Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues [Paperback]

Horace Mungin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2001

Sleepy Willie sings the Blues, is the second in a series of books written by Horace Mungin. Reminiscence of Langston Hughes' collection of "Jesse B. Simple" books, Sleepy Willie is an old Southern born, grass roots philosopher living in the South Bronx. Willie takes a pundit's-eye view of the interactions of African American and whites in today's society. But it doesn't stop there. Willie burns the feathers of those in the current political and gangster culture. Willie expounds on his international views. Willie finds socially redeeming qualities in the Jerry Springer show.

Willie's narratives are replete with whimsical flare and eccentric spins that go so far out there that you'll be amazed when they conclude within the realm of reasonableness.

This is one funny, insightful, and thought-provoking book, that will take you through the hoops with laughs, sighs, and a melancholy longing, then set you straight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Horace Mungin was born in South Carolina and raised in New York City. He currently lives in Ridgeville, S.C. Horace began writing during the 60's Black Arts movement. He has published two volumes of poetry and a book of Sleepy Willie sketches. His work has appeared in anthologies, magazines, and newspapers.

Sleepy Willie appeared in 1978 in a syndicated column written by the author. A collection of those columns entitled "Sleepy Willie Talks about Life" was published in 1991. About that book Amiri Baraka wrote. " ...Irony is the weapon of the powerless, and as they say in the joint, Willie (and Author Mungin, who's been around for a while, since the time of the smell of the 60's Black Arts movement) is laying on symbol, very heavy, but with a light and amusing touch." Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues goes beyond symbols to hit the mark.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp; 1 edition (April 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738855227
• ISBN-13: 978-0738855226
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,199,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Horace Mungin was born in Hollywood, South Carolina in 1941. He grew up in New York City where he attended public schools, and majored in English at Fordham University. He served three years in the U.S. Army and was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He lived in New York until 1989.

Horace started writing poetry in the late sixties, just after the genesis of the National Black Arts Movement. During this period, he published two Broadside volumes of poetry, "Dope Hustler's Jazz, '68" and "Now See Here, Homes, '69." Some of his early writings appeared in The New York Times, literary magazines, and poetry anthologies. The African-American Book Club, Inc. selected Horace as its Artist of the Month in June of 1969. Later that same year, he published a collection of short fiction. In the early seventies, Horace helped found Black Forum Magazine, a widely acclaimed, national publication for writers. Horace also edited Press-Time, a literary newsletter until 1984.

In the late seventies, Horace wrote a column for a Charleston, SC weekly newspaper. The column employed satire to explore a variety of political and social issues.
The column was discontinued for a while then syndicated to ten other weekly newspapers and had a six year run. In 1991 a collection of those columns were published under the title "Sleepy Willie Talks about Life." In May of 2001, "Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues," the second book in the Sleepy Willie series was published. Horace wants to write one more Sleepy Willie book to complete the series. In 2004, the author published "The Devil Beats His Wife," a collection of short stories rooted in the Charleston, South Carolina area. In 2006 "San Juan Hill" a fictional coming of age memoir of three young boys growing up in a New York City public housing project was published. His latest book is "Subway; After the Irish," an account of his years as a New York City Subway conductor.

Horace has published in Essence magazine, Encore newsmagazine, Black Books Bulletin, Disc & That, The Lincoln Review, Blind Beggar Press, Ninety-Six Sampler of South Carolina Poetry, the Point newspaper, Nommo, Black Out Loud and The New York Times. Horace Mungin is listed in the S. C. Writers Directory and the Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers. He has read his works at the New School for Social Research, Furman University, Moja Arts Festival, and Piccolo Spoleto. His short fiction has won the Piccolo Spoleto Fiction Open two years running ('01, '02).

Horace and his wife, Gussie, live in Ridgeville, SC. He is contemplating another collection of Southern based short fiction as his next project. They have three sons and six grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A needed bit of profundity for our times, March 20, 2005

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues (Hardcover)

Since the death of Langston Hughes (yeah, I know, the Hughes/simple comparisons are unavoidable) there has really been very little good African-American satire in the written word as of late. Mr Horace Mungin (who I recently met at Charleston's Black Expo and thus purchased this book) more than ably fills the void with this collection.

He does a good job of articulation the view of a "silent majority" of African-Americans who know who they are and treasue all that is good in Black America, but despise such things as gangsterism and the low road that (much of) hip hop music has taken in depicting Black culture.

Here, he tackles such issues as homophobia, the Reagan administration, the deaths of racist leaders, the hip hop "culture," police brutality, et. al. But there is an amazing set of vignettes early in this book where "Sleepy Willie" tells of his refusal to return to Beaufort SC. It does a great job in expressing and articulating the bitterness of Black people who survived the Jim crow era in terms more poetic than polemical. He talks, and does not scream, thus even when you disagree with him, you still want to listen.

Mr. Mungin, keep writing. I hope this book becomes better known as it should be. Read it and you'll see what I mean.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Satirical Work, June 14, 2001

By 

John H. Bradley IV (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues (Hardcover)

This book is a must have. The author combines southern roots with northern sensibilities to create a piece that speaks to us all. In the spirit of Langston Hughes Mr. Mungin disarms critics and demogagues forcing them to see the reality of the common man. In a world filled with hurtful and degrading dialogue 'Sleepy Willie' makes his point while putting a smile on your face.