To Kill a Mockingbird

[Susy]

Lisa wrote: "*answer to Kyla's mini poll* [spoilers removed]"

Agree.

[Joan]

I'm hoping to finish tonight. I only have 60 pages left.

[Joan]

Oh and from the title I'm wondering if I have the ending figured out because I've heard everyone said it's sad. So I guess I'll see if I have it figured out.

[Lisa]

Go Joan go! :)
Looking forward to seeing your take on it :)

[Kyla]

Lisa wrote: "Go Joan go! :)
Looking forward to seeing your take on it :)"

I agree :) I still don't get it lol

[Joan]

I completed it. I thought the ending was going to be completely different. It was an easy read. I rated it a 4 star. I felt like I should have liked it more though.

(view spoiler)[ I thought Scout was going to die at the end. I think it was definitely Boo that killed that mean old Ewell. (hide spoiler)]

I loved Atticus. I thought his character was great. Perfect Southern Gentleman and a great father. I liked Scout and Jem too. I guess the appeal of this book for a classic was how you fell in love with the characters. I could picture the perfect little southern town and all the neighbors. Many people say this is their favorite book of all time - I wouldn't go that far obviously since I rated it 4 stars but it was a good read.

[Joan]

I should say that (view spoiler)[ I figured Boo would be at the end somehow but I couldn't figure out how that was going to work. I kind of thought that he was going to die saving Scout or something. Scout said early on that Jem got his arm messed up so I figured both of them were going to make it but I kept thinking she was the one that was going to die. (hide spoiler)]

[Sheila]

Has everyone finished reading the book?
Here are some of my thoughts, let me know if you agree or disagree. (view spoiler)[ all of the littles stories within the story give glimpses into the type of man Atticus was. He firmly stood up for what he believed in and was a non violent man but did not hesitate to protect his family if necessary (as in the case of the rabid dog).

Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell to protect Jem and Scout. He considered them his children. He watched them from the house for years. He was the one who left the gifts in the tree, mended Jem pants and returned them to the fence, and put the blanket around Scout at the fire. He killed Bob Ewell with a kitchen knife that he used to carve things with (the soap dolls), the sheriff took Bob's knife from the scene to make it look like Bob fell on the knife.

The title comes from two things, Atticus told Jem not to shoot Mockingbirds because they never harmed anyone. With that in mind, Tom Robinson was killed simply because he was a black man and the white men needed someone to blame. Tom never harmed anyone.
Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell but Atticus was wiling to let Jem take the blame through self defense to spare Boo (who was a recluse) the publicity and possible conviction at a trial. Boo never intentionally harmed anyone. In that sense both Tom and Boo could be considered mockingbirds. (hide spoiler)]

[Joan]

I agree with most of your synopsis on the book Sheila.

However here is what I thought on some of them (view spoiler)[ I think Atticus really thought Jem murdered Bob Ewell. Since Jem had a temper I think Atticus thought he did it. I missed the part about the knife but you are probably right. I just missed the connection. I definitely agree with your take on Atticus and the little stories. The mockingbird correlation I agree with as well. I thought Scout was the mockingbird and was convinced she was going to be killed at the end! I was wrong about that! (hide spoiler)]