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brujapeluda's review against another edition
3.0
From the very beginning of this novel, there is a dark and sinister feeling that looms over the book and that doesn't come just from the telling title. On the very first page of the story you get the line "I saw the prisoner fall back with blood splashing from his body," and you're set up for a story that is going to be brutal.
"The Tragedy of Brady Sims" does this wonderful job of creating a town haunted by its history and by its lack of control but also feels endearing to the residents of it. In presenting the story through several perspectives of people who belong to Bayonne you get a fully array of mindsets and almost a complete context for what happens to Brady Sims.
I think the best part of this story was Gaines's ability to turn Brady Sims into an empathetic character despite his rather cruel treatment of many of the young people in Bayonne. Though it is never outwardly expressed by Brady, you can feel his overwhelming fear and that of the townspeople, of losing their young people to the prison industrial complex. It’s pretty scary how well-connected this story is to modern day incarceration rates of Black Americans.
With regard to teaching this, I would definitely save this story for a class of twelfth graders. It’s a short read, but because of that you can spend a little more time dissecting the particulars of the novel. I love the use of dialogue, and I keep coming back to the fact that often times it’s difficult to really track who’s talking at one points
While this book definitely wasn’t one of my personal favorites, I enjoyed the framing of the story and think it can be a great novel to teach narrative techniques to young readers with a plot that will make them think about the state of imprisonment nowadays.
"The Tragedy of Brady Sims" does this wonderful job of creating a town haunted by its history and by its lack of control but also feels endearing to the residents of it. In presenting the story through several perspectives of people who belong to Bayonne you get a fully array of mindsets and almost a complete context for what happens to Brady Sims.
I think the best part of this story was Gaines's ability to turn Brady Sims into an empathetic character despite his rather cruel treatment of many of the young people in Bayonne. Though it is never outwardly expressed by Brady, you can feel his overwhelming fear and that of the townspeople, of losing their young people to the prison industrial complex. It’s pretty scary how well-connected this story is to modern day incarceration rates of Black Americans.
With regard to teaching this, I would definitely save this story for a class of twelfth graders. It’s a short read, but because of that you can spend a little more time dissecting the particulars of the novel. I love the use of dialogue, and I keep coming back to the fact that often times it’s difficult to really track who’s talking at one points
While this book definitely wasn’t one of my personal favorites, I enjoyed the framing of the story and think it can be a great novel to teach narrative techniques to young readers with a plot that will make them think about the state of imprisonment nowadays.
caitlin_leach's review against another edition
Absolutely would recommend. A great read. And, JD Jackson did a fantastic job narrating.
sabrinacamp's review against another edition
3.0
The Tragedy of Brady Sims is basically a human interest story (as the reporter and partial narrator from in the story was intending to write) on Brady Sims, who commits a murder-suicide.
I have mixed feelings on this book.
On one hand, the journalist is attempting to get a well rounded view on Brady Sims to write his human interest story on this person. As told to him through barber shop gossip. This method of storytelling helped to slowly characterize the small town and all of the diverse characters in it. However, before the reporter Louis Guerin heads to the barber shop, he is warned "Wait. You ever thought about Felix's barbershop? Always a bunch of liars over there." And only when I was flipping back, did I notice this line, which makes me rethink the interactions and the storytelling aspect in this novella.
I thought it was an interesting take to have the action occur in the beginning and in the end. The entire middle of the story is flashbacks to Brady Sims and his son Jean-Pierre's lives.
But I still wonder about the "Tragedy" because this implies that Sims never learned from his actions, and that this event causes great suffering. However, his suicide prevented him from getting tossed in prison, just like how he spent his life trying to prevent happening to all the young boys in town. However, I still do not entirely understand the relationship between Sims and his son. Does he hate the son because he couldn't keep him out of trouble unlike all of the other townspeople? I think the time period is not helping me be so sympathetic, because in modern times, beating children is not really considered to have the same praise that it does in this small Louisiana town.
Along those lines, I wonder about reading this novella in a classroom. The violence, sex, suicide, and other mature themes seem like things that could only be addressed by older and mature students, maybe in 12th grade. I do think that the storytelling method, and the one chapter with a different narrator could be some really interesting things to look at.
I have mixed feelings on this book.
