Blog Post #14

This book is about an old man named Socrates Fortlow. He spent 27 years in prison for double homicide and rape. After he got out he moved to L.A. and stayed out of trouble for 8 years. He got himself a job and had a ton of friends. He is a man that by doing wrong, he has learned from it and was trying to get people to do right. One of the stories I liked was Crimson Shadow. He had caught this young boy killing his "friend" that happened to be a rooster. Instead of beating the kid up he took him into his home and fed him. After that he took the boy under his wing and helped him out. He offered him a place to stay when he needed it and food. I like this story because it shows that Socrates is kind and loving even though he comes off man and tough. Another story I like was Blag Dog. Socrates was on his way home when he witnessed a man hit and run over a dog. Socrates wanted to take the dog to the shelter so he had a chance to live, but the man who had hit him wanted to put the dog out of its misery and kill it with a 10 lb weight. Socrates told him he was taking the dog to the vet but the guy moved towards the dog and Socrates punched him in the face. Despite knowing it would get him into trouble Socrates did whatever he could to get the dog to the vet. There was only one story that I didn't like.I liked this story because it shows that Socrates is compassionate. He did what he thought was best for the dog and in doing so the dog ended up living. It is the last one and it's called Last Rites. Socrates' friend Right Burke was dying of prostate cancer. On his last day to live Socrates took him to a bar room and let him get drunk. Once they had their fill it was late at night and they were ready to go home. However, Right wanted Socrates to let him at the bus stop. Right had taken 10 of the morphine tablets that Socrates had managed to get him and was ready to go. Socrates didn't want to leave his friend there, but it being his dying wish he did. Socrates left him, but he had to fight the urge to go back. I didn't like this story because if I was ever in that situation I wouldn't have been able to leave. I just don't see it as the right thing to do to leave your friend to die alone. Especially at a bus stop. The other story I didn't really like was History. This story tells you about this store Socrates used to go to. He would go there and talk to the men because they were smart and they liked to read about things. However, Socrates' opinions always seemed to strike up arguments between the men. One day, a fired started in the store and he happened to see the billboard to the store fall. He decided to go to see if the owners were still alive because he hasn't talked to them in so long. Once he got there, he encountered one of the men he used to talk to when he went to the store. His name was Roland. he had told Socrates that Mr. Minette had died of a stroke shortly after he was told about the store and Mrs. Minette had passed away of a heart attack. I would recommend this book for someone to read. It tells of one man's struggles to do better and make thinks better and about the obstacles he faces along the way. It kind of inspired me that no matter how bad your life seems, that there is always ways you can make it better. You just have to be willing to do it.