This bold new novel from Walter Mosley startles in both its rawness and its honest portrayal of a man on a quest for sexual redemption in midlife. ...
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Apr 02, 2009
Jennifer
rated it: 
I would put 2 1/2 stars if I could.
Funny story behind this book. I read it a few years ago. I had not read a book in quite awhile and a co-worker of mine was constantly going to library reading book after book. I told her one day while she was there to pick me up something good to read. I figured if anyone knew about good books, it would be her.
Well, after I started the book and asked her what she was thinking picking out this book for me she confessed that she just grabb More...
Funny story behind this book. I read it a few years ago. I had not read a book in quite awhile and a co-worker of mine was constantly going to library reading book after book. I told her one day while she was there to pick me up something good to read. I figured if anyone knew about good books, it would be her.
Well, after I started the book and asked her what she was thinking picking out this book for me she confessed that she just grabb More...
Aug 08, 2008
Lester
rated it: 
The esteemed crime novelist Walter Mosely tries his hand at porn...and it's pretty cool! His main character is a bit more tortured than many of Henry Miller's notable swashbucklers--but hey, the context and times are way different...
I actually appreciated greatly his *brief* meditations on race, neurosis, power, abuse, sex, and inter-racial/intra-racial sexual dynamics, being a man of color myself. Of course, one has to wade through the veritable oceans of BDSM and rough anal sex t More...
I actually appreciated greatly his *brief* meditations on race, neurosis, power, abuse, sex, and inter-racial/intra-racial sexual dynamics, being a man of color myself. Of course, one has to wade through the veritable oceans of BDSM and rough anal sex t More...
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Jan 31, 2008
Charlie
rated it:
At last an intelligent writer has integrated sexual fantasies and experiences explicitly into his epiphany of a man whose life is impacted when he walks in on his girlfriend having wild sex with a friend of his. Oh yes, it is definitely pornography but nothing like you have ever read before even if some of you nostalgically remember smudged pages we snuck around high school classes of Lady Chatterly's Lover or Peyton Place. The protagonist enters the underground sexual playgrounds of New York C
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May 19, 2011
Lisabet
rated it:
[This review was originally published at Erotica Revealed - www.erotica-revealed.com]
Walter Mosley is well known as a writer of crime and mystery novels. Needless to say, his first foray into the genre of sex writing has occasioned a flurry of sceptical and childishly embarrassed media commentary. I first became aware of KILLING JOHNNY FRY when someone on the Erotica Readers and Writers Association Writers forum (www.erotica-writers.com) posted the URL of Jennifer Reese's scathing revi More...
Walter Mosley is well known as a writer of crime and mystery novels. Needless to say, his first foray into the genre of sex writing has occasioned a flurry of sceptical and childishly embarrassed media commentary. I first became aware of KILLING JOHNNY FRY when someone on the Erotica Readers and Writers Association Writers forum (www.erotica-writers.com) posted the URL of Jennifer Reese's scathing revi More...
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Jun 27, 2010
Sherese
rated it: 
WTF? Someone recommended this book during an Sunday afternoon tea because they weren't quite sure what to think about it and wanted someone to read it so as to get their opinion. First, I can definitely see why this person did not know what to think of this book. I certainly don't even know where to begin. I had no idea what I was getting into and this type of genre isn't what I'd ever chose to read. Don't get me wrong I love a good mystery as much as anyone else but this was porn disguised as a
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Jan 30, 2012
Mike
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The subtitle of this explicit and graphic novel is very accurate. Improbably-named narrator Cordell Carmel, known as "L" to his friends and associates, begins to question everything in his ordinary life after walking in on his girlfriend having rough sex with mutual acquaintance Johnny Fry (they don't see him). Cordell becomes overwhelmed with disgust, rage, and lust. He begins to see the world in a new light... his job, his relationships, and his attitudes. He also begins to try some
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Aug 30, 2010
Jason
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I guess I find it interesting that when a romance novel discusses a woman's sexual awakening or re-awakening it is almost an accepted trope, yet when a male author writes about a male character going through some of the same issues, it is is considered pornographic. Mosley's novel is explicit, yet I didn't feel that it was excessive, considering the title, and focus of the story. I can point out some sections of John Updike's work that are just as explicit.
Possibly Mosley's only erro More...
Possibly Mosley's only erro More...