On one hand, the journalist is attempting to get a well rounded view on Brady Sims to write his human interest story on this person. As told to him through barber shop gossip. This method of storytelling helped to slowly characterize the small town and all of the diverse characters in it. However, before the reporter Louis Guerin heads to the barber shop, he is warned "Wait. You ever thought about Felix's barbershop? Always a bunch of liars over there." And only when I was flipping back, did I notice this line, which makes me rethink the interactions and the storytelling aspect in this novella.
I thought it was an interesting take to have the action occur in the beginning and in the end. The entire middle of the story is flashbacks to Brady Sims and his son Jean-Pierre's lives.
But I still wonder about the "Tragedy" because this implies that Sims never learned from his actions, and that this event causes great suffering. However, his suicide prevented him from getting tossed in prison, just like how he spent his life trying to prevent happening to all the young boys in town. However, I still do not entirely understand the relationship between Sims and his son. Does he hate the son because he couldn't keep him out of trouble unlike all of the other townspeople? I think the time period is not helping me be so sympathetic, because in modern times, beating children is not really considered to have the same praise that it does in this small Louisiana town.
Along those lines, I wonder about reading this novella in a classroom. The violence, sex, suicide, and other mature themes seem like things that could only be addressed by older and mature students, maybe in 12th grade. I do think that the storytelling method, and the one chapter with a different narrator could be some really interesting things to look at.
bobbieshiann's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Brady Sims stood there in that old fades blue jumper, with the smoke still rising from the gun in his hand”.
Brady Sims killed his son in the courtroom as Sheriffs were walking him out after being sentenced to death. The clarity of the crime is not identified until the end of the book but in that courtroom, common folks both Black and white gathered to weigh out the fate of Brady’s son. One of them happened to be a reporter by the name of Louis Guerian. Now working for a newly integrated journal, he is tasked with finding out why Brady Sims killed his son.
This is how the history of Brady Sims and the history of the community comes about. Louis heads to the local barbershop (Felix’s) filled with old man who remember the fields, the war (War World 2), American migration, and the take over of man’s hands to man-made machines for production. Not only do we learn why Brady kills his son but must be reminded that although slavery ended it still festered. The fields still being open for cotton picking and having to be Black and still going around to the whites back porch to find work.
To understand Brady’s decision making you must hear the events from the community as they tell you what kind of man he was through his actions. The book leaves you wondering what you would do if you knew one of your sons were being sentenced to death and headed to Angola prison. Brady is a father, abuser, community helper, and even with the loss of things or people, he does not alter the man he came to be.
Brady Sims killed his son in the courtroom as Sheriffs were walking him out after being sentenced to death. The clarity of the crime is not identified until the end of the book but in that courtroom, common folks both Black and white gathered to weigh out the fate of Brady’s son. One of them happened to be a reporter by the name of Louis Guerian. Now working for a newly integrated journal, he is tasked with finding out why Brady Sims killed his son.
This is how the history of Brady Sims and the history of the community comes about. Louis heads to the local barbershop (Felix’s) filled with old man who remember the fields, the war (War World 2), American migration, and the take over of man’s hands to man-made machines for production. Not only do we learn why Brady kills his son but must be reminded that although slavery ended it still festered. The fields still being open for cotton picking and having to be Black and still going around to the whites back porch to find work.
To understand Brady’s decision making you must hear the events from the community as they tell you what kind of man he was through his actions. The book leaves you wondering what you would do if you knew one of your sons were being sentenced to death and headed to Angola prison. Brady is a father, abuser, community helper, and even with the loss of things or people, he does not alter the man he came to be.
patsaintsfan's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely love Mr. Gaines writing! He's the quintessential storyteller. I love how he gets right into his story, and doesn't waste any time moving the story along. I'm so glad I decided to read this one as my book for this year to honor Black History month. It's always great to read a wide variety of authors.
carmena's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
kelseywish's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyable quick story.
nferre's review against another edition
4.0
This short gem of a book opens with a father shooting his son in a courthouse. The journalist on the beat is told to find a human interest side to the story by midnight. He wanders into the local barbershop where locals go to get haircuts and to get the latest gossip and there, over a period of several hours and several participants, he learns the story of Brady Sims.
