Tony Johnson is a studious young man planning to soon graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenemen...
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Nov 29, 2011
Roy
rated it: 
"Pickering's style is fluid and crisp. There's a certain clarity to the prose that's considered and well judged - just enough to paint the picture and more than enough to drive along the narrative." - Khome (UnheardWords.com)
Synopsis: Tony Johnson is a studious young man planning to soon graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenement pre "rise of Obama", his sights are set far beyond the trappings of his humbl More...
Synopsis: Tony Johnson is a studious young man planning to soon graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenement pre "rise of Obama", his sights are set far beyond the trappings of his humbl More...
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Dec 18, 2011
OOSA
rated it: 
The Truth Can Be Ignored, But Cannot Be Unlearned
“Patches of Grey” is a narrative that focuses on the lives of members of the Johnson family. Tony is the oldest son with dreams of college and a white picket fence life. He desires to escape from his current life of abuse and poverty. However, his younger brother, CJ, believes that Tony is also seeking to escape who he is....a black man in America. Lionel, Tony's father, knows firsthand what it feels like to have dreams denied. He w More...
“Patches of Grey” is a narrative that focuses on the lives of members of the Johnson family. Tony is the oldest son with dreams of college and a white picket fence life. He desires to escape from his current life of abuse and poverty. However, his younger brother, CJ, believes that Tony is also seeking to escape who he is....a black man in America. Lionel, Tony's father, knows firsthand what it feels like to have dreams denied. He w More...
Feb 01, 2010
Melissa
rated it: 
Storyline:
What I really liked about this book was how true and honest it sounded. You can go to any inner city and find a kid who has the same feelings as the characters in this book. This could almost read like a true-story account of someone life.
Story Characters:
Tony Johnson was very well written on and about. You clearly get a feeling from him early on in the book and very quickly either love him or hate him. What is unique about this, is that even if you ch More...
What I really liked about this book was how true and honest it sounded. You can go to any inner city and find a kid who has the same feelings as the characters in this book. This could almost read like a true-story account of someone life.
Story Characters:
Tony Johnson was very well written on and about. You clearly get a feeling from him early on in the book and very quickly either love him or hate him. What is unique about this, is that even if you ch More...
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May 22, 2009
Dmetz
rated it:
Tony Johnson is a studious young man planning to soon graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenement pre "rise of Obama", his sights are set far beyond the trappings of his humble upbringing. Collegiate dreams and falling in love with a white classmate put him strongly at odds with his father. Although his brother C.J.'s rebellious ways endanger his life on gang ruled streets, and the virginal innocence of their s More...
Aug 02, 2011
ABookVacation
rated it:
4.5 stars
Pickering has created a phenomenal book concerning life and relationships. Focusing on a family in the Bronx, Pickering’s characters and relationships paint a vivid portrait of the struggles many young men and women currently face in the United States, be it racism, gang violence, family disagreements, or poverty. Tony, the main character, struggles throughout the entire novel trying to make a place for himself in the world, all the while his father berates him for attempt More...
Pickering has created a phenomenal book concerning life and relationships. Focusing on a family in the Bronx, Pickering’s characters and relationships paint a vivid portrait of the struggles many young men and women currently face in the United States, be it racism, gang violence, family disagreements, or poverty. Tony, the main character, struggles throughout the entire novel trying to make a place for himself in the world, all the while his father berates him for attempt More...
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Nov 08, 2009
April
rated it:
Patches of Grey by Roy L. Pickering Jr. is to me, on the border of being a young adult book, as it deals with an 18-year old boy and being an adult book, as there are several somewhat explicit sexual situations. Personally, I do not mind a bit of sex in the books I read, but I know other people do mind that.
Essentially Patches of Grey, when one breaks it down, is all about relationships. There is the main character, Tony's relationship to his girlfriend Janet. There is Tony's relatio More...
Essentially Patches of Grey, when one breaks it down, is all about relationships. There is the main character, Tony's relationship to his girlfriend Janet. There is Tony's relatio More...
