Book Review #18: A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines

My Overall Review: 8.0/10

Introduction:

I randomly picked up this book while at a used bookstore in Breckenridge, CO. just before Christmas. Naturally, I was browsing the classics section and stumbled upon this hidden gem. I wanted to read it for two reasons: 1.) I’m very interested in the evolution of the American South namely, race relations and how they have evolved and changed over time. I recently listened to a multi-part podcast series from American History Tellers on Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War and that furthered my intrigue into the topic. And 2.) Ernest J. Gaines is an under-the-radar author from the height of the civil rights movement and beyond and I figured that I could learn a thing or two about his writing style and storytelling ability.

Bottom line: Always be learning or trying to learn. You never know who you’ll end up learning from in the end so always keep your eyes and ears open. 

Overview:

Set on a Louisiana sugarcane plantation in the 1970s, 'A Gathering of Old Men' is a powerful depiction of racial tensions arising over the death of a Cajun farmer at the hands of a black man.

Building to a climax that is as stunning as it is inevitable, 'A Gathering of Old Men' powerfully describes the racial tensions in 1970s Louisiana.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and it probably took me three or four days to complete once I got into it. Although a fictional story, Gaines’ master storytelling brings to life the story to the point where it feels like you are there and you care and feel for the characters. It genuinely reads like something that could’ve been based on a true story. And from what I know about the American South at this point, I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. 

Tensions were high, and that was made clear from the get-go. A white Cajun farmer is dead in Louisiana and there are at least fifteen old black men gathered along with one young white woman to all try and take credit for it. Although the plot slowly thickens throughout the book from there, credit to Gaines for giving both sides a fair shake and evaluating the psyche of both the black and the white men. Believe it or not, the entire American South is not racist. I credit Gaines for not only his mastery of the craft of writing but also his ability to give both sides a fair look. I’m not dismissing what was done or how certain characters wanted to rebuttal and “get even”. All I’m saying is that there were some stand-up characters in this book who did a good job of de-escalating a  situation that could’ve gotten a lot worse. 

All in all, I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about the American South or, more generally, a place that is foreign to you. As it turns out, you might stand to learn a thing or two.

Happy reading friends! 

Have any thoughts on my take(good or bad)? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!