To Kill a Mockingbird

[Ctgt]

A spot to post our thoughts on one of my favorite books. Please note the chapter and page for highlights or questions.

Ctgt
Kat
Suzanne

Everyone welcome to jump in whenever.

[Suzanne]

When did you all first read this book? Now? In school? For me it was one I was maybe supposed to read in school but somehow got out of it - and first read it a couple of years ago.

And....I hear the movie is great but I've never seen it. Should I?

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I read it in school, and didn't like it very much. Then again, I didn't like The Hobbit when I read it in school either.

[Ctgt]

I have read this three or four times, which for me is saying something. As I was saying in the group reads thread I picked up the Audible version after seeing a glowing review from a friend. I started today and it's just as fantastic as I remember. Sissy Spacek is great.

Chapter 2-Scout and her travails in school. Page 20 (hopefully the page numbers match), not really a spoiler but I'll tag it just in case.
(view spoiler)[I could not remember when the lines above Atticus's moving finger separated into words, but I had stared at them all the evenings in my memory, listening to the news of the day, Bills to Be Enacted into Laws, the diaries of Lorenzo Dow-anything Atticus happened to be reading when I crawled into his lap every night. Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. (hide spoiler)]

[Ctgt]

I think my first read was in my college years and I loved it from jump. I prefer the book over the movie (no surprise I usually do choose a book over a movie) but the film was still great.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

My school seemed to do a good job at making people hate to read. I liked very few of the books I read. I should probably give this one another try eventually.

[Jaime]

I read this for the first time back in June. It was one of those books I felt I really should read at some point because it is one most people have at some point in their lives. I really enjoyed it. I haven't seen the movie yet. I love Atticus. He is my favorite character of the book.

[Bill]

I read it back in high school but could probably use a reread at some point

[Kat]

I only became aware of it a few years ago, but all my friends who grew up in English speaking countries seemed to have read it at school at some point.

It's been on my list of (English) classics that I wanted to read for a while now, just to be on the same page as all my friends.

Kindle needed charging, will start tonight.

[Kat]

Had a minor mix-up, because what I THOUGHT was To Kill a Mockingbird beckoning me from my Kindle was in fact To Kill A Warlock.

Oooops :)

Have the right book now and so far I like the writing. It drew me in from page one, even though nothing profound has happened yet.

[Ctgt]

Hey, that's close, right? :) Yes, not much happens early on, more of a slice of life story in the beginning. I'm around chapter 10 and Atticus is starting to drop hints about an upcoming case and the prejudice is coming to the forefront.

[Suzanne]

Haha I'm trying to rewrite the storyline of Mockingbird with a Warlock.

[Kat]

Chapter 7

(view spoiler)[
I'm sure Boo Radley left the presents in the knot hole of that three, and Mr Radley found out and didn't approve. I'm really, really curious about Boo by now!
(hide spoiler)]

[Ctgt]

Kat wrote: "Chapter 7
"

:)

[Ctgt]

I really love the references to Scout sitting in Atticus's lap and snuggling in under his chin. Never sat on my father's lap like that bit I do have very fond memories of sitting in my grandmother's lap.

[Kat]

Now that you mention it, I DID do that!

I used to ask my Dad about the letters that had sharp angles: A, N, M, V, W, Z, then proceeded to put them together to make words.

Family legend has it that I was reading fluently by the age of 4 and my Mum scolded my Dad that he shouldn't push me to learn to read when primary school would teach me anyways later. His response: "It's not my fault! She keeps asking!!"

[Ctgt]

Sounds just like Scout! Loved her first days in school with the new teacher.

[Kat]

My thoughts for part 1:

(view spoiler)[
This entire time I have waited for Jem to break his arm, because that's what the whole story started with. Lots of childhood stuff happening, but no broken arm yet.

I really want to know about Boo Radley. They made such a fuss about him, but towards the end of this part they seemed to have gotten over that mystery and moved on. I do hope we do find out the truth about Boo, and not just leave it at that.

The morphine addicted old lady Jem had to read to almost didn't feature at all (apart from "that's her house" at the beginning), and I felt that part was a bit rushed. The focus of attention goes to her, she shouts abuse, gets flowers whacked, Jem has to make up for it, and BAM she dies - all in what I think was one chapter.
(hide spoiler)]

Let's see what Part 2 brings :)

[Ctgt]

I see your point about Mrs. Dubose but I took that episode as another moment for Atticus to point out that things aren't always as they seem.

[Kat]

I've been wondering what year or decade the book was set in.

In some ways they seem very old-fashioned (auntie wearing a corset, people using mules and horses), but in other ways they're rather modern (they have cars and coca-cola).

The first mention of the actual year is made in passing towards the end of the trial: it's (view spoiler)[1935 (hide spoiler)].

[Kat]

My thoughts on the rest of the story:

(view spoiler)[
The trial was really interesting. For a while I thought Tom might get acquitted and there'd be a first-ever-in-history-moment there. I was sad when he was found guilty, but I realised as well as Atticus that there was probably never another possible outcome.

However, I was really shocked by Tom's death.
That was like a punch in the stomach.

Bob Ewell was a nasty asshole, the way he treated Helen, but I didn't think he'd actually have the guts to try and hurt Scout and Jem for real.

And we finally got to meet Boo Radley! That was ace.
(hide spoiler)]

All in all I can see why this is a really good book to read with highschoolers. I'm glad I finally picked it up, it was totally worth it!

[Suzanne]

I'm glad I finally read it too - I think it would have been great to have read and discussed in high school, but it was still very worthwhile.