From the Bookshelf of Read the Movie…

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Start date: February 1, 2007

Finish date: February 28, 2007

Discussion: Burlington B&N Selections

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 5 topics — 22 comments total

Burlington B&N Selections

The Hunger Games
By Alison · 10 posts · 122 views

last updated Aug 13, 2013 01:40PM

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
By Mel · 6 posts · 66 views

last updated Jul 20, 2013 09:54PM

What Members Thought

Oct 26, 2011 Henry Avila rated it it was amazing

Alabama in U.S.A., 1935 during the crippling bleak, Great Depression, Atticus Finch a widower, struggling lawyer and ultimate believer in justice for everybody, (a gentleman, if ever there was one) is raising two small children Scout, (Jean Louise) and Jem, (Jeremy) a typical American boy, he likes to have fun in the fictitious mostly quiet , small southern town of Maycomb. The siblings are unusually close, the father is absent often being a politician in the legislature, in Montgomery, the stat Alabama in U.S.A., 1935 during the crippling bleak, Great Depression, Atticus Finch a widower, struggling lawyer and ultimate believer in justice for everybody, (a gentleman, if ever there was one) is raising two small children Scout, (Jean Louise) and Jem, (Jeremy) a typical American boy, he likes to have fun in the fictitious mostly quiet , small southern town of Maycomb. The siblings are unusually close, the father is absent often being a politician in the legislature, in Montgomery, the state capital. Calpurina their black servant, takes good care of them and they all love, is the real parent of the kids, and of course, considered a member of the family. Mr. Finch is a rather remote uncomfortable father, the children call him by his first name of Atticus. Scout age eight, a tomboy, Jem who's four years older than his precocious sister and friend Dill, (Charles Baker Harris) a year older than Scout but not as big, and is frequently bullied, are always together. Dill from Meridian, Mississippi, spends the warm summers at his Aunt Rachel's house in town and is gratefully left alone. Next door to the Finch's live the Radley family, a strange people that keep to themselves, particularly Boo, (Arthur) a legendary creepy, mysterious man , who is never seen, weird stories abound about him by the curious, neighborhood kids, they test their bravery, by how close they can come to Boo's house. The gentle, Mr.Finch shocks Scout and Jem when he shoots a mad dog at the sheriff's request, Mr. Tate, knows Atticus's skill, but curiously he doesn't even have a gun at home, never seen with one either. This sleepy town awakens when Bob Ewell a lazy, notorious drunk, accuses a black man Tom Robinson of raping his flirtatious daughter, Mayella. The honorable Judge Taylor appoints Atticus, as Robinson's lawyer, an impossible task in that era. The trial brings people from all over Maycomb County , to the courthouse , Atticus Finch shines, but can he free an innocent man ? This story implies every human, should be treated with dignity, no matter what the color of their skin, and after so many years have gone by , is still the best novel in urging equality for all, what a concept... ...more

301 likes · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Richard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: by-women, america, reviewed, read-more-than-once, favorites, southern-literature, 2024, audiobook, st-george-books, 1978-1982

I first read this in high school, so it has been a long time--although I have also seen the classic film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. I am not a person who listens to many audiobooks, so this was an interesting experience.

Firstly, the reader (obviously a genuime Southerner) was a gifted voice actress. She subtly differentiated characters, often conveyimg satire but never going overboard into mawkishness or silliness.

Secondly, there were many passages which I had either forgotten or ...more

27 likes · Like · see review

May 31, 2011 Jennilyn (Thiboult) Nevins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, classic

I read this book (aloud) several times to my students. I really enjoy the story, and I believe that they did too, although the theme is a bit unclear to the unsophisticated reader. They believed the father to be racist until the end of the book, which made it difficult for them to "buy-in" to the premise that there was something to learn from the characters. In the end however, they were surprised by the twists and appreciated the message. ...more

Like · see review

Jul 30, 2011 Stacy rated it really liked it

A good account of racial prejudice in the south and a decent coming-of-age story as well. Best to read it multiple times, because I know I missed some important details the first time around.

Like · see review