is turned upside down when Robyn unexpectedly enters his life. Desperate to remember an important secret he has been keeping since his youth, he agrees to take an illegal, experimental drug in an attempt to regain his mental acuity, but has he just made a deal with the devil?
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley is an intriguing tale of love and redemption. The characters are so well rendered you are drawn right into the story. You can’t help but admire Ptolemy, with his wisdom, strength of character and loving heart, that you are rooting for him right up to the very end. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Mosley and it certainly won’t be the last. It’s one heck of a good read.
Welcome, Karen. Great review!
Thanks for the guest review, Karen! This looks like a great read.
Welcome, Karen. I can announce that your first review here was a success — I have now added this book to my wish list. I love books with well-developed characters.
Hi Bermudaonion and Karen, I really enjoyed your review, Karen. Walter Mosley is one of my favorite authors. I didn’t know about this book. Now I need to find a copy.
I tweeted the book. I still see a zero. Shouldn’t it change to 1?
I agree with the review! It was definitely a heck of a good read!
A big welcome to Karen. Ptolemy Grey sounds like a character I’d like to read about. Another book to add to my growing to-be-read list.
Welcome Karen! Wonderful review – yet another book I’ll be adding to the already overflowing piles.
This sounds like an interesting book… I was intrigued right away, by the psychological pull of fear and anxiety holding a person back.. then I was totally sucked in at the mntion of illegal drugs and a deal with the devil- I’m quite interested in finding out how this will turn out!
Yay for sisters!! This one sounds like a very interesting read!!
Thanks for the review. Sounds like another successful move by Mosely to get away from the Easy Rawlins series of novels. I saw him speak at the Baltimore Book Festival a couple of years ago, and he had this advice for fans who wanted more Rwlins: “Get over it.”
But he delivered the message in a nice way.
Great review Karen…this is sitting on my coffee table as I had picked it up from the library on Wednesday. Love Mosley’s writing.
welcome and a job well done!
I’ve never heard of this book before, but it sounds like I would enjoy it. Thanks for the recommendation, Karen!
Have a great weekend.
I’m not familiar with this author and Karen’s wonderful review has piqued my interest in reading this book.
Nice review Karen
I am glad your sister parted with a book 
Welcome, Karen, terrific review! Kathy is one of my all-time favorite book bloggers, and she also sounds like a wonderful sister.
Just wanted to stop by and wish you a wonderful holiday season and as always I love your book reviews.
Karen, Congratulations on your first book review. Good job. You made me want to check this book out.
Nice to meet you, Karen. This is a wonderful review. Can’t wait to pick up the book now
Welcome, Karen! Great review. I’ve never read a Mosley book either.
Congrats Karen on your review and what an amazing mentor with Kathy by your side. Hope this is one of many to come. Congrats on your review
So glad that Karen decided to do a review for you! I must say that she has a very nice reviewing style! I am also anxious to read this book and see what I think of it. Mosley was such an engaging speaker at SIBA and got me really excited about this book. Great review, Karen! I hope to see more!
Impressive first review, Karen. Be careful though-blogging can be addictive!
Welcome Karen – great first review! The book sounds really intersting.
Welcome, Karen! Hope to read more of your reviews soon.
Welcome Karen! Great review!
I am so behind in my subscriptions that I am deleting a lot of posts without reading them. Boy, am I glad I didn’t miss this one. Great review! You sold me and I added it to my TBR.