Residue Years, The MP3 CD – MP3 Audio, June 21, 2016

Great book! Absolute definition of family and morality spun into todays terms and conditions. Jackson unleashes Shaolin secrets of literary achievement with the ferocity of a wu-tang warrior. You can see the author experimenting with different approaches and displays of remarkable skill and execution. The book details a family's love and struggle to help one another and themselves navigate rather grim circumstances while igniting an unwavering fire like hope that exists throughout the novel. Its a page burner as you find your self almost screaming hoping the best for the characters during conflict that unfolds and builds to the equivalent momentum and unbearable weight as a freight train. It is written from the perspective of a son and mother with each character's respective narration designated by an individual chapter. This works beautifully by using the first person to bring us that much closer to this family by being able to be part of the family dynamic from the perspective of both a struggling mother of 3 and her son. The novel dives into the identity crisis apparent in early adult hood exponentially more severe because of the social and monetary demands specific to "Champ," but relatable to almost anyone because of how well the author portrays his vision through language. Family and love are major themes in this novel and done in a refreshing and utterly beautiful way. Highly recommended to almost anyone who appreciates great literature to young people and anyone who knows or wants to know all that is "family."

I decided to read this because it was a local author using Portland as the background for the novel. At first, at the very first, I was put off some by the use of jargon and what some might call street talk. But then I realized that the author, unlike so many others, managed to fit the jargon into context so that even me, an old white guy from the burbs could comprehend and enjoy. The more I read the more impressed I was, as the characters filled out and their interelationships made them seem more and more real to me. Without giving anything away, I realize now that I need to re-read at least the first part of the book in order to understand Grace, the mother's, original motivation that led to her decline. I seem to have missed that. I suspect that's my fault and not the author's. If you're interested in urban America, particularly in such a white city as Portland, you'll likely enjoy this book. High schoolers should read and discuss it.

This is the kind of book where you want to root for the characters, but you can see what's going to end up happening right from the beginning.The author did a really good job of making you understand these people and why they are where they are. Some parts were confusing because of all of the slang used, but I was able to use context clues to figure out the gist of it. By the end, my heart ached.My only critique is that the author must have studied the "50 Shades of Gray" book method in that there were a LOT of words that no one would really use; almost as if they sat with a thesaurus, to try to make the book meatier. It definitely didn't need all of these obscure words that I, a very well-read and educated person, had to look up to define. If not for that, I would have given five stars.

I was unable to put this book down until I had read it all - although there were times when I simply had to do just that as the story is so intense. A young man and his mother tell their stories, with a deft interweaving of the 'call and response' that reminds one of how many stories reflecting the talents and experiences of African-American are sung in this manner - but the stories they tell are so graphic in their words that one intuits the outcome before the end of the story, while wishing so hard that the ending might be different. Mitchell Jackson spared us from none of the realities of his world, without even attempting to lay 'blame' for living them. The stories were what they were - and his victory over all of that reality is a challenge to anyone who might reason that "society" let him down and try to assign guilt to someone else, is refreshing and absolute! He has received myriad well-deserved awards for his first work = and I am anxiously awaiting his next literary gift to us all!

read. this. book. mr. jackson gives us, in his lead character, a first person view not just from the eyes but also from inside the mind and enormous heart of one young black man, of the almost impossible odds of gaining a full life without falling down. never once is the reader asked for sympathy, but rather, empathy comes naturally. all of the characters' lives are so fully told in just a few, select phrases on each, and their struggles are all so very personal. importantly, most show little or no anger... only humanity or hope, however improbable. mr. jackson's artful, personal use of language creates such an absorbing environment in which action and inaction unfold... i was deeply moved by the hero figure and his mother, both of whom fight beyond courage for life itself. i deeply love this book, and can't wait to read more from this new american treasure/author.

Not the easiest book to read but once you get into it a very passionate one. Keeping the chapters short and writing through the son and then the mother gives you a different feel of their perspectives of life. I liked this book because it was honest, raw honesty at times, but showed the passion of the disadvantaged. It reminds us more privileged to be more empathetic to those than are not as lucky as we are because of poverty, discrimination, etc. I really enjoyed the book, and it was an eye opener for how things already bad can get so much worse. Life is about decisions. The more you make bad ones, the worse it gets.

Great book told from 2 sides of the same story, but I was left wanting more information. Love the way he mixes eloquent words with street vernacular. All in all an interesting read about the relationship and strong bond between a mother and her 1st born and what life has thrown their way

I was not impress by this story and could not understand why it was titled the residue years.

One minute reading it, the next not. The pages refused to turn.