Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

This is the thread for the discussion for A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.

Thank you, Beverly!

Beth: Have you read anything else by Gaines?

Sarah wrote: "Thank you, Beverly!

Beth: Have you read anything else by Gaines?"

No and I cannot fathom why. Are we doing A Gathering of Old Men instead? I just noticed the discussion title.....

Beverly wrote: "This is the thread for the discussion for A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines."

I just realized we were talking about doing a buddy read for "A Lesson Before Dying" and not "Gathering." Can this be changed?

Sarah wrote: "Beverly wrote: "This is the thread for the discussion for A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines."

I just realized we were talking about doing a buddy read for "A L..."

Sorry about that it has been changed!

Beverly wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Beverly wrote: "This is the thread for the discussion for A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines."

I just realized we were talking about doing a buddy..."

Thank you!

Beth, what kind of reading schedule do you think would be good for this? I'm just finishing up another novel I started a couple days, ago, but I should start it by this weekend.

How fast do you read? Do you think we could do about 8-10 chapters a week until we're done?

That sounds great to me, Sarah. I read multiple books at a time. Starting Saturday or Sunday gives me time to finish one or two I am reading now.

Great! Do you want to say that we'll check in and discuss the first 8 or 10 chapters next Friday, April 10?

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "That sounds great to me, Sarah. I read multiple books at a time. Starting Saturday or Sunday gives me time to finish one or two I am reading now."I put a serious dent in this over the weekend and am open to discussing anything up to the half-way point!

I finished it this morning, so I'm open to talking about any part of the book.

I looked up the Wikipedia article for Gaines, and I thought these things were interesting:

-Gaines grew up in a small Louisiana town and models his fictional Bayonne after it. Many (all?) of his books are set there.

-I've previously read "A Gathering of Old Men" and that was the book that Gaines wrote just before "Lesson." There was a 10-year gap between the books, and as far as I can tell, the only thing he was doing was consulting on the TV movie adaptation of "Gathering" in that time. I think it's interesting that after a 10-year gap, he produced "Lesson" which was a prize-winner.

-I thought it was interesting that "Gathering" is told from many different viewpoints (all the "Old Men" of the title, plus other folks in the community) and "Lesson" is first-person just from one person's viewpoint.

I have only made it to chapter 11. This is my first Gaines book. When it was published it was so hyped I was hesitant to read it. The more hype the more likely I am prone to find issues.

Having lived in New Orleans for the past 29 years (gosh just realized how long I have been here) I see the affects of Jim Crow everywhere. Apparent to anyone willing to open their eyes. The river parishes, like his made up parish still show deep wounds and poverty.

I too find the point of view interesting. I have a bit to go in finishing the book but in my mind I keep comparing it to Mating Birds by Lewis Nkosi. So different, but both about black men on death row.

Sarah wrote: "I finished it this morning, so I'm open to talking about any part of the book.

I looked up the Wikipedia article for Gaines, and I thought these things were interesting:

-Gaines grew up in a smal..."

Ernest Gaines is one of my favorite writers.
One of the reasons I like his books so much as for me - he captured rural northern Louisiana.

While I have almost all of his books my favorites are still the first two of his that I read, which are also the first two books that were published:
Catherine Carmier
Of Love and Dust

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "I have only made it to chapter 11. This is my first Gaines book. When it was published it was so hyped I was hesitant to read it. The more hype the more likely I am prone to find issues.

Having l..."

How's it going, Beth?

There's a bit of a viewpoint change right toward the end and I'm curious to hear your reaction to it.

I misplaced my copy 😢 it is driving me crazy! Pulling my hair out trying to retrace where it might be.

Starting to think my youngest cousin took it on her “ I’m a millennial, I’m not locking down, I’m going to hike out west off trail trip.” If she has it she better read it and give me insight and mail the book back to me when she gets home... A nice book gift card would go a long way to keep me from throttling her

I will continue to search, at least I am 99% sure the dogs didn’t eat it. 😡🤯🥺😷