A Lesson Before Dying : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: pure torture
Review: Gaines took what could have been an interesting idea, and sculpted it into one of the cheesiest, most boring novels ever written. Yes, blacks in the South in the 1940s had it tough ... there is no need to remind us. Gaines did nothing to expand upon our knowledge of this, and if his intention was for greater equality, he failed miserably and only created more hate between the characters and/or the people who read this book. Gaines creates an unlikable, selfish protagonist, Grant, and then drags us through the hardships in his relationships with his aunt, girlfriend (whose relationship with Grant definitely brings out the worst in Gaines' writing abilities), and his death-row inmate charity case Jefferson. Jefferson's diary is perhaps the only effective part of the book in provoking emotion. The only lessen to be learned from this horrible novel is never eeeeeeeever listen to Oprah again! I highly recommend this book for those who are as bored as a board and for those who have no life. Have a nice, wonderful day =)

Rating:
Summary: A Lesson Before Dying summary
Review: "A Lesson before dying" is about a man who is convicted of murder in the town on Bayonne, Louisiana. Jefferson the man's name said he was not guilty of the charges. He says he was on his way to the bar, but changed his mind and decided to tag along with two men who were on their way to a liquor store. When they arrived Jefferson had no idea that they had planned on robbing the store, and when the two men started arguing with the store clerk a shoot out started. After that everyone was dead and Jefferson panicked and did not know what to do. When the cops came he was arrested and tried for murder and later found guilty. Jefferson always says " I'm a pig, I eat like one to."

When Jefferson's godmother hears about the verdict, she refuses to let Jefferson to die like a hog, but instead die a man. So she asks Grant Wiggins to help turn Jefferson into a man. At first Grant is very reluctant about helping them because he doesn't want anything to do with the case, but after a lot of bugging and nagging from Miss Emma and Tante Lou he gives in, and says he will try hard as possible to turn him into a man. On there first visit Jefferson heard the lawyers words, and took it to heart. Jefferson resents Grant, and doesn't talk much at all, which makes it even harder for Grant to reach him.

Grant tells Jefferson, "I don't have to be here so don't threaten me. During Grants next visits it doesn't get any better. Jefferson still insists to be stubborn and malice, but Grant doesn't lose his cool because if he blew up at him then left the judge would know that there conversations are not going well. Visit after visit it is the same thing over and over, sit for an hour with no conversation, looking at each other with dislike and antipathy. On his fourth visit, Grant sparks conversation about Jefferson's last meal. After awhile he admits that he wants a gallon of vanilla ice cream. As they get along better and better Grant promises him a radio. So he has to go around town trying to get money from people to help pay for the radio.

On Grants next visit he gives Jefferson a note book to write down all of his thoughts. On Grants visit after his gives Jefferson the note book he has filled up page or more. After awhile they begin to connect more and get along much better.


Rating:
Summary: A lesson Before Dying
Review: A Lesson Before Dying


Every Day people are accused of doing something they didn't do, but back in the early days black people got accused of everything. White people thought that since the black people were black they weren't completely human. In Jefferson's case they had seen him not as a man but a hog. In the final words of the trial the lawyer said "he's just a hog."

When someone looses there faith they tend to say they are lost. Grant said to the priest "I am lost and you can't expect me to tell Jefferson to believe when I don't." He also told the priest he needs the radio more than God because he let this happen.

The Priest said to Grant, "You think your educated because you went to collage, but don't know ant thing about your own people you are not educated when you are in hell your so called education won't mean a thing." it means that even if you know things from books you still have to know god and the people you are around daily to make a difference.



Rating:
Summary: A Lesson Before Dying
Review: If you have ever had someone in your family that has had cancer and they knew they were going to die before they actually passed away, you could probably relate to this book. Although this book isn't about a man with cancer, it is about someone who is going to die who was falsely accused of a crime. Miss Emma a godmother to Jefferson the man who is sentenced to death wants Jefferson to die a "man." In court the District Attorney tried to get Jefferson off by saying you might as well kill a hog as to kill this Jefferson. Miss Emma wants Jefferson to be educated and stand as a he walks to the electric chair electric chair.
In A Lesson Before Dying Grant is a School teacher who has to try and teach Jefferson to stand as a man before being executed. Grant has trouble at times trying to stand up on his own, facing a lot of racial prejudice with most of the white community thinking that they are superior to the blacks in the community. While visiting Jefferson Grant rarely talks about god and this angers their Reverend. At one point in the story Reverend Ambrose said, "We have to get something straight around here," speaking to Grant, referring to teaching Jefferson about God. Grant does not have the faith the Reverend would like him to have. Grant bought Jefferson a radio which the Reverend didn't agree with either. Grand believed that the radio was just company for Jefferson and said, "I call it company, Reverend Ambrose," in a argument between the two. Grant beleiverd that Jefferson needed to realize important things about living before he had to die. Towards the end of the book Grant read in the notebook that Jefferson wrote, "allow me to be your friend Mr. Wiggins."
In conclusion A lesson Before Dying is a very compelling and moving book. There are many lessons to be learned within the book. I believer that Grant who is still living learned just as many lessons as Jefferson who stood as the strongest man in the execution room. I would recommend this excellent book to anyone who likes a moving book about great relationships between families.


Rating:
Summary: A
Review: Have you ever thought about what it was like to be a black man in the 1940s? Have you ever thought about being executed for something you didn't do? Have you ever learned one of life's little lessons without even knowing it? This is what A Lesson Before Dying is all about.

Jefferson, a young black man, is an innocent by stander to a liquor store shootout in which two black men and a white man are shot. Jefferson is then sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, a school teacher from the plantation, is pressured into going to visit Jefferson by his aunt and Jefferson's god mother. Later in the story Grant and Jefferson become good friends. Once Grant and Jefferson become friends, Grants life is never the same.

Jefferson's attorney said, "I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this." This book shows how black men were treated. Not the same as today and not the way they should have ever been treated. This book also shows that blacks were characterized as not smart. Grant says, "I was supposed to have said don't. I was being to smart." This book also show s that not all white men disrespected blacks. For example at the end of the book Paul, a jail deputy, stuck out his hand and said, "allow me to be your friend Grant Wiggins.

In conclusion I think this book teaches a lot of life's little lesson's. What it was like to be black. And it shows that if you put in a predicament, no matter what the case, you can be strong.