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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Good premise (an old woman tells the story of her life, from the Civil War to civil rights), but it didn't hold my attention.
My feelings about this book are complicated.
I thought the characters were intriguing, but I wanted to have a closer look at the main ones. I understand that, when a book is written in first person, you don’t get this as much, but I didn’t feel they were memorable enough. I wanted to know so much more about Robert, Tee Bob, Jimmy, Ned and Jane. Even Amma Dean. 3 stars.
But this book—plot and prose—is powerful. Several times during the reading of it, I had to stop and seethe with rage at the events. 5 stars.
The setting really compels me, too. It’s such an interesting dynamic between the house and the field. The only thing was, I thought it kind of corny that the sheriff and schoolteacher’s wife (and the concept of the schoolteacher) were the same as in A Lesson Before Dying. I understand it’s kinda The Autobiography of Mr. Ernest Gaines, but parallels with real life always feel forced to me. 4 stars.
There was a section from about 65 to 85 percent into the book that just lagged. It was boring. 2 stars.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
I thought the characters were intriguing, but I wanted to have a closer look at the main ones. I understand that, when a book is written in first person, you don’t get this as much, but I didn’t feel they were memorable enough. I wanted to know so much more about Robert, Tee Bob, Jimmy, Ned and Jane. Even Amma Dean. 3 stars.
But this book—plot and prose—is powerful. Several times during the reading of it, I had to stop and seethe with rage at the events. 5 stars.
The setting really compels me, too. It’s such an interesting dynamic between the house and the field. The only thing was, I thought it kind of corny that the sheriff and schoolteacher’s wife (and the concept of the schoolteacher) were the same as in A Lesson Before Dying. I understand it’s kinda The Autobiography of Mr. Ernest Gaines, but parallels with real life always feel forced to me. 4 stars.
There was a section from about 65 to 85 percent into the book that just lagged. It was boring. 2 stars.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
Informative and interesting at the same time. I saw this as a movie a long time ago. The book cover is very plain, but what’s inside is not. Fiction not a true autobiography, but I’m sure pretty close to what happened over the years following emancipation. Jane was freed from slavery when she was about 10 or 11. Since slaves birth records were not kept, she didn’t really know. This was a heartbreaking story at times, but also uplifting at times too. I read a library copy of this book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know this book is a movie but I wanted to read the book first and I absolutely loved it. The ending is so sad yet hopeful I think it's actually quite perfect.
What I love the most is that it feels like a real autobiography and the characters feel the same way and being able to make you forget this is fictional based on realities is an incredible thing a writer can accomplish.
What I love the most is that it feels like a real autobiography and the characters feel the same way and being able to make you forget this is fictional based on realities is an incredible thing a writer can accomplish.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this iconic book to be more upsetting than enjoyable, feeling mired in grief at the trauma and losses the characters suffered. Miss Jane Pittman is about 108 years old at the time she narrates her story; she has lived from slavery through Reconstruction and Jim Crow to the civil rights battles of the 1960s.
In listening to the audiobook, I was approximating the experience of the fictional author as he listened to Jane relate her story. While that gave it realism it also meant I found some of her speech patterns annoying. I especially didn’t like the way she would say someone’s name several times - “Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!” - but then repeat that lamentation / disappointment / imprecation over and over.
Jane has important relationships with a lot of people over the course of a hundred years. Despite the numerous characters, the author keeps them straight by separating the book into distinct periods and / or locations, each with their own people. There is one constant who is with her for many years but the rest are present for just their section.
This is a masterful tale told by a resolute protagonist, almost a heroine. To see the world through her eyes takes a lot of courage.
In listening to the audiobook, I was approximating the experience of the fictional author as he listened to Jane relate her story. While that gave it realism it also meant I found some of her speech patterns annoying. I especially didn’t like the way she would say someone’s name several times - “Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!” - but then repeat that lamentation / disappointment / imprecation over and over.
Jane has important relationships with a lot of people over the course of a hundred years. Despite the numerous characters, the author keeps them straight by separating the book into distinct periods and / or locations, each with their own people. There is one constant who is with her for many years but the rest are present for just their section.
This is a masterful tale told by a resolute protagonist, almost a heroine. To see the world through her eyes takes a lot of courage.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Classism
Absolutely outstanding are perhaps the only words I can use to describe this book, and they barely begin to cover it. There truly are no words to how amazing this story is. I loved every page.
I wish I had liked this more. I loved A Lesson Before Dying, and so I was predisposed to like Gaines' (fictional) Autobiography too, but alas. The premise is awesome! The story of a woman born into slavery who lives through 110 years of history, including some of the Civil War, Emancipation and its aftermath, a whole bunch of wars that are mentioned but not in-depth, and the start of the Civil Rights movement.
So it pains me to say that it should be good stuff, because that would be a fascinating life! The first half was excellent and interesting. But I felt like after the first, say, 50 years of Miss Jane's life, there was not enough focus to make it compelling - especially since she lived in the same town of Samson, "Luzana" for the entirety of the next 60 years. The last half of the book dragged; she continued to work on the land or in the house of the white people. Other people who worked there over the years are mentioned a time or two, then never again. The last part with the boy chosen to be "The One" to save them bothered me a lot, mostly because he had all this expectation on him, but no one ever communicated their expectations of this kid, and were just disappointed with him all the time for not living up to what they thought he should be.
Otherwise, Jane just lives on her little slice of land and farms her little garden and listens to baseball on the radio, which sorry, is dull.
I'm bummed that I am not more enthused. Hopefully this will make for a good book discussion next week.
So it pains me to say that it should be good stuff, because that would be a fascinating life! The first half was excellent and interesting. But I felt like after the first, say, 50 years of Miss Jane's life, there was not enough focus to make it compelling - especially since she lived in the same town of Samson, "Luzana" for the entirety of the next 60 years. The last half of the book dragged; she continued to work on the land or in the house of the white people. Other people who worked there over the years are mentioned a time or two, then never again. The last part with the boy chosen to be "The One" to save them bothered me a lot, mostly because he had all this expectation on him, but no one ever communicated their expectations of this kid, and were just disappointed with him all the time for not living up to what they thought he should be.
Otherwise, Jane just lives on her little slice of land and farms her little garden and listens to baseball on the radio, which sorry, is dull.
I'm bummed that I am not more enthused. Hopefully this will make for a good book discussion next week.
I don't think I ever read this book, but I have some fond memories of the Cicely Tyson film version (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071175/). Somehow, the story didn't work for me. The first quarter when young Jane and Ned are on the road is beautifully told and heartfelt, and later when Ned is an activist educator--I was engaged. But the other later stories seemed to drag on unnecessarily.