To Kill A Mockingbird - overrated?

[Shashank]

I know this book is a personal favourite of many. And I am sure I will receive a lot of flake for this post. But according to me this book is a bit over rated not as much as 'The Catcher in the Rye' but still. The story is good but I never could figure out the importance of the character of Boo Radley. I mean the story was about how the society judged a man based on his colour and how a man of principle tries to save him. But the part where Boo actually comes in is pretty irrelavent if you asked me.

I am not claiming to be an expert. I just wanted to run this thought across and see if people agree with me on this.

[Ahtims]

Read this a long long time ago..
To be frank, I too found it a bit overrated. But I would be unable to discuss the nuances as the story is not very fresh in my mind.

[Subhashree]

I read it recently and I totally agree with the fact that the book was over rated !!!! I heard so much about it but it was not impressive at al !!!

[Ken]

It's been a very long time since I read it--maybe I need to read it again. It could be that people who rave about it actually like the movie and transfer their adoration to the book.

[Deepak]

Shashank wrote: "I know this book is a personal favourite of many. And I am sure I will receive a lot of flake for this post. But according to me this book is a bit over rated not as much as 'The Catcher in the Rye..."
I really loved the book..Boo Radley and Tom Robinson can both be considered as the mockingbirds..Both were on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination from the society..They,like,mockingbirds doesn't harm anyone and it's a sin to discriminate or abhor them..That's the central theme...Boo and Tom are misunderstood persons, who were demonized by the society.Besides Boo's the one who saves the children from Mr.Ewell..Ain't that a pivotal role?..

And it's also how Atticus influences or moulds the children , about the narrator reliving her childhood memories and what she saw as a girl and what she perceive as a woman now..

[Prashanth]

For me to kill a mocking bird is the most influential book I had ever read. Boo's character is a perfect example of how people,are subjected to prejudice and how different would be life when seen from their perspective

[Ahtims]

Have to read it again then..

[Shashank]

Deepak wrote: "Shashank wrote: "I know this book is a personal favourite of many. And I am sure I will receive a lot of flake for this post. But according to me this book is a bit over rated not as much as 'The C..."

I appreciate your point of view and actually was able to understand it but I still think Boos character had no effect in the sense the book could have ended well before Ewell attacked the kids. Yes Boo is like a mockingbird but I think his character just adds to the pages.

[Deepak]

Shashank wrote: "Deepak wrote: "Shashank wrote: "I know this book is a personal favourite of many. And I am sure I will receive a lot of flake for this post. But according to me this book is a bit over rated not as..."
Maybe we have to consider the time when lee wrote it..Civil Rights movement was going on in USA..and the time frame of the events mentioned is in 1930s when people were sceptical and prejudiced against the blacks..Maybe the author wants to subtly prod the readers to transcend the racial divide and hatred..That the blacks may be unfairly discriminated, just like Boo, and like Boo they might turn out to be innocuous..

[Natasha]

Shashank wrote: "I know this book is a personal favourite of many. And I am sure I will receive a lot of flake for this post. But according to me this book is a bit over rated not as much as 'The Catcher in the Rye..." It is very easy to find this book over rates. For that matter, any book written in the previous century will be harder to appreciate in its true sense. Thats just a draw back of time. If you read this book with ore-existing notions in your mind, you might just like it better. Every character in this book is representing a social evil/prejudice/concept in the 1930s. The children are onlookers, the father is anti-racial discrimination, and Boo is a victim of prejudice (even though he isn't a different race). The character of Boo is important to explain how the mindset of people worked in that time; they accepted the ones that looked like them. Anybody different was treated differently (and poorly).

[Aarti]

Just completed reading this book though it was on my reading list for long. I finished the book and was skimming over a few favourite parts sitting at a breakfast joint. A young man who was serving me saw the book and told me he was reading the same one and that it was awfully slow....before I could comment he was off.
I thought about it and felt that may be books like these are not just a quick read to know the story, Books like these are meant to be experienced again and again and at different times. This book might be a fun read for a school kid ( like my daughter), it can be confusing for an 18 year old who just can't understand what's the big deal about it. Some might get angry at the unfairness of it all. It's difficult to understand how people used to think back in time and their priorities seem wrong. But every time this book is read it gives a person one ethic to take back and adds to their lives . One can learn how to be a parent or a neighbor or a community member. Right now Atticus is the way I will be going when I am presented with growing up pangs of my child.
Read this once and then read it again.
The book in today's time can't be taken literally but we still have to live with Boo Radleys, Ewells, Calpurnias and Tom Robinsons.
Scout, Atticus and Jem surely help.....

[Kunal]

It's relevant but overrated. 'The Catcher in the Rye', on the other hand, can't be praised enough.

[Vishnu]

I would say it is not at all overrated. The lucid style and the narration of events through the eyes of an innocent kid that takes us through various social prejudices, the Gentle and rational persona of Atticus "one shot" Finch, all these makes it nothing short of a Masterpiece in my opinion.

[Pauline]

it is interesting Kunal what you say. I remember 'Catcher in the Rye' as very striking when I read it as a young adult and then it left me quite cold later in life; whereas 'To Kill a Mocking bird' really impressed me as a young person and an older adult.I watched my 10 year old Irish niece glued to it last Easter and I was so proud!Even if she gets only the gist of it I think it will stick with her forever.I think it's a bit soon for her to read 'Catcher in the Rye'.

[Laura]

Aarti, I loved your thoughts on this book giving the reader something every time they read it. I guess that can be true of all great books. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is one of my all time favourite books and I've read it many times. I believe it contributed to my strong belief of equal rights for all. For anyone who also adores this book, and also likes the authors Bryce Couteney and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I'd love to know what other books you can recommend?

[Shashank]

Aarti wrote: "Just completed reading this book though it was on my reading list for long. I finished the book and was skimming over a few favourite parts sitting at a breakfast joint. A young man who was serving..."

Maybe you are right! I might be acting out like an impatient young adult!! :) I completely agree with your points! The reason why I dont think highly of the book might be because I might be reading a little late in the sense that the obvious ethics and lessons that i could take out from the book might have been dealt to me already in some way or other! hence I did not find it an eye opener! but I will surely read it again somewhere down the line as you suggested :)