Feb 05, 2009
Walter Mosley's fans should not despair; Easy Rawlins will return. Until then, critics and readers must contend with Killing Johnny Fry, an unfortunate blip in an esteemed author's career. Although Cordell expresses homicidal intent__which could have driven the novel__Killing centers on his sexual counters. Highly pornographic, the repeated sex becomes tedious; thin on plot, the novel falls into clich_d, outlandish scenes. And, despite its subtitle__drawn, in part, from Camus's essay, "The
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Sep 18, 2009
Sherry
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Although this is not one of Walter Mosley's best, it is a must read. It looks at how a man's world is torn apart when he finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time and - he learns the life he thought he had been controling, is not what he thought it was at all. As he goes on his downward spiral he seems to be right below the surface of the water, but can't quite get his head above it for air....you almost begin to feel sorry for him.
With it's raunchy sex scenes (and beleive me More...
With it's raunchy sex scenes (and beleive me More...
Feb 10, 2009
Heather
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 09, 2010
Greg
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The prolific Walter Mosley, author of the wildly popular Easy Rawlins series, returns to his crime noir roots in spectacular fashion with his latest novel, “Killing Johnny Fry,” published Dec. 2007, Bloomsbury USA. Mosley dubs this work a “sexistential novel,” and that it certainly is. Though deeply erotic and graphically disturbing in its frank depictions of sex and hedonistic delight, there is a profundity in the harrowing journey of self-discovery and redemption undertaken. Through the grit a
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Jun 12, 2009
Sy
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i believe a friend suggested this book to humor himself. i'll admit that walter mosley is an excellent writer. his main character is beyond vivid and the plot was intense enough to keep my attention over the course of two days (which is how long it took me to read it). the book is marketed and praised for delving deep into the human psyche. the part this friend neglected to mention is that his comment 'a little sex' really meant...written pornography. i mean, about 90% of this book was describin
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Mar 21, 2011
Luis
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This is essentially a well-known author trying his hand, so to speak, at porn. Writing about sex is often difficult to do well, but Mosley manages to pull it off very well at times. The sex is often dark, violent and dripping with passion. But this story is really about more than sex, it's about self-discovery and self-renewal and how through pain can come growth and beauty. It's about fully living a life and not being asleep at the wheel of your existence the way 99% of the population is. It's
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Sep 17, 2009
Ray
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At first blush this seemed totally different from Mosley's main vehicle, the detective story. Sex is front and center, not detecting, and the sex is hot and evocative. But there is a mystery to be explored and exposed. A very thoughtful examination of one man's id and ego. I usually devour Mosley's books in a single session. This one was so thought provoking that I was forced to put it aside several times while I digested the many new ideas and concepts it provoked in me. It took me over a month
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Aug 02, 2009
Zen
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Meh. It was just porn really. I think he was trying to make the porn interesting -- more-than-porn -- but I don't think it really worked. The stuff *around* the porn was interesting, but the porn itself was not especially so.
I gotta say, it sort of annoyed me more because I was thinking, if a woman wrote something similarly pornographic, in a way that appealed to the female Id (this was very Iddish, but obviously for dudes), it would just be relegated to the romance shelf. You wouldn't More...
I gotta say, it sort of annoyed me more because I was thinking, if a woman wrote something similarly pornographic, in a way that appealed to the female Id (this was very Iddish, but obviously for dudes), it would just be relegated to the romance shelf. You wouldn't More...
Feb 10, 2012
Stefani
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This book was a good pool read. It was a fun sexy romp but also as the book jacket claims, "sexistential."
And I am interested in reading his other books. But, it was recommended to me because of all the great sex, and well, I didn't think it was that hot... it seems like the stereo typical male pornography, women all aroused and ready to go with no foreplay ... without looking at it from a woman's perspective. But obviously that's just my opinion. And I get that it's fanta More...
And I am interested in reading his other books. But, it was recommended to me because of all the great sex, and well, I didn't think it was that hot... it seems like the stereo typical male pornography, women all aroused and ready to go with no foreplay ... without looking at it from a woman's perspective. But obviously that's just my opinion. And I get that it's fanta More...
Oct 21, 2011
Raul
rated it:
This will be a very biased review. That being said, I hope that you take me at my word.
This book can be difficult to describe, but at its heart, its a story of self discovery. The protagonist literally walks in on his long time lover having sex with another man. What sets this book aside is that the author imbues this scene with enough tragedy, and obscenity to keep the reader engaged through out the entire story. While this is definitely not the easiest book to get through, I think that More...
This book can be difficult to describe, but at its heart, its a story of self discovery. The protagonist literally walks in on his long time lover having sex with another man. What sets this book aside is that the author imbues this scene with enough tragedy, and obscenity to keep the reader engaged through out the entire story. While this is definitely not the easiest book to get through, I think that More...
