23 Comments
User's avatar
Jam Canezal's avatar

ohh so excited to read your thoughts on James. I read Huck Finn in December to prepare for reading James this year. This hasn’t happened yet though.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Jam! I just started James last night. I'm excited to read it!

Expand full comment
Susan K's avatar

I just ordered a lesson before dying. Thank you

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Great, Susan! Let me know what you think of it!

Expand full comment
Debra Pettus's avatar

Thanks for sharing about “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines”.

I read this book first time last year. I don’t know what took me so long, I’m 72…but thank goodness I did. It should be required reading, however we don’t live in that world, especially now. I highly recommend because the message is strong and the writing for me was mesmerizing!

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Debra! I agree, it should be required reading. It's such an important and powerful book.

Expand full comment
Carla Zanoni's avatar

You also had me at dying.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

lol! Literally I was in the bookstore like, oooh! What's THIS?!

Expand full comment
Carla Zanoni's avatar

#Goth

Expand full comment
sylvia zanoni's avatar

Read, not, devoured James and will love to read your review. Now, searching for A Lesson Before Dying. Thank you!!

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Sylvia! I'm really excited to read James. I just started it last night.

Expand full comment
Kate G's avatar

I think I read this a while ago. But I don’t remember. Loved James can’t wait to read your take.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Kate! I am flying through James so far!

Expand full comment
Rev. Shōren Heather's avatar

I had the great pleasure of studying fiction writing with Mr. Gaines at LSU as part of a MFA program. He's a brilliant storyteller. As a boy in Louisiana, he'd writer letters for the people in his community who were illiterate. That's how he got his first taste for writing. His novels, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and A Gathering of Old Men are fantastic as well!

Expand full comment
Brian Jordan's avatar

How wonderful to learn that about him! Thank you. I must read all of his. Novels.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Same!

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks for this info! Like Brian, I have to read all his novels now.

Expand full comment
Brian Jordan's avatar

Another one you found that I’ve got to read! Like Jam, can’t wait to heat your thoughts on James. Best new novel I’ve read in a while (along with Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead). Interesting pair of novels—both undermining popular stereotypes.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Brian! I'm flying through it! I'm so excited to discuss it in two weeks!

Expand full comment
Resh Susan's avatar

I've been hearing everybody rave about James. I wonder if your perception would be teh same. Happy reading

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Thanks, Resh!

Expand full comment
Arindam Mukherjee's avatar

Added it to my TBR. Will definitely read it.

Expand full comment
Books on GIF's avatar

Great! I hope you enjoy it!

Expand full comment