THE TRAGEDY OF BRADY SIMS

Ernest Gaines's latest novella tells the story of Brady Sims's public shooting of his son in a Louisiana courtroom. As narrators, JD Jackson and Danny Campbell pair exceptionally well. Jackson reads the perspective of Louis Guerin, a young African-American reporter. Jackson's slow, rambling style pleasantly meanders through the majority of the story. He excels at portraying the group of old men who hang out at a local barbershop and are integral to informing Louis about Brady Sims's history. Toward the end of the novel, Campbell enters as the voice of Mapes, an overweight white sheriff. His slightly shaky, strained voice fits the conflicted sheriff exactly. The easy transitions between these two talented narrators add to the complex picture of racial relations that Gaines paints. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2017]