12-02-2015, 13:08
Ernest J. Gaines - A Lesson Before Dying - 1993
![[Image: 41ncxwWRCQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-stic..._OU01_.jpg]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ncxwWRCQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg)
Reminds me of James Baldwin's work. Set in 1940's Louisiana. Black man gets caught up in a robbery/murder that he had no involvement with. First chapter covers the trial where the mans lawyer refers to him as no more intelligent than a hog. He is sentenced to death. The rest of the book is about a school teacher who tries to convince the man that he is better than his lawyers reference. Not really much to this and it was rather slow. Mostly black characters other than the police and jail people. You feel bad for the guy the whole book and I guess that's the intent. He gets the chair at the end and I'm not sure the teacher ever accomplishes his goal.
Grade - C
next up - The Population Explosion by Paul L. Ehrilch
![[Image: 41ncxwWRCQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-stic..._OU01_.jpg]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ncxwWRCQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg)
Reminds me of James Baldwin's work. Set in 1940's Louisiana. Black man gets caught up in a robbery/murder that he had no involvement with. First chapter covers the trial where the mans lawyer refers to him as no more intelligent than a hog. He is sentenced to death. The rest of the book is about a school teacher who tries to convince the man that he is better than his lawyers reference. Not really much to this and it was rather slow. Mostly black characters other than the police and jail people. You feel bad for the guy the whole book and I guess that's the intent. He gets the chair at the end and I'm not sure the teacher ever accomplishes his goal.
Grade - C
next up - The Population Explosion by Paul L. Ehrilch