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Jul 01, 2011
Dianne
rated it:
When I finished reading the first chapter I knew this Author was more than just someone who wanted to write. Roy L. Pickering, Jr. is a Storyteller. “Patches of Grey” is a deeply complex tale with authentic characters whose personalities are strong and well developed. The story surrounds the Johnson family and each member’s life is examined from their own perspective. Their individual struggles are woven together to illustrate a compelling tale of how each of them chooses to deal with adversity.
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Sep 09, 2009
Elizabeth B
rated it:
Patches of Grey follows the difficulties of the Johnson family as they struggle to find answers in life. The mother Caren is an optimistic woman, "There are no struggles too difficult for God's love to guide us through." Her husband, Lionel, is embittered and can't find a job to support his family, "He chooses to complain about what hasn't been handed to him." Their 15 year old son CJ lives for his gang, then tries to escape. Their daughter is confused and feels pressure from
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Aug 23, 2011
Angela
rated it:
I am floored by this book. The way Pickering takes us into the lives of the Johnsons and their environs creates a play before our eyes. At first, I thought the story might be from the 1950s-era, as the style of writing evokes a bygone time, but, too, that might have been because, like Tony, I want to see and believe in a world that does not place a great deal of emphasis on color.
The story arcs for each character ring true, and I am especially grateful that Pickering did not try to gi More...
The story arcs for each character ring true, and I am especially grateful that Pickering did not try to gi More...
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Mar 31, 2010
H
rated it:
I typically don't read literature told from a male perspective. Fantasy, yes. Classics, yes. But looking at my bookshelves, most of the books on my shelves are told from a feminine angle. It's easy to see why... I'm a chick! I see things from a woman's perspective more easily.
But I was surprised at how easy it was to picture myself in Tony's shoes. The writing is amazing, anyone, black, white, asian, gay, old, young, can read this book and empathize.
Like I said befo More...
But I was surprised at how easy it was to picture myself in Tony's shoes. The writing is amazing, anyone, black, white, asian, gay, old, young, can read this book and empathize.
Like I said befo More...
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Apr 18, 2011
Reads4Pleasure
rated it:
In a story that at times reminded me of Matty Rich's Straight Out of Brooklyn, Roy L. Pickering, Jr. deftly weaves a coming of age tale of Tony Johnson in Patches of Grey. And while Pickering could have taken the easy way out and strictly focused on one main character, he takes the time to tell not only Tony's story, but that of his siblings and parents as well, each as fascinating as Tony's.
Tony is every inner city youth that dreams of making it out, except he doesn't plan to do it More...
Tony is every inner city youth that dreams of making it out, except he doesn't plan to do it More...
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Aug 01, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Roy Pickering tells a good story of the Johnson family. Each member of the family has his/her own secrets and conflicts. He is at times overly philosophical, causing the story to drag, and the writing to become somewhat stilted. His frequent use of passive voice keeps me from giving the book a higher rating.
There were several instances that caused me to groan or *blank stare.*
"It was based on orders being followed, his presence being trembled before."
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There were several instances that caused me to groan or *blank stare.*
"It was based on orders being followed, his presence being trembled before."
More...
May 23, 2011
Lorian
rated it:
omfg this book is so amazing i fell in luv with it i told my friend about this book and she reading it nw this book is so sad, understanding, and faith i feel bad 4 cj's death i was shocked when i found out he died he did this 2 saved his gf the one who care with all his heart and died from it told her 2 remember that he will alwayz luv her which was so emotional as 4 tony i dnt mind him bein with a white girl is doesnt matter wat the color of the skin u in is who u r this book really open my ey
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Apr 09, 2011
Jeanette
rated it:
Compelling, poignant, & gripping. An amazing story told in a honest voice.
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Oct 17, 2009
Sandra
rated it:
A well-told coming-of-age story from a different perspective!
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Mar 21, 2011
Happy Birthday Roy Pickering. March 23 is my birthday too.
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Sep 26, 2011
Taneisha
rated it:
this book was very good... I loved it!
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