To Kill a Mockingbird in Classics Without All the Class

Aug 09, 2011 Audrey rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, listens, historical-fiction, classics, 1930s, award-and-honor-recipients

This book was pretty much what I expected. It didn't surpass my expectations, but it met them. Although I wouldn't consider it an all-time favorite, I definitely thought it was an impressive piece of literature with many worthwhile themes. Initially, it was a bit hard for me to get into, but looking up reading guides online helped me to get a lot more out of it.

There is a bit of swearing in this, but it is usually used to illustrate the defiled nature of antagonistic characters. However, the ki This book was pretty much what I expected. It didn't surpass my expectations, but it met them. Although I wouldn't consider it an all-time favorite, I definitely thought it was an impressive piece of literature with many worthwhile themes. Initially, it was a bit hard for me to get into, but looking up reading guides online helped me to get a lot more out of it.

There is a bit of swearing in this, but it is usually used to illustrate the defiled nature of antagonistic characters. However, the kids do use some profanity in an experimental way. (Regardless of how it was incorporated, though, I'm still not a fan of swearing, and think the book would be just fine without it.)

The children in this—Jem, Scout, and Dill—do get into some scrapes and act very naughtily. Namely, they lie, disobey, talk in a sassy way, and smoke (I don't quite get what they smoke, though). There is also mention of Dill and Scout exchanging kisses, which is a theme that particularly annoys me ("love" stories about kids, that is); it's really just a passing mention, though. Consequently, it was hard for me to have sympathy for the kids at times, but I feel that by the end of the story they ultimately redeemed themselves. Among other things, this is a novel about growing up, so I suppose it's only fair that it features some of the inevitable bumps that come along the way.

I saw the 1962 film adaptation of this novel for the first time several years ago, so my images of the characters were very much shaped by their on-screen counterparts. I'm especially impressed by how flawlessly Gregory Peck personified Atticus. Speaking of Atticus, what a memorable character he is. It's nearly impossible to dislike his combination of deep wisdom and dry humor, and I'm inspired by his quiet, deliberate way of living his convictions. He seems to be a man without a single vice. I did wonder, though, if he is so against guns, why would he give them to his kids?

I listened to this on audio, and I thought the presentation was done very well. The music at the beginning and end of each disc accurately conveyed the mood of the story, and Sissy Spacek did a great job with her narration.

At its heart, to me this book was about understanding people—what makes human nature tick and why we behave the way we do. I also like the theme that true bravery is integrity even in the face of overwhelming odds/unpopularity. Those impressions may be an oversimplification, but that—among other things—is what stuck with me. I admire the way this story is able to present so many important ideas in such gentle way, and all from a child's point of view. I also have to mention the ending: both bittersweet and satisfying, it hit all the right notes and in a few lines perfectly summarized the heart of the story.
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