A Gathering of Old Men

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Summary: Discussing Gathering of old men
Review: 'The Gathering of old men' takes place on a Lousiana plantion in the the 1970's . Its somewhat of a suspenseful story , its about a murder that happens ,and instead of the usual having one suspect and everybody hates him because "he killed him" is definately not what happens. Everybody in this story says they did it I killed Beau it was me I shot him . But sherrif Mapes doesnt beleive anyone ,he tries to use his cop like instinct to figure this one out. Well thats all I should be telling you before I ruin the book for you ,and other than that I thought the book was rather confusing ,but other than that it was alright and thats why I gave it three stars.

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Summary: boring book
Review: This book takes place in the 1970's, in a sugarcane factory in Lousiana. It takes place in a time when the blacks and the whites didnt get along. If there was a murder of a white person it was attamatically a black killer. There was alot of hatered going on between all of the people in the town.The language in this book was confusing beacuse they used words not usually used in english and that made it very confusing. They also called each other nigar which brought up a good discusin in our classroom.We noticed that we had alot of differance in opinion, some thought that it is just a word and others thought it was more. I think that this book was boring. I didn't like how it jumped from person to person. It was very confusing that is why i chose not to read it therally. I wouldn't suggest reading this book unless you enjoy to be bored. I would give this book a one because it didn't keep my interest.Don't read this, i am warning you.

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Summary: Reaction for 'Gathering of Old Men'
Review: Kolby Treat

The time and place that this story took place really helped the meaning of the story. If it took place in teh 1990's the race factor probably wouldn't be there, but sense it took place in the 1970's when race was an issur it helped you understand the book. You could ovousally tell that fix was white by the way he acted and presented himself. Beau, we really didn't know that much about, besides the fact that he was the one that was murdered and that he was really racist. Mathu was an interseting charactor. He was strong and stubborn, but he was also calm and nice. Candy was well sweet and kind. She was the only one that tried to help the Blacks. In the 1970's race was a big issue. In the book there is a lot of key people that hate the blacks like, fix,beau and the Deputy. when it came to the law it was probably very hard for the balcks because a lot of the law enforcement back then was racist. If Ernest J. Gaines would have wrote this book on the 90's it wouldn't make that much sense, 'cause like i said the race issue just isn't as big.In the 70's racism was a live and kicken, which gave the stroy more meaning, and made it easier to understand why the blacks were treated the way they were treated.

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Summary: 1/2 Way There
Review: This story takes place in Lousianna in the 1970's when blacks were still looked down upon. Blacks were still being called boy, son, and other things that were degrading to blacks. The "Gathering of Old Men" starts out with someone killing a cajun farmer(Beau). The sheriff thinks he knows who did it, but the 18 old men gathered together with their shotguns and all admitted to the guilt. The writer keeps it a mystery till the end who really did it. The real meaning of the story doesn't come out untill about the end.The book has a suprise ending, that will keep you interested. This Book gets confusing because of all the characters that the story brings in. The reason for the review is it is a good book, but is confusing.

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Summary: Ryan Simpkins review of Gathering of Old Men
Review: This book is a good depiction of a town in Louisiana in the 1970's. It shows the beauty of the surroundings as well as the racism of both white and black people in the south.

The old black men show unity of a black community. Whereas they don't rat on eachother, but say that they themselves murdered Beau.

This book was a good writing. Although I did not understand all of it. It is time consumer. So if you are to read this do it on your free time. On the scale from one to six I give it a four.

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Summary: hmmmm
Review: The book is a slow read but very deep. Very deep. Upon reading, I had a hard time thinking of this book in the 1970's and not in the 60's. That is a good writer. Reading this book was like cokking to me, it devolopes into a great story that speaks of black men doing what others, whites, do all the time, but with class and a brain.

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Summary: Incredible Book!
Review: This book was about more than just racial relations, it was a book of hope. For decades, these men in this Louisiana town had taken others abuse because of fear. A lot of it was righteous fear due to the times, the characters involved, etc.. Out of a crisis, these old Black men who hadn't had the courage came together and took a stand. This moving piece told each of their stories so the characters were well developed and you saw what they had gone through to come to this place. Really excellent literature.

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Summary: A Gathering of Old Men: A Story of Redemption
Review: From the begining you know who did it, who pulled the trigger on the shotgun that blew Beau Boutan away and created the crisis that compelled men in their late 70's and early 80's to gather at the house where the murder occurred, not to protect a man who despises them, but to participate in their own salvation.

They come to "stand up" for the first time in their lives, to avenge themselves for wrongs the Boutans and other whites committed against them 40 or 50 years ago, as well as for the wrongs committed against them only yesterday. They cpme to earn absolution for their acquiescence to those sins and for their participation in them.

In the beginning they gather because they are asked to come by a young white woman, Candy, who has assumed responsibility for caring for "my people." She confesses to the murder, but no one believes her.

In turn, each of the old black men also confesses to the murder, describing in powerful prose the reasons he had to murder Beau Boutan.

Thoughtful readers (hearers) quickly become entagled in those reasons because they recognize themselves either as offenders or victims, or both at the same time. Everyone who reads this book will recall times when he or she not only failed stand up for or against something, but also times when, out of fear, actively participated in something evil. Once in the grip of that memory, the book becomes even more compelling.

Within the context of the gathering of old men, there is a complex web of other relationships. Sheriff Mapes knows only one way of dealing with old black men, and when that way does not get what he wants, he is stymied. The old black men rebel against Candy's maternalistic tyrrany and she is rendered powerless and suddenly adrift. When the younger sons of the Boutan clan meet with their father, he declares that his reason for being has ended. Luke Will and other members of the local white supremacist group confront the sheriff, demanding immediate justice, and discover they must make life or death decisions.

Mature readers, both black and white, are familiar enough with the history of race relations not only in the South but in other parts of the country, to hear the ring of truth in the stories the old men tell. And age and experience probably provide the only adequaate perspective on fear-inspired failue to "stand up."

The recorded book is unusual because more than one narrator reads. The richness of the narration in different voices enhances understanding of the book because it puts a voice with the men and women who populate it.

Whether readers hear or read it from print, the ending would make Alfred Hitchcock proud and the epilogue ties up all the loose ends.

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Summary: Gathering of old men
Review: what i thought of the book it was o.k but it was so confusing and i havent read all of it but i need to do a report and if you have read it all the way please write a summary or two to veronica_c_98901@

Thank you, veronica

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Summary: A gathering of old men
Review: A Gathering of Old Men is a good book to read if you like reading an entire book on one single day. I found the book pretty boring. I feel you only need about three chapters to write about one day. The book was long and drawn out. The only thing that made it somewhat interesting was the descriptions of the people and using different narrators. It does a great job of giving reference to southern racism and problems with land, money, and people. The way the book is written you can't tell if the author is black or white, male or female in that sense it's a real good book but you have to have a lot of time and patience. You would also have to be a young adult or an adult to understand most of the meaning, words etc... It has a lot of profanity and other inappropriate stuff in it for young children. The content of the book is mostly rated PG 13 but it slips up to R every once and awhile. Other than that it was an ok book that I would only recommend to older people.