A Lesson before Dying Book

How did I feel at the end of this book....uplifted and beaten down, both. All the love and all the hate and all the even more stultifying indifference. All the indignity and indignation. So many very heavy feelings spread through this sad story, but there are moments of redemption if you watch carefully for them.

Many already know of the story...the teenaged boy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up sentenced to death. His family wants him to die as a man...and wants--no demands--the plantation teacher assist in this job. Many people change during the course of this story, including any thoughtful readers.

Shortly after starting this book, I realized that I was reading something very special, powerful, important. And I realized that I was very glad to be reading it, no matter how difficult it might ultimately become. Now that I have finished reading, I can only add that my first impressions were correct. I believe every person in this country should read this book.