Billy

Had to read this book for a class. Of the 6 we had to read for class Billy was definitely the more pleasurable one to read. It touches on racial and ethical issues from a time that not all were treated as equal, with some of the issues and themes are still relevant to this day. It does this in a way without being preachy like other books dealing with similar issues and the characters are, for the most part, easy to understand.I'd suggest this for a high school or junior high English class.

Billy is a colloquial tale, powerfully told. The dialogue is tremendously rich. The scenic mood... porch-sitters, patch girls, and all that laughin' and talkin' porch talk, tryin' to outtalk the hollerin' is painted on so deliciously thick I think I could even pick out the back roads... and I've only been to Mississippi once. It's the type of prose that had me thinking, "what a fine piece of Renaissance Art." But here's where I dithered.It was the message. I found it difficult keeping my attention on the dramatic prose (beautiful as it was) as the story unfolded. Perhaps it was a similar incident that really happened to another child (I believe same time/certainly same state) where the other child committed a far less infraction than Billy but received a far more traumatic penalty, that had me somewhat staggering through the story. I think someone else said it. The story really plays on your emotions.And still, the prose is outstanding! It certainly ranks among the classics, which for a story moving me the way Billy has, undeniably belongs on my keeper shelf.

Deeply moving and powerful look at racial tensions, and the American criminal justice system. French carefully develops each character, making their attitudes and actions within the novel seem all the more realistic and compelling. By the last page the capital punishment trial of Billy Lee Turner will have impacted you in some way.

This book was suggested to me to read. I must admit it was a page turner and I didn't want to put it down. Once I completed this novel by Albert French I quickly searched to read more of his writings and was never disappointed.

I was looking for a book so that my granddaughter could get a sense of how truly blessed she is to grow up in this century. I am not an avid reader and this was the first book I have read in a long time. The book was only 214 pages but painted a vivid picture of the life and times during the 30's. I read the book in 2 days and loved every word. Being one of the first blacks in a field that has been predomanently white for decades, I too was wrongly accused of doing things and suffered unjust conquenceses. Bravo to the author, please put this on your must read list.

Very good book! Very well written. This author and title was mentioned in another book that I ordered from Amazon. It brought tears to my eyes at times, but I grew up in the south and I wasn't surprised by much of it contents.

My friend received this with great delight. Excellent service!

This should get your blood pressure up over injustices perpetrated against minorities.