A Lesson Before Dying
by Ernest Gaines
In Ernest Gaines’ remarkable novel, a young, unhappy school teacher in
Louisiana is encouraged by his aunt to help a man facing execution for
murder and in the process comes to terms with himself and his society
(Random House, $12.95).
Caucasia
by Danzy Senna
A
great look at the politics of the late 60’s and 70’s as well as a
wonderful exploration of race. What does it mean to be black or White
(Penguin, $14)?
The Tortilla Curtain
by T.C. Boyle
A
happy, liberal, yuppie couple has their lives thrown out of balance
when they become entwined with a Mexican immigrant and his young bride.
The confrontation puts their liberal principles to the test. A
marvelous satiric work (Penguin, $14).
Erasure
by Percival Everitt
Thelonius
“Monk” Ellison is an African-American writer who has struggled his
whole career to get outside of the box of “African-American fiction”.
Monk writes a parody of “ghetto fiction” that thrusts him reluctantly
into the public eye (Little Brown, $14.95).
House of Sand and Fog
by Andres Dubus III
When
Amir Behrani, an immigrant from Iran, buys a house at auction he will
unwittingly step into a desperate struggle between his immigrant dream
and Kathy Nicolo’s attempts to hold onto her former life (Random House,
$14.95).
