To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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Web ID: 15623371Fun read, not the epitome of race books though
I enjoyed reading this book, but I don't think that it really holds up to its reputation as this great book on race relations. The reasons I personally enjoyed the book are largely unrelated to its approach to race relations. I read this book for my high school English class, and we've been reading a few books on race relations as well as the American Dream. The books we've read so far that tackle race relations are Huckleberry Finn, A Lesson Before Dying, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Of these three, only A Lesson Before Dying was actually told from the perspective of a black person. The themes surrounding racism and prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird are told from a white perspective and are meant for a white audience. After reading To Kill A Mockingbird, I can't help but feel like A Lesson Before Dying handled very similar themes in a way that provided a better critique of prejudice and systemic racism and showed the actual impact that they have on minorities. However, I don't think Harper Lee really intended for her story to be "the great book on race relations." I don't think racism was the primary theme she was trying to portray in To Kill A Mockingbird. But I do think this book shouldn't be idolized as the epitome of racism critiques, and when people read it, it's important to acknowledge the inherent whiteness surrounding the perspectives on racism and oppression in this book. Books that are actually told from the perspective of a black person, like A Lesson Before Dying (or the Hate U Give for a more modern example), and/or written by a black author are going to be better at tackling those topics, in my opinion. Overall, I did enjoy the characters, particularly Scout and Atticus. I think part of why I enjoyed them was because I related to some of Scout's childhood experiences, which reminded me of when my brother and I were younger. It's a good read, but don't go into it thinking it'll give you some mind blowing new perspective on racism and oppression beyond "prejudice is bad, but sometimes otherwise 'good' people will be prejudiced."
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Highly Recommend
I make it a habit when reading a book that I can't put down to go to Amazon and take a look at the less-than-positive reviews. Imagine my surprise when reading about this CLASSIC -that someone said the novel [book:Divergent|13335037], which is listed as a child's novel (is it really?), should be substituted in school for TKaM. That Divergent would teach better life lessons. Well, I have never read Divergent, nor do I want to (yet), but I can't imagine that it would teach the lessons TKaM teaches us in all of its gritty glory. TKaM is a classic, and one of the things that means is that the lessons it teaches spans generations and centuries and will be as important to learn in 1950 as it is in 2050. Since I am 65 years old (ahem), I come from *near* the era this book was set in -my parents and Grandparents; exactly this era - I am still living with the repercussions of the mindset and politics of those closest to me. If you all know what I mean... At any rate, this book really teaches a hard lesson for that era and one that I was surprised to be taught. I loved this book for giving me so much -a lesson that everyone is created equal, a lesson in small-town politics (which is just as true today as it was then), that we can't really know about someone else until we walk a mile in their shoes and that when needed most, help will come from unexpected directions. I can understand that the beginning of this book can be boring to those who are used to more action; I just look at it as yet another lesson this book is teaching me -to be patient since all good things come to those who wait. Read this. I don't think you'll be sorry.
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mid
in my opinion, this book wasn't my favorite. I felt it was confusing and all over the place and most of the time it didn't make sense. I don't think it should be on the best sellers list.
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I could read this over and over again!
I was really looking forward to reading this novel as it is a classic and considered a rite of passage for most young readers. This book has been a part of my personal library for many years and I found myself reading it over again to see if I could gain different perspectives each time I read it. I selected "To Kill A Mockingbird" in part because of the Pulitzer Prize honor and other awards it received. This is one way I select new books when I am shopping for a good read. Harper Lee, the author also grew up in Alabama where the story takes place, which adds to the realism. The title of the book also suggests that there would be some conflict in the story since the Mockingbird species are well mannered, pure and the word “kill’’ could infer eliminating that purity. This ends up being one of the main themes that Harper Lee focuses on. Other themes in the novel are racism and justice. This book has a myriad of characters of all ages, varying education levels, and social and economic status. This makes it more interesting to read since many of the characters interact throughout the story and become connected. This book is written in first person from the viewpoint of the youngest child of the Finch family, Scout. I wonder if the author used her to tell the story so that it could be shared by the purest and most youthful voice? The book would be very different if it was told from the perspective of any of the other characters such as Atticus, the young girl’s father or Boo Radley, the quiet and odd neighbor. In every story, there are villains and heroes and this book is no exception. Although the characters in this book are not necessarily relatable to me or this day and age, the characters gave me a glimpse of the past and what it was like living in a rural setting in the South during the Great Depression. The book made me feel all different emotions. It was shocking, sad, frustrating, and even uplifting at times, as it really taps into your pathos or emotions. As a reader, I made assumptions based on Harper Lee’s development of the characters and their specific traits and she really challenged me to keep an open mind and not have preconceived notions about each character and their role in the story. The novel starts off slow, however, it picks up fairly quickly. The plot of the story is engaging with many up and downs. The story is mainly about the Finch family and the challenges they face because the patriarch represents a controversial character. Due to the complex plot, text, and fluctuations within the storyline, I found it quite challenging at times to understand exactly what Harper Lee was trying to convey. Often times, I had to re-start the chapter in order to gain the understanding that I needed to continue. Although controversial and a little frightening at times, it creates for a great overall read and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has already been exposed to certain language and subject matter as it is very disturbing at times. I believe this book deserves the recognition, praise, and award status that it received, as it is an excellent novel.
