EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird - pre-read
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I love this book! I haven't read it since high school but it's one that always stuck with me. Very tempted to join in a re-read though I have soooo many other books to read first lol
Just started this one, only finished 2 chapters so far but I'm having a hard time with the dialogue. :( I can deal with modern day slang/street talk/whatever you want to call it but '60s bumpkin talk is lost on me..
I have the audiobook queued up and I'm ready to start this one as soon as a finish the Sanderson book I am reading now. Hoping that the dialect is better suited for audio because I HATE written dialect.
Just for added context, I'd suggest that folks check out the American Experience episode Scottsboro An American Tragedy. (It's available on You-tube) The parallels are chilling and it's even more tragic in that it actually happened. Without giving too much away, the real life "key witness" reminds me so much of the movie "key witness" that I wonder just how much Harper Lee was influenced by the real life events. Of course the real life victims would have been SO much better served by an attorney like Atticus.
I have planned on on TKAM for a oong time. Would like to second that.
Anyone listening to the audio version by Sissy Spacek? It is excellent!
I also started this book, my first group read. Whenever i start a new book, i always struggle for the first few chapters trying to understand the concept. Once sailed through initial hitch, it is very easy to grasp the storyline. I believe initial chapters not only introduces you to the plot but also to narrator's point-of-view and his/her writing style. That's the reason i take lot of time reading and re reading them.
I read this a few years ago, but I’m planning to reread this month as soon as I can get to it. I gave the audiobook a try and Sissy Spacek is a great reader but I think I’m going to need to read the actual text on this one. Looking forward to it!
Don't recall the book's mentioning those specifically (as I've yet to start my re-read) but... the Dewey Decimal system was a method of organizing non-fiction books based on logical subdivisions of the areas of thought. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_D...
The Dunce cap was a method of shaming under-performing students that persisted until quite recently. It's about as effective as corporeal punishment (in other words, not very) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunce
The Dewey decimal system and the dunce cap are veiled references to the antiquated style of teaching that was being provided. It really is the author’s commentary on an education system that was over reliant on prescriptive and rote ways of teaching rather than a personalized approach that looks at a student’s strengths. Having served in public education for many years, that commentary struck a chord. The idea of Scout being admonished for already knowing how to read is truly sad.
This was a mandatory read for students back when I was in middle school. It was one of the few mandatory reads I actually really enjoyed...so much so I named my dog Scout! I won't be joining in for a reread since I have so many other reads on my bookshelf, but I hