A Lesson Before Dying : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Excellent; I teach the book (and I know Mr. Gaines)
Review: The tighly-constructed book holds a central argument that death cannot be restricted to the body. (However, I must comment that the book takes place in a part of Louisiana that is not Cajun--but more New Orleans Creole, and the culture is not Catholic French Cajun, but that of the old South with antebellum plantation houses, African-American religion, and slave quarters.) The setting with the house and quarters serves as visual metaphor for the continued social enslavement of the African Americans into the 1940's. I teach the book in a classroom with Black and White students, and Mr. Gaines presents the stupidity of racism more via this tighly woven novel with its many messages about justice and goodness, than any preachy multicultural jargon could accomplish. His characters, no matter what race, are very human (with both flaws and strengths) and the writing, with visual detail and psychological insight, admits us all into Jefferson's world. A great book and a great read. Like the teacher, the community, and Jefferson we learn too, through this journey into a Black forties community, that nothing can kill the human spirit. Mr. Gaines's book will be talking to people long after we are able to speak. Diane

Rating:
Summary: The racism and capital punishment created a heart felt story
Review: A Lesson Before Dying is a heart felt drama about the unfair lives that the black culture lead during the 40's. Capital punishment was also a leading issue throughout the story. The combination of racism and capital punishment created a complicated situation that was very moving. The issue of capital punishment that was portrayed in this story was unfair because of the racial situation that was factored in. THIS STORY WAS AN EXCELLANT WAY TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS CULTURE DEALT with cruel and unfair punishment. I cannot relate to this situation much, however this book allowed me to examine other point of views. I felt that because of the many struggles throughout this book, I was able to understand the pain that these people went through.

Rating:
Summary: A novel about helping one's self by helping others.
Review: A Lesson Before Dying, is a compelling story of a boy who learns to live once he must die, and the teacher who aids him along his journey. The book not only focuses on the boy who is on death row, but also the conflicts his teacher deals with. Gaines does a nice job of setting up the characters so that the reader is able to feel their emotions along with the characters. The book takes place in a plantaion during the 1940's. The time period refelects greatly on the events of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read an insperational text.

Rating:
Summary: Cannot Recomend
Review: I was dissapointed after reading this book. An entire page and 1/2 about a christmas pagent!!! I very was frustrated. The idea and real story of the book was intersting. But I felt let down after reading the book. I have read other books Oprah has recomended and have enjoyed all of them until this one.

Rating:
Summary: I found this book enjoyable
Review: For the most part, I found this book enjoyable. I believe it took a little on the long side to develop. The first twenty chapters or so I could barely keep my attention while I was reading it. This is opposed to the last 10 chapters or so when I could barely stand to put the book down. I love how the book explored the essence of being a man. I found it interesting how the book convinced me that both Jefferson and Grant made the magical transition from,in Jefferson's case, hog to man, or in Grant's case, grown child to man. The book left me with many thought provoking questions(which is a sure sign that the book is good)and the most dominating of these questions is what exactly are the components of a man?

Rating:
Summary: Slow to start out with...
Review: Ernest J. Gaines does a very good job of portraying the racism and hatred towards blacks in the south during the 1940s. Although the end is very moving, the first half of the books seems to drag on. For the first 150 pages Gaines beat around the bush and filled the pages with useless trip after trip to the jail, where, surprise, once again Jefferson says or does nothing. However, after Jefferson begins to talk, the book becomes interesting. The novel ends with many questions unanswered about Grant Wiggins.

Rating:
Summary: Deals with the most critical issue of uour century
Review: This novel discusses on of the most critical issues of our century. This books seems a little slow from the start, but as the the reader moves on he or she learns much about the iner feelings of the characters. The characters in this novel have many different motivations for what they do. Miss Emma the main character wants her grandson to be a man when he is to die by electricution. this is important because If Jefferson becomes a man then the white man will have won,a nd continued the years of oppression. Jefferson's manhood will be used for freedom

Rating:
Summary: Lesson Before Dying is an imformative book. Read it!
Review: Fortunately, our senior A.P. English class got to read A Lesson Before Dying. I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was informative. It deals with the issue of captial punishment and other things as well. I did not know much about capital punishment yet, I aleady had the view of being for it. How could this be since I knew nothing about it? The book A Lesson Before Dying really made me think about my views. I definitely had a different attitude when I was finished with the book. The book entails many interesting characters that keep the book fun and amusing. The book really gets better as it goes on. Overall, I think this is an informative book that should be read by all. I gave it four stars, and a thumbs up!

Rating:
Summary: A thought-provoking book with a lot of feeling
Review: Ernest J. Gaines was able to successfully show the lack of respect and the void of rights for blacks in the 1940s. He established a character, Jefferson, that gained my attention and my sympathy. Chapter 29, Jefferson's Diary, was heart-wrenching. I cannot fathom what it would be like to be in Jefferson's shoes. My emotions changed throughout the book, but I was able to relate to many of the characters. The only side of the story that could receive my criticism is Grant's life. Many detials were included, but the strings were never tied at the end of the book. It seemed to stop abruptly. I would have liked to know more, or I would liked to not have known as much about him. All in all though, I think that Ernest Gaines composed a well-written novel that has the possibility to touch many people's lives.

Rating:
Summary: A book with a "Lesson" of its own
Review: This novel gets high praise from me, because it changed my mind in an extremely important subject. Before reading A Lesson Before Dying, I supported capital punishment in certain cases. However, upon reading the book, my views were changed to being absolutely anti-capital punishment. The book also brought several racism issues to light, and they touched me. Overall the book is interesting, along with teaching a valuable lesson. I would recommend that everyone take a little time to read this book.