Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines

Donald Goines is a legend among those who are enthusiasts of his work. His personage draws comparisons to Charles Bukowski in my mind with the exceptions that Bukowski wrote far more, we have video of him, and he didn't die stone broke. Aside from those things I do see many comparable things in their writing of bitter and sweet street fiction that leaves your mouth agape after reading it. However, this is not a Donald Goines book. It is merely as good of a pastiche of a biography as can be written about the man given the nature of his street life and the fact that outside of his own writing, there is very little documentation of him to work with. This is truly a shame for the history of literature. The author researched Goines very well but all we are left with is the same autobiographical sketch that one could read on Wikipidia in five minutes. There are quotes from family members and people who knew him, but who is to know how accurate they are after all of these years? I think that the author of this biography probably ended up like the rest of us, just wanting more substance about his life. There were a few anecdotes in this regard that I had not read before but not many. So, in turn, the author delves into Goines past looking for clues and not finding many. The book is then filled with the conditions in Detroit which produced a person such as Goines. He writes about the racial tension, Motown, and the black pride backdrop, but the fact is that there is no proof that Goines had anything to do with any of this. These were just the conditions of the city at the time while Goines was either shooting up or writing. Due to insufficient sources on his life and death the author did put a good spin on all of the socio-economic challenges and street life and did a great job of weaving it into the backdrop of Goines short life. But, in the end, the best passages in the book are the ones where he is quoting directly from the Goines literary oeuvre. That should tell the fanatics that if you want Donald Goines heart, experiences, and spare no truth spirit, then you need to be buying a Donald Goines book that he himself authored. This biography would be a pretty good start for beginners if they wanted to know about some of the history before plunging into Donald's actual work. I enjoyed all of the history of Detroit that was written about which is why I'm giving it four stars. However, if you're looking for some real significant insights about Goines then you have to read Goines. This book is mostly filler and little killer. Kevin W. Mattingly Harrisburg Times.

This is, by far, the best biography of Donald Goines availible. It incorporates every ounce of availible material, including interviews that will soon be impossible given the presently diminishing number of individuals to consult. Some people have objected to the asides about the state of black America and the situation in Detroit in the book, but the only reason for such asides is clearly the sheer lack of information availible on the life of Goines. If one cannot describe what Goines himself was doing during a particular period of time, one might as well give a description of the events he and those around him were experiencing at that time.

Daddy Cool, Black Girl Lost, Dopefiend -- these and the numerous other works published by Donald Goines brought the streets to the pages of a book. Goines was most qualified to write about the themes he covered in his books because much of what he wrote about, he lived. LOW ROAD covers most of his short life, beginning with his childhood, highlighting his family life as well as his less than stellar academic career. Next his decision to join the military and his military life is discussed. Goines' military experiences are a critical turning point in his life because it is while enlisted that Goines develops the drug addiction that would haunt him for the rest of his life. After leaving the military, he returns home with no job prospects and an addiction to support; it is then that he really commits to hustling and quickly gets caught up in life on the streets. As a result of his criminal activity, he eventually finds himself incarcerated, during which time he is exposed to the works of Iceberg Slim and is inspired to write. Upon his release, Goines was able to secure a series of book deals and was able to achieve a certain degree of success as a writer. In spite of this, his personal demons continued to have a strong hold and his personal life remained one of frustration, poverty and addiction. The murders of Goines and his girlfriend remain unsolved to this day, and while there are many theories as to what killed him, most believe the murder was simply his past catching up with him. The author obviously spent a great deal of time and research and the result is a well balanced look at Goines. Readers will better understand the factors which ultimately led to his self-destructive lifestyle while seeing first hand how success is not always enough to overcome a drug addiction. Goines' murder resulted in the loss of a talented writer who had the unique ability to bring the grit and realism of the streets to life in an engaging and gripping story. The fact that his murder remains unsolved and that Goines died virtually penniless and still addicted to heroin adds to the bitter irony of his life. There were times when I felt the book had a bit too much fluff, with the author spending too much time discussing the times rather than Goines himself, I still felt the book was informative and an enjoyable read. If you are a fan of the writings of Donald Goines or have ever wondered about the man behind the books, then LOW ROAD is a necessary and worthy addition to your reading library. (RAW Rating: 3.5) Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Tortured Genius. To me, that's what this cat was. Eddie Allen Jr's book revealed more about the man and the events of his time as well as any other biography about another public figure. Surprisingly, or maybe not to some, Goines grew up in a stable household in which his father owned and operated his own business with the help of his supportive wife. There is no mention of drug use by his parents or other siblings while he grew up. It makes his story even more complicated, and makes people wonder as to why he chose the route he took. Allen takes us back to the turbulent times of the early 20th century and the events that took place, not only in the city of Detroit, but the country as a whole. He drew some interesting parallels, including one that links Goines' father and Joe Louis as buddies during Lewis' reign as champion of the world. That one aspect of Allen's work re-affirmed to me it is a small world indeed. Allen continues as he tells readers about Goines becoming a pimp, bootlegger, and later, being arrested and locked behind bars. He also tells plenty about Goines' increasingly dangerous habit of heroin, which he even displays to his younger sister, all the while, warning her if he ever caught her doing what he was showing her, he would kill her. It was a frightening and hypocritical display, but nonetheless, it most likely proved effective. Allen goes on to tell about Goines picking up the works of Iceberg Slim, and forming his own stories using Slim's as a blueprint, so to speak. Throughout the book, Allen provides plenty of documentation and other sources to prove this is indeed a work of authenticity, including a piece Goines wrote one year before his death entitled, "Private Thoughts on a Lonely Sunday, September 1, 1973." Allen also lets us know about Goines' inner struggle with his addiction, and how desperately he wanted to "kick" the habit out of his life. In the end, his struggles and other wrongdoings in the past came back to haunt him. Allen did a terrific job in not turning this into a sob story. Donald Goines was no saint, but he is admired by many, such as myself, for telling his own stories, his own life, using his imagination, and telling stories from the heart in the most vivid, brutal, harsh, but also heart-felt fashion.