From the Bookshelf of Read the Movie…

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Start date: February 1, 2007

Finish date: February 28, 2007

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Jun 25, 2013 Neelam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, historical, fem-protagonist, romance-free

Naturally, any book which is widely studied in schools all over the world, it is treated with suspicion by those who weren’t aren’t forced to read it. Which is probably why it took so long for me to finally get around to it (not that I’ve ever had an issue with school books; I’m pretty sure that I was the only person in my class who enjoyed Of Mice and Men).
Before I start raving about how much I loved reading it, I’ll admit that it was difficult to get into. Because of Lee’s very specific writin Naturally, any book which is widely studied in schools all over the world, it is treated with suspicion by those who weren’t aren’t forced to read it. Which is probably why it took so long for me to finally get around to it (not that I’ve ever had an issue with school books; I’m pretty sure that I was the only person in my class who enjoyed Of Mice and Men).
Before I start raving about how much I loved reading it, I’ll admit that it was difficult to get into. Because of Lee’s very specific writing style, it took somet ime to get to grips with the shifting narration.
Overall, however, it was beautiful. Seeing such an adult world from such a young perspective is wonderfully refreshing. Scout’s opinions give such an innocent, naïve point of view that many lose as they get older. This is what makes it so accessible for so many age groups; younger readers can relate directly to Scout, whilst older readers can remember that hold onto the youthful view of the world. Not only that, but it helps to put into perspecitve how ludicrous the issue of race is. It also provides a stark reminder for modern readers that not a lot has changed between Harper Lee writing Mockingbird in 1960 and now.
Scout is at the age where she is expected to start growing up and becoming a lady, being pushed unwillingly in that direction by her Aunt Alexandra. Alongside having her worldview pulled into question, she is beginning to be treated differently to her brother Jem and friend Dill and told she is too old for this and that. This is certainly something everyone can relate to; being at the awkward stage of being between childhood and adulthood, but not totally belonging to either.

The relationship between Scout and Jem is exactly like that of any brother and sister (certainly me and my siblings) with fights, secrets and the most fun. Dill’s relationship with Scout is very like any ‘romantic’ relationship between eleven year olds: it’s pretty empty besides occasionally holding hands.

For me, this novel has nothing to do with the one white man in a crowd fighting for racial equality, as so many people generalise it as. It’s an observation of society at a time when no one really knows where it will turn and many things are being questioned. It just so happens that the issues are coming to light while the trial of a person of colour has shaken the town.

Originally posted on my blog Silver Screen. ...more

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