Question #1: Your reading experience

[[deleted user]]

What is your experience with reading To Kill a Mockingbird? Did you read it long ago and perhaps re-read it? If so, what did the second reading reveal?

Are you a recent first-time reader? If so, did the novel live up to its reputation?

[SuzOakville]

Oakville wrote: "What is your experience with reading To Kill a Mockingbird? Did you read it long ago and perhaps re-read it? If so, what did the second reading reveal?

Are you a recent first-time rea..."

This is my first time reading it, after having seen the movie many times. I am very happy I finally got around to reading it. For me, it lives up to its reputation.

[Kate]

I've read it a few times now but I read this knowing a few things about 'Go Set a Watchman' and knowing that would be what I was going to read next.

I still love it, still love the people in, will always probably do so. The book is such a beloved classic for a reason and I don't think anything can take that away.

It's also interesting to read To Kill a Mockingbird as an adult. I first read it in high school and reading it as you get older really puts a lot of the adult behaviour in the novel that confuses Scout into a perspective. Some of it is still baffling to me but a lot of it I can at least understand the motivations behind now.

[Allison]

I read it first in my late teens, or early twenties, and recently again two months ago...although for the second reading I listened to the audio with Sissy Spacek narrating in her wonderful southern accent. What a pleasure! I was surprised at how much detail I remembered. I guess that says something about this book: it is memorable!!

[Susan]

SuzOakville wrote: "Oakville wrote: "What is your experience with reading To Kill a Mockingbird? Did you read it long ago and perhaps re-read it? If so, what did the second reading reveal?

Are you a rec..."

Interesting that you saw the movie first - did you find the movie to be better than the book, or just a good complement? Everyone loves the casting of Gregory Peck as Atticus. I think it was a career-defining part for him. I hope we get to discuss the movie later in the month.

[Susan]

Allison wrote: "I read it first in my late teens, or early twenties, and recently again two months ago...although for the second reading I listened to the audio with Sissy Spacek narrating in her wonderful souther..."

Allison, I loved the audio recording too! I hear Scout's voice so clearly in my mind - and she is Sissy Spacek. But the amazing thing is how well she reads the other characters as well. She is clearly acting all the parts. The courtroom scene is so dramatic and tension-filled - superbly done. I can't say enough about the recording or recommend it more highly.

I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time about four years ago. I have no idea why it bypassed me in school, or why I let so many years go by with reading it. I listened to it on audio again just a short while ago, and will do that again someday. So many readers of this novel talk about reading it multiple times, and it's easy to understand why.

[Sylvia]

I read this book in grade nine many years ago. Then as an adult I taught the novel to grade nine students. It stands up well over time because of its classic themes which I'm sure will be discussed here.
A friend of mine -another former teacher- and I often refer to specific characters in the novel today in our general conversations, particularly when we are trying to gain psychological understandings of individuals' behaviours in society.

[Jennifer]

This is my first time reading this novel and I love it! I must admit that it took me a few chapters to get into it. It is one of those books that you put down and pick up several times a day. Now I have everything Harper Lee, including her new novel Go Set a Watchman and the movie too!

[Susan]

Sylvia wrote: "I read this book in grade nine many years ago. Then as an adult I taught the novel to grade nine students. It stands up well over time because of its classic themes which I'm sure will be discussed..."

Sylvia, your experience could add so much to our discussion, so I hope you'll keep tuned this month. So many people talk about reading the book in grade nine and then reading it in adulthood, and taking so much more away from it. But some also say that it was the first book that made them love reading, so it's important to encourage young people to read it.

The book Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of "To Kill a Mockingbird" includes an essay that describes the universality of the characters. For example, one might say that someone is just like "Boo Radley" and we know exactly what is meant. I'll post a quote from it later when I have the book with me.

[Emily]

I am among those who read it in grade nine and am now re-reading it, and I am so surprised at how little I remember. In a way, it feels like I'm reading it all over again, with entirely fresh eyes. Reading it now, I find myself surprised that readers are introduced to it at such a young age - not because young teens shouldn't be reading it, but because it really does feel like more of an adult book to me. I would love to hear more about Sylvia's experience as a teacher in the classroom with students reading this book - their insights would likely be fascinating .

[Sylvia]

It's been a while since I taught 'Mockingbird' so my memory fails at what angle the students took on it. However, I remember that we discussed how character-driven the story was especially as examples for how to live life. Miss Maudie was an excellent example for Jem and Scout. When her house burns down, she does not overreact. The kids learn the lesson from her that it's not what happens to you that is as important as how you react to your circumstances . I could go on, but I don't want to get into plot 'spoilers ' here.
Mrs. Dubose has a lesson, as well, not to 'be beholden to anyone ' .

