Reviews

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

hollyvirginia's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nickscoby's review

4.0

This book reminds me of the days when I was an undergrad at UMCP taking classes with the great Mary Helen Washington, when I truly believed that fiction could change the world. This really is a great piece of literature, and I would give it 5 stars, except that the parts with Vivian dragged.

monika_monia's review against another edition

emotional

5.0

khushi_aggarwal's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

desireeslibrary's review

4.0

3.75 stars. I am not particularly a fan of books in which the main character is set to die from the beginning and the entire plot is just a waiting game for an impending death. However, I have to say that there is something quite poignant and beautiful in the way which Jefferson's character developed, paralleled the development of Grant, and in which his journey impacted the community. Although I found the story-line a bit repetitive and at times frustratingly so, I think that this particular approach provided a unique perspective on the internalized and institutional racism of the South during Jim Crow Era.

book_concierge's review

5.0

What an extraordinarily moving book. I read it in one day, and sobbed for the last 30 pages. Grant Wiggins learns much from Jefferson, when he is supposed to be teaching him. They both learn something about what it means to "be a man."

I rank this book among the best I have ever read. It will become a classic of American literature. In my opinion, this is the current generation's To Kill a Mockingbird - a modern-day classic. Our book club could not stop talking about it.

I first read it in March 1998; in May 2002 I recommended it to another book group with similar results.
And I read it again in Sept 2007 just because I love the work so much.

Highly recommend this work.

waynediane's review

5.0

Quick read. To the point, a black young man convicted of a crime which of course he did not commit, guilty by reason of being black in the south. On death row, a teacher attempts to instill pride in this young man before the day of reckoning. In this short book, many different themes of a surrogate mother, the teacher/professor, and of course the religious Reverend. Many different agendas and viewpoints.

leahsharp's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

_ebonishae_'s review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lmuong's review

fast-paced

5.0