Jun 11, 2011
Joe
rated it:
As one who counts himself a fan of Walter Mosley's intelligent handling of all manner of relationships, social, racial, generational, etc., the unabashed sexuality of this one caught me a little by surprise. At times it felt a little like Mosley was just exercising a literary muscle that he doesn't get to use in the other works very often. But most of the time, his gift for drawing you into someone else's situation made you feel as tormented/questioning/liberated as his Cordell Carmel.
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Sep 07, 2008
Chris
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Cordell inadvertently walks in on his long-time lover having very rough sex in her Central Park West apartment. Instead of confronting them, he watches for a few minutes, leaves, then begins plotting to kill his rival. While doing so, he abruptly quits his job, starts a new a career (sort of) and takes several new lovers, and has rough sex with all of them.
This book reminds me of the scene in Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Faclon," where Sam Spade tells a story about a man More...
This book reminds me of the scene in Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Faclon," where Sam Spade tells a story about a man More...
Feb 15, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
Very good. In got really connected with the main charater. I felt his pain and what he was going through when I could barely relate to him. He went through so much,Cordell put himself into an situation that I wouldnt deal with at all. If I ever caught my girl cheating on white dude like that i think i might lose it. People are like Cordell in many ways, to find out the true meaning of love and sex you got to have both of the two to find out who you really are. Cordell finally had to break out hi
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Feb 15, 2010
Audrey
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Wow. I wish I could say this was the terrific novel I was hoping it would be, but I simply can't. It's an interesting idea, but in my opinion, the sexual passages are repetitive--less would have definitely been more. It was actually porno, and cornball porno at that (admittedly, I think it is difficult to write good porno, or literary pornography). Cordell was a basic man in a midlife crisis who was just trying to catch up on all the sex he did not have over the past 25 years or more. Not that i
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Jan 13, 2009
Rob
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I read this one a while ago and still remember some of the sexual situations i found myself in while reading this; Sometimes very sexy, and other times very uncomfortable. The character development was present but less than spectacular, and the same goes for the plot. Basically the whole of the book, was one long mental d!ck tease,
Jan 04, 2012
Zandra
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What a departure for the acclaimed author of the Easy Rawlins mystery series! The plot is pretty good if you can get past all of the sex. Cordell Carmel catches his girlfriend having wild, passionate sex with his friends and says nothing. Instead he becomes introspective and his quest to find himself and his voice begins. Good read.
Jan 30, 2012
Cecile
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I really enjoyed the book however, I think L was weak. All the people who were into heavy sex were all sexually abused and used sex as a way out. I am sorry that Johnny Fry died, he did not deserve to die, Jo needed him, they were really good for eachother. L could have prevented his death but was vindictive and cause his death, hell we should have a second book L should die. LOL!
Sep 14, 2009
Erin
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This book was very sexual. Graphic to a point that was a little shocking, but very important to the story. Not what I expected, but a fast read, I had to find out how it ended and how the main character gets there. I would recommend but not for anyone who has not read something more sexual than harlequin novels.
Jun 04, 2009
Michael
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You're definitely getting what the subtitle promises here. It's a fascinating mix of philosophy and sex (very graphic, so be prepared if you're going to pick the book up). But unlike a lot of erotica that gets written into non-porn books, what's here advances the story in a satisfyingly real manner. Another stand-out book from Mosley.
Dec 03, 2009
Shawnda
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This book was AMAZING. To me it was better then all of Zane's books put together. The book offers great sex scenes but it also challenges the mind mentally. The author does a great job keeping the reader guessing. Nothing is predictable and this book. It is truly my favorite! :-)
Dec 21, 2007
Colin
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So, I picked this book up a few months ago when I saw it at the library, basically because I thought the cover looked cool. It ended up taking me three tries, several cold showers and more than a few dirty looks from the librarian for me to get through it.
I'm sure there's some idea or message that another reader could or should get from this book. Honestly though, it was so very, very sexually graphic that I hard time getting to that message (and I don't consider myself to be at More...
I'm sure there's some idea or message that another reader could or should get from this book. Honestly though, it was so very, very sexually graphic that I hard time getting to that message (and I don't consider myself to be at More...
May 26, 2011
Carrie
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I thought this book was awful!!!! The only reason I finished it was because I my cousin and I chose it at the library and she'd finished hers so I felt obligated!!! I truly didn't expect such filth from Mosley especially after hearing about how good his mysteries are! If I want to read porn, I know who to go to for that; Zane! lol
Jun 24, 2008
Deanna
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This novel made me think I didn't have a clue about sexual satisfication at all. It scared me to think of people in a world where there were no boundaries and the only way they knew how to deal with life's ups and downs was by sexual gratification to the third power. Mosley's descriptive flare kept me ooooohing and aaaaahing until the bitter end. However, the end wasn't exactly the most creditable considering the action of the police deciding to off a white man while in a black man's presence
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