[Karen]

I recently listened to the Sissy Spacek audio book of Mockingbird and I'm on the last chapter of the audio of Watchman, read by Reese Witherspoon. If Watchman is actually the first draft of what was finally published as Mockingbird, it's fascinating to consider the rewriting process of Harper Lee. More than rereading Mockingbird, I think that reading Watchman has given me a completely different way of looking at this classic.

[Susan]

I agree, Karen. I think the most fascinating part of Go Set a Watchman is considering the editing process and the decision to centre a new book on Jean Louise's childhood. Harper Lee must have had a brilliant editor, to coax To Kill a Mockingbird out of Watchman. I think Lee took all the best elements out of Watchman and put them in Mockingbird, along with the best of Atticus Finch. Unlike some readers, I was not offended by Atticus' character in Watchman; I read the book more as a study in the development of a writer. I loved the consistencies in the character of the adult and young Scout.

[Maureen]

Sylvia wrote: "It's been a while since I taught 'Mockingbird' so my memory fails at what angle the students took on it. However, I remember that we discussed how character-driven the story was especially as examp..."

Thanks for this, Karen. I had decided to forego Watchman because of the negative press around its publication but your point-of-view really has me interested me enough to try the book--too late for this session but worth a go!

[Kimberley]

I finished rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this morning. Like many I read it in high school and I saw the movie many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book. I really didn't remember a lot of it. I understand now why it is considered a classic. I think I appreciated reading it much more as an adult than as a young teenager.

Interestingly reading it as a parent that raised a son on my own, I wasn't particularly impressed with Atticus as a single parent. There is no question that his explanations of situations, relationships etc were wonderful, but I felt he was somewhat neglectful and disengaged - away for a week, gets home and doesn't attend his daughter's performance at the school? Of course this was the set up for the attack during the walk home but Lee could have chosen to have the performance on a night when he was out of town. He could have returned after the attack. Recognizing of course that parenting was different in 1930 than it is today, maybe this book is realistic of parenting at that time. Curious to know if anyone else felt this about Atticus? Interesting for me that I was very aware of feeling disappointed in him on occasion. I am certain that I thought he was quite wonderful as a teenager and I definitely recall feeling fondly towards Gregory Peck.

I adored the sibling relationship between Jem and Scout. I always wanted an older brother. I was very envious of Scout during this reading of the book and no doubt was 40 years ago.

Not sure if I'll read Go Set a Watchman. But I am off to see if To Kill a Mockingbird is on Netflix!

[Maureen]

Kimberley wrote: "I finished rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this morning. Like many I read it in high school and I saw the movie many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book. I really didn't remember..."

It is on Netflix! It wasn't at all as I remembered it but Gregory Peck deserved an Oscar for his performance as Atticus.

[Allison]

Kimberley wrote: "I finished rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this morning. Like many I read it in high school and I saw the movie many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book. I really didn't remember..."

Kimberley, I had similar feelings about Atticus as a parent ... I think that it might have been indicative of the more relaxed parenting style of earlier days, you know...when children were allowed the run of the neighbourhood (and beyond!) at a young age, etc. Plus, I think it might be a bit different from a father's perspective than a mother's. Nothing against fathers, but it's definitely a different mindset when it comes to parenting.

[Allison]

Maureen wrote: "Kimberley wrote: "I finished rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this morning. Like many I read it in high school and I saw the movie many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book. I real..."

I noticed the film on Netflix too, and the other one (Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird) is available for instant viewing on Hoopla (the library version of Netflix).

[Susan]

Kimberley wrote: "I finished rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this morning. Like many I read it in high school and I saw the movie many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book. I really didn't remember..."
Kimberley, I remember thinking the same thing when I read the passage about Atticus missing the Halloween performance. But then I reminded myself that this was a different time and his choice was likely typical. He certainly encouraged his children to be independent - they wandered all over town without supervision. I think this was also typical of the times. I'm not sure his loving nature with his children was typical for a man of his times. Reading with Scout cuddled on his lap, tucking them into bed, patiently explaining things, and allowing them to be involved in questionable situations (e.g. the jail house and court house) are examples of his excellent parenting. His moral guidance was stellar, and its absence is one of the things that readers of Go Set a Watchman find upsetting.