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sazana28's review
4.0
Okay, so I totally loved how this story went. It's set in Louisiana during the 1970's on a sugarcane plantation. And just like the title, there was a gathering of many old men, and it also included some women. One woman, named Candy, was actually the person who asked all of them to come and help her defend her friend and father figure, Mathu. She is told by him that he shot a Cajun farmer. And she knew that old Mathu would be prosecuted for this since he is black. But anyway, all the men say that they have done it, including Candy, and they will not leave until Fix has come to do something about the murder of his son. And it's mostly just about all the men standing up for their fallen family members who could not fight back against the white men. I really liked this book. It kept me guessing, and had me entertained with the stories they would tell.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
A dead man. A running tractor. A white woman who claims she shot him. A gathering of old men with shotguns. A sheriff who knows everyone is lying. A father who needs revenge.
What is so marvelous about this work is that Gaines tells it from a variety of viewpoints, as different characters narrate chapters. Candy Marshall is the woman who owns the plantation that has been in her family for generations. It is she who spreads the word among those in “the Quarters” that the men need to show up at Mattu’s place. By the time Sheriff Mapes is called and arrives there are dozens of elderly black men, each with a fired shotgun, though many can barely hold the gun let alone aim and fire it with any accuracy. One by one they tell their stories of how and why they shot Beau Bouton.
Meanwhile Beau’s brother, Gil, comes home to meet with his father, Fix, who wants nothing more than to call up his group of Klansmen to “take care of this problem.” It is Fix’s arrival that the group of old men is awaiting.
Their stories are simply but eloquently told. Oppression lasting for generations. Men who will not take it any longer. Their decision to stand up for what is right and against those who would continue the sins of the past has been coming for a long time and they are united and steadfast in their determination to see this through. And that includes NOT allowing some white woman, however well-intentioned, to “save” them. No, they will save themselves, or die trying.
Gaines’s writing is evocative of time and place. I can feel the humid heat, taste the dust that fills the air, hear the buzz of mosquitos as evening comes, smell the swamp and sweat. This is the second book by Gaines that I have read (and I’ve read A Lesson Before Dying three times), but I have all his works on my tbr. The world of literature lost a great writer when he passed on in 2019.
What is so marvelous about this work is that Gaines tells it from a variety of viewpoints, as different characters narrate chapters. Candy Marshall is the woman who owns the plantation that has been in her family for generations. It is she who spreads the word among those in “the Quarters” that the men need to show up at Mattu’s place. By the time Sheriff Mapes is called and arrives there are dozens of elderly black men, each with a fired shotgun, though many can barely hold the gun let alone aim and fire it with any accuracy. One by one they tell their stories of how and why they shot Beau Bouton.
Meanwhile Beau’s brother, Gil, comes home to meet with his father, Fix, who wants nothing more than to call up his group of Klansmen to “take care of this problem.” It is Fix’s arrival that the group of old men is awaiting.
Their stories are simply but eloquently told. Oppression lasting for generations. Men who will not take it any longer. Their decision to stand up for what is right and against those who would continue the sins of the past has been coming for a long time and they are united and steadfast in their determination to see this through. And that includes NOT allowing some white woman, however well-intentioned, to “save” them. No, they will save themselves, or die trying.
Gaines’s writing is evocative of time and place. I can feel the humid heat, taste the dust that fills the air, hear the buzz of mosquitos as evening comes, smell the swamp and sweat. This is the second book by Gaines that I have read (and I’ve read A Lesson Before Dying three times), but I have all his works on my tbr. The world of literature lost a great writer when he passed on in 2019.
jaklindberg's review
5.0
Beautifully written and took place 54 years ago, not so long ago that outright racism is an event of the past. There are still people alive who remember and as part of my job, I come into contact with people who still have this mentality. Be a Candy in a world of Luke Will's.
barium_squirrel's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
piphoff's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
janeeileen's review
4.0
4.5 stars. Moving novel set on a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana in the 1970s about what happens after the killing of a white man by a Black man. The narrative weaves together multiple points of view and advances toward a wonderful conclusion. Great writing and characters. I plan to read more books by Ernest Gaines!
sadiehatton's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
kimball_hansen's review
3.0
I listened to this book while biking around Globe and updating the Public Works GIS Database. The narration was unique with this murder story that was told by many different people. The readers were great but I found myself struggling to remember all the different characters especially because their voices changed (due to all the different readers). I got this book from Dad's Audible library. I'm sure I would have liked it more if I kept better track of all the characters.