A Lesson Before Dying

Rating:
Summary: a community's struggle
Review: This is the heartbreaking story of predjudice and racism in the South, during the late 1940's. A young man is condemmed to die for a crime that he did not commit. He, with the help of teacher and narrator Grant Wiggins, must learn to accept his fate and become a man.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling book; recommended to all readers.
Review: A lesson before dying is a great book written by Gaines about the dignity in a human being. Jefferson learns from Grant as Grant also learns about a death of a man from his experience with Jefferson and the whole trial.

Rating:
Summary: a very deep and meaningful novel
Review: A Lesson Before Dying is at the same time deep, meaningful, and touching. Gaines' depictions of the events are vivid and seem very real. The novel brings to light the feelings and prejudices of that time period, the 1940s. It shows the changes that both Grant and Jefferson undergo as the date of his execution nears, as well of the consequences it has on others in the community after his death. Overall a great novel.

Rating:
Summary: A book that tells the deepest parts of growing into a man.
Review: Ernest Gaines defines the defintion of manhood by placing Jefferson and Grant together and from eachother, they both learned something about how to be a man. From grant, Jefferson evolved from his own self-consciousness and from Jefferson, Grant realized his mission in life and whohe was, and who he is. This book portrayed the racism in the 1940s and told a heart breaking story of people wronged because of this prejudice.

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Summary: A beautiful, moving book.
Review: This book has the ability to move one to tears,while telling a compelling story, which is a very rare find. It is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A Story of Courage
Review: A Lesson Before Dying is a story of the courage it takes to learn how to die. Right away the author, Ernest Gaines, puts you in the courtroom where Jefferson is recieving his sentence. It is a powerful part where the matter of death is taken so strongly by Jefferson that you can see how his courage will contine until the end. Gaines does an excellent job of writing so as a reader, you feel right there, wherever he decides to take you, that is where you go. The descriptions are short, yet powerful and never seem redundant. Conversations tell the story and keep the book moving at a fast pace. Justice is questioned throughout the text. Grant, the school teacher who is to turn Jefferson into a "man" seems to question the idea of justice the most. " Twelver white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person. Justice?" Grant is a smart man with a big job, seeing things though his eyes is perfect writing to see the effects Jefferson's death has on the surrounding community. Jefferson and Grant form a bond that is never acutally brought up, but its obvous in thier actions. They count on eachother for the little things in their lives which makes it so special. They are eachother's heros. "A hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don't and can't do. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them." Jefferson is Grant's hero because he is able to open his eyes a little wider, and Grant is Jefferson's hero as he teaches him the meaning of manhood. Their friendship is not too common the lessons they teach eachother will have you laughing and crying 'til the end.

Rating:
Summary: This is a must-read!
Review: I just loved this book. It was one of the best books I ever read. There was so much emotions and at the same time, there was so much lack of emotion. It is something that I think everybody needs to read, because I feel like many people have no clue as to how bad conditions (racism, justice)were in the United States in the earlier years. What the caucasian Americans did to the black people was truly a holocaust just as terrible as the Holocaust in Germany.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: This novel was deeply moving. I was immediately pulled into the story...I felt like I was actually in it. I felt everything the characters felt. I have read many, many historical fiction novels, and this one is right up there with my favorites. If you're looking for a great read, look no further. This is it!

Rating:
Summary: A great book, simply misunderstood
Review: A Lesson Before Dying is an excellent book, that is misundrstood. I have reviewed the other comments and to those who gave this magnificent book 2 stars i would like to say "What are you thinking" This is an excellent book about racial injustice and how an innocent man wants to die with dignity. Obviously you have misunderstood what was happening or focused too much on the fact that it was bias towards white people. You have to understand the setting and the time this took place in order to like, accept and understand the book.

Rating:
Summary: extremely moving
Review: my high school senior class was required to read the book. Even though most people would not comment on how good it was, I still managed to enjoy it and I know of a lot of other 17 year olds who enjoyed it.