Ghalen - by Walter Mosley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An Instant Bestseller!

"Vibrant and powerful, Ghalen dives deep into the euphoric, heartbreaking, utterly humane story of one fascinating family--populated with the type of characters who don't usually receive top billing. As always, Mosley tenderly crafted a world so genuine, so poignant, I never wanted to leave.."
-- Tia Williams, NYT bestselling author of The Missed Connection

A beautiful coming-of-age novel from MWA Grand Master and PEN and Edgar Award-winner Walter Mosley that explores love in all forms--romantic, familial, and platonic, centered on one Black family, including a neurodivergent man, and the found bonds that helps ground them.

One of the most acclaimed writers working today, Walter Mosley spins magic once again in this beautiful novel that explores the lives of Black characters and one remarkable family through a lens both universal and unique. It touches on the lives of those whose deepest thoughts and motivations are seldom explored--including the neurodivergent, the incarcerated, and the immigrant tortured by their past--characters who will stay with you and change how you see the world.

Ghalen, a brilliant young Black man, is the son of two seemingly mismatched parents. His mother, a gifted scientist, whose own mother expected her to exceed all the achievements in her family, and his father, a gentle cook at a small vegan restaurant, whose idiosyncratic nature shows the young woman a radically different love and understanding of life, despite his inexperience and lack of education.

His parents' grand love story starts it all off, setting us up to follow Ghalen and his family so deeply, that each new twist and turn feels personal.

The journey through Ghalen's coming-of-age tale, as he ventures out into the world, is marked with peaks and valleys and such a drive that you can't help but strap in for it all, while not wanting it to end.

Lush and cinematic, with the narrative drive and indelible power of Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead and Paul Murray's The Bee Sting, Ghalen is one of this bestselling, prize-winning writer's finest achievements.

What you will find:

• Masterful Storytelling
• Rarely Centered Perspectives
• An Unconventional Love Story
• Visceral Coming-of-Age
• Perfect for fans of Demon Copperhead or The Bee Sting

Review Quotes

Vibrant and powerful, Ghalen dives deep into the euphoric, heartbreaking, utterly humane story of one fascinating family--populated with the type of characters who don't usually receive top billing. As always, Mosley tenderly crafted a world so genuine, so poignant, I never wanted to leave. Grand! - Tia Williams, NYT bestselling author of The Missed Connection

Ghalen is a true love story for the ages, full of the complexities, heartbreaks, and joys that remind us what it means to be alive. - Zane, New York Times bestselling author of acclaimed titles such as Addicted, Nervous, and The Sex Chronicles.

Walter Mosley's Ghalen -- A Romance in Black carries readers on an emotional and spiritual odyssey, tracing the evolution of an unconventional family bound--and tested--by love, loss, and the passage of time. As Ghalen, the novel's namesake, journeys from boyhood into manhood, Mosley deftly brings the nature-versus-nurture debate to life with nuance and heart. With his signature blend of fearlessness and compassion, Mosley explores the complexities of those on the spectrum, the beauty of imperfect but undeniable love, the shadow of incarceration, and the echoes of generational trauma. Every page simmers with quiet intensity, building a slow burn that is never extinguished. This is Mosley at his most tender and incisive, offering a story that lingers long after the final line. - Donna Hill, Essence bestselling author of Confessions in B-Flat and Nola and Baldwin

Even in chaos, darkness, and hardship, this novel finds reasons to believe in the human spirit. - Kirkus Reviews (Starred)

Ghalen is a tender and wise story about family, about becoming, about the long, patient work of understanding who you are and where you come from. This is Walter Mosley at his most intimate and expansive best. This time out, rather than unravelling a case, Mosley profoundly unravels the inner lives of Black folk that mainstream narratives often discount. And that is refreshing. From one of America's most insightful literary thinkers comes an extraordinarily brave and beautiful reminder that romance isn't just about falling in love, but about surviving it, honoring it, then passing it on. - Kwame Alexander, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author of Black Star and Say Yes, and Emmy-Award Winning Producer of "The Crossover" on Disney+ & Disney Channel

A heartfelt and beautiful novel. - Booklist (Starred Review)

Readers will fall in love with this bighearted family saga. - Publisher's Weekly

Mosley is such a clear-eyed and thoughtful writer and I have to say, Ghalen is up there with his finest work. It may be my favorite so far! - Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

It starts with the modern romance between mismatched Black lovers--a brilliant scientist and a gentle, neurodivergent cook. But the novel's vibrant heart is their son Ghalen, whose upbringing in a loving, inclusive home gives him resilience in the face of crushing hardship. - People Magazine