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Recommend for a more mature audience
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a book that came to me highly recommended. In my opinion, this book is overrated. Many people say that this book is a "must-read" before or during high school. This book doesn't really stand out to me from any other great books that I've read. The book started off very slow as the author spent a lot of time mostly on background information, and didn't begin to get into the main plot until around chapter 12. I personally like books where I get hooked by the first page, and cannot put the book down until I'm finished reading it. This book simply did not achieve that for me. I believe this book to be most definitely not for elementary school or early middle school. The language used is of a more mature nature, and it seems to me that the content is more for the knowledgeable. This book involves topics on the coming of age, as well as touchy subjects such as rape, murder, racism, sexism, and molestation. This novel also has vocabulary and language that is challenging to follow along with, especially for those who struggle with reading. This book offers foreshadowing elements and one can start to realize in the beginning how the book will end. The novel has a great variety of figurative language which helps illustrate the story better. The story revolves around 2 siblings by the name of Jem and Jean "Scout" Finch. The story is narrated in the first person by Scout as she grows up. The story transpires over a three-year period during the great depression, and it takes place in the town of Maycomb, a fictional setting based on the real town of Monroeville, Alabama. These young characters experience firsthand violence and racism within their community throughout their young lives. In my view, the most important lesson in this book, and the lesson that Scout took to mind the most in this story, was acquired from her father, Atticus Finch. He told her to never judge anyone before stepping into their shoes. While this is a message taught throughout the world by teachers and parents, this story really shows how that lesson can change a person's respect for another's point of view. One part in this novel that I found interesting was when Scout had her very first day of school. She absolutely hated it and never wanted to go back again. This is quite relatable not only for me, but I imagine for kids all around the world. The author incorporates real life into this realistic/historical fiction novel so that the reader can feel seen and can connect to the story somehow. Overall, this novel was a challenging read. I didn't feel it was worth the hype, but I would recommend it for everyone to read at a sometime later point in their youth. This story has important messages for all readers and deserves to be analyzed and not just sped through. Personally, I wouldn't read it again just because this is not my favorite genre, but it was not a bad read, nor a waste of my time.
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Themes and notable quotes
Four of the main themes of the novel are: Racism and prejudice: Throughout the novel, the characters face discrimination and prejudice based on their race and social status. For example, Atticus Finch is ridiculed for defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape, and the children are told not to associate with the Ewell family because they are considered "white trash." Social inequality: The theme of social inequality is closely related to that of racism and prejudice. The characters in the novel experience different levels of privilege and disadvantage based on their race and social status, and these inequalities are brought to the forefront of the narrative through the trial of Tom Robinson. Coming of age: The main character, Scout Finch, is a young girl who is growing up and learning about the world around her. Throughout the novel, she grapples with understanding the complexities of racism and prejudice, and learns important lessons about empathy and understanding. The power of education: Atticus Finch is a strong advocate for education, and throughout the novel, he encourages his children and others to educate themselves and think critically about the world around them. Some notable quotes from the book include: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." - Atticus Finch "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." - Scout Finch "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." - Atticus Finch "People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for." - Atticus Finch "You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change...it's a good one, even if it does resist learning." - Atticus Finch
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Outstanding
Honestly, what can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? This book hits some hard hitting topics, being that it's based in older times I assume it isn't a shock that racism holds such a big part in this book. Ever since my middle school English teacher had out class read this book it hasn't left my mind. There's a reason this book is such a classic, if you haven't read it yet do yourself a favor and go get a copy.
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Masterpiece of a story
This was a great look into how different life was back in the 1960's: the prejudice around certain people, how people acted and talked, and just how much our country has changed. This is a great story about Scout Finch's life during this time. Her older brother, Jem, and her best friend, Dill, join her on many adventures. Her father, Atticus, is an attorney for black people and one of the main events is a false rape case against Tom Robinson, one of his defendants. Over the course of the story, we see many character change, mainly Jem, Scout, and Dill. And as these characters change, so do the themes of the story. One of these is that prejudice can block the mind when we aren't sure of something. This is very evident with the character Anthony 'Boo' Radley. Throughout the entire story, Scout, Jem, and Dill had presumed that 'Boo' was either dead or was just a very strange man. But in the end, we see that he is a kind-hearted, caring man. Overall, this was an amazing read and it's earned five stars in my book. The subtle elements of foreshadowing and character development kept me wanting to read more.
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