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kirkencraven's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racial slurs
Talks of death and the use of the “n” word a couple of times.krb_615's review against another edition
5.0
I love a novel that inspires visceral responses, and The Fall of Rome exemplifies realistic fiction’s capability to truly move you. As someone who experienced single sex prep school education, I recognized Rashid’s struggles with identity. I identified with his desire to invest in himself as a Black man coming up in a white world by attending private school. Like me, Rashid runs toward this promise of social mobility only to find an unwelcoming environment. Here’s the truth: white man ridicules the Black man for not educating himself, but when the Black man takes up the classroom, then the white man ridicules him for daring to try. It’s a paradox, a conundrum that people like Rashid and myself can’t escape. I thoroughly appreciate Southgate’s exploration of race in elite classrooms.
megatsunami's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I really liked the provocative plot of the book - set at an elite mostly-white prep school in Connecticut, there's a clash between inner-city black student and an old-school "Let's not be racial, it's all about individual merit" black professor of Latin, rounded out by a white woman professor.
I felt like the novel did a really interesting job of setting up the conflicts and the dilemmas posed to the characters. There were a lot of very realistic scenes of how issues around race and privilege show up in complex and subtle ways (without resorting to the plot device of using an extreme, explicitly racist character as some novels do). But I wanted more authentic dialogue between the characters, especially between the two main adults, who barely seemed capable of holding a genuine and deep conversation on this topic despite being articulate university professors.
But I definitely recommend this book as worth reading. It also made a useful counterpoint to [b:The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace|18775365|The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League|Jeff Hobbs|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1420938377s/18775365.jpg|26680498], which I read recently.
I felt like the novel did a really interesting job of setting up the conflicts and the dilemmas posed to the characters. There were a lot of very realistic scenes of how issues around race and privilege show up in complex and subtle ways (without resorting to the plot device of using an extreme, explicitly racist character as some novels do). But I wanted more authentic dialogue between the characters, especially between the two main adults, who barely seemed capable of holding a genuine and deep conversation on this topic despite being articulate university professors.
Spoiler
Also, the ending was sad. I wanted to see what would happen if Jerome were able to undergo some transformation, acknowledging how he has been impacted by racism and developing a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between individual and structural forces - that would have been a much more interesting novel, to my mind. And I really wanted Jana to realize that there may be ways that she needs to change as well, instead of being self-righteous white savior lady at times. For example, I was annoyed by the scene where she's all "I just can't be with you if you're gonna be like this" after hearing him say a few sentences in a faculty meeting, instead of asking him "Hey, can you tell me about what you said? I had a strong reaction to it and I want to know more about what you meant, because after all, you have actually been on the receiving end of racism and have had to survive in this white environment for decades while I continue to benefit from white privilege no matter what setting I'm in."But I definitely recommend this book as worth reading. It also made a useful counterpoint to [b:The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace|18775365|The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League|Jeff Hobbs|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1420938377s/18775365.jpg|26680498], which I read recently.
nonidude's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The pacing of this book is quite spectacular. The ending did what was needed and felt final. The cast of characters diverse and interesting. The subject matter relevant and intriguing.
Look forward to reading more books by Martha Southgate.
Look forward to reading more books by Martha Southgate.
galaxias's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harbo101's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, providing multiple perspectives on the events unfolding, and remarkably relevant nearly twenty years after its publication. Was disappointed, however, in the way the story ended--after such a well-developed plot, it just dropped off too quickly for me.
liralen's review against another edition
4.0
This reminded me somewhat of [b:Black Boy White School|9266763|Black Boy White School|Brian F. Walker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325840335s/9266763.jpg|14147613], although “The Fall of Rome” was published earlier and is arguably considerably more complex.
Much of this complexity owes itself to the multiple points of view, especially those of Jerome and Jana. Rashid’s story is important, but it’s also the most straightforward of the stories, rendering it sometimes predictable. Jana is a realistic blend of optimism and fatigue –- she still believes that she can make a difference, but she’s more or less given up on trying to do so in inner-city schools. She’s restrained, too, which is nice -– this is not a portrait of an idealistic young white teacher single-handedly turning the school on its head and making it fully racially integrated.
But it’s Jerome who is, to my mind, most interesting. Even as readers gain insight into his background and views, the other main players of the book are left in the dark. They can see his views -– somewhat outdated and arguably tinged with internalised racism –- but do not understand, or seek to understand, those views.
So when Rashid struggles and Jerome fails to help him –- or to connect with him –- it is not within the capacity of the other characters (and only gradually enters the readers’ capacity) to understand why. Although the book could have pushed it further, we see the different impacts that racism has had on the lives of the various characters and how that has influenced them to think and act.
I don’t think this is a groundbreaking book (and I agree with reviewers who say that some blurbs for it are misleading), but it’s thought-provoking.
Much of this complexity owes itself to the multiple points of view, especially those of Jerome and Jana. Rashid’s story is important, but it’s also the most straightforward of the stories, rendering it sometimes predictable. Jana is a realistic blend of optimism and fatigue –- she still believes that she can make a difference, but she’s more or less given up on trying to do so in inner-city schools. She’s restrained, too, which is nice -– this is not a portrait of an idealistic young white teacher single-handedly turning the school on its head and making it fully racially integrated.
But it’s Jerome who is, to my mind, most interesting. Even as readers gain insight into his background and views, the other main players of the book are left in the dark. They can see his views -– somewhat outdated and arguably tinged with internalised racism –- but do not understand, or seek to understand, those views.
So when Rashid struggles and Jerome fails to help him –- or to connect with him –- it is not within the capacity of the other characters (and only gradually enters the readers’ capacity) to understand why. Although the book could have pushed it further, we see the different impacts that racism has had on the lives of the various characters and how that has influenced them to think and act.
I don’t think this is a groundbreaking book (and I agree with reviewers who say that some blurbs for it are misleading), but it’s thought-provoking.
giftsintogold's review against another edition
5.0
A poignant look at racial tensions through the eyes of three members of an elite private school. Two characters African American. One white. I gained a deeper appreciation for how identity is shaped and challenged. Each character had their own story and reason for upholding the story they felt best. While none fully understood the others, they each shaped each other's world view. I was pained by how Jerome struggled to accept himself, and consequently the other characters. The author did a remarkable job of illustrating the inner and outer struggles of each of the three primary characters.
just_tosh's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sure this is a great book. It wasn't for me. I wanted to like it but I just didn't care about the characters at all.
elibriggs's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember where I found this writer but I have read 3 of her books and been really impressed. the characters in each book were really different but believable and interesting.