At the heart of the story which takes place in Louisiana, lies race, hardship, lack of education, and deep seated hatred. In a place where whites who associate with blacks are called names and shunned, where a disproportionate number of blacks are sent to the infamous prison, Angola, Brady Sims is the disciplinarian in town. Above all, he wants to avoid anyone from having to suffer a stay in the inhumane prison -- and therein lies the gist of the story.
In a few pages, and mostly through the conversation of the men at the barbershop, the story unfolds.
I did have a hard time following parts of the conversation and I have to wonder if this book would be better listened to than eye-read. Well worth the couple of hours it took to read - almost as good as A Lesson Before Dying.
At the heart of the story which takes place in Louisiana, lies race, hardship, lack of education, and deep seated hatred. In a place where whites who associate with blacks are called names and shunned, where a disproportionate number of blacks are sent to the infamous prison, Angola, Brady Sims is the disciplinarian in town. Above all, he wants to avoid anyone from having to suffer a stay in the inhumane prison -- and therein lies the gist of the story.
In a few pages, and mostly through the conversation of the men at the barbershop, the story unfolds.
I did have a hard time following parts of the conversation and I have to wonder if this book would be better listened to than eye-read. Well worth the couple of hours it took to read - almost as good as A Lesson Before Dying.
abookishtype's review against another edition
5.0
It’s rare to find a book that is not only a book that needs to be read widely and right now and is also a masterly work of fiction. I find books-of-the-times to be, usually, too preachy or too worried about conveying a message at the expense of plot and characterization. In The Tragedy of Brady Sims, by Ernest J. Gaines, I found a book that can do both...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
readermonica's review against another edition
5.0
The Tragedy of Brady Sims is a perfect example of why I love Ernest Gaines' writing. Mr. Gaines wastes no time throwing his readers into a surprisingly calm yet violent situation that results from a vow made by Brady Sims. In The Tragedy of Brady Sims, Gaines exposes a tragic consequence for one family because of a belief held by many African American families that there's a need to punish their children harshly before 'they' can get a chance to claim them. The idea that children, especially male children, needed to be shown harsh boundaries and even harsher consequences no matter the motivation behind their behavior, is one that hits me squarely in the gut. Too many black children and young adults aren't allowed to freely be young and make mistakes and misjudgments without sometimes suffering devastating consequences.
One of the reasons that Gaines is a favorite author for me, is that despite the often tragic and disheartening topics his stories follow, the settings and people feel like home to me. I am able to almost see and hear the scenes unfolding. In The Tragedy of Brady Sims, I clearly see in my mind's eye the barber shop where the men gather. I can hear the pitch, timbre, and inflections in these men's voices. The dryness of responses and the side-eyed humor are all so clear. Although the majority of this story is heartbreaking, Gaines employs humor that can always be found with a gathering of old men. (I couldn't help myself.)
When it comes to laying out stories, Gaines doesn't tell his reader to look at how awful the world can be. Instead, he simply shows what has happened and trusts that his readers will see not only how disgustingly unfair the world can be, but that there is so much smoky grey fog in the world that most people get lost between what is right and what is wrong. Brady Sims is one of those men who gets lost in the fog. Needless to say The Tragedy of Brady Sims is going on my favorite reads list and I will be reading this one again and again over the years.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
One of the reasons that Gaines is a favorite author for me, is that despite the often tragic and disheartening topics his stories follow, the settings and people feel like home to me. I am able to almost see and hear the scenes unfolding. In The Tragedy of Brady Sims, I clearly see in my mind's eye the barber shop where the men gather. I can hear the pitch, timbre, and inflections in these men's voices. The dryness of responses and the side-eyed humor are all so clear. Although the majority of this story is heartbreaking, Gaines employs humor that can always be found with a gathering of old men. (I couldn't help myself.)
When it comes to laying out stories, Gaines doesn't tell his reader to look at how awful the world can be. Instead, he simply shows what has happened and trusts that his readers will see not only how disgustingly unfair the world can be, but that there is so much smoky grey fog in the world that most people get lost between what is right and what is wrong. Brady Sims is one of those men who gets lost in the fog. Needless to say The Tragedy of Brady Sims is going on my favorite reads list and I will be reading this one again and again over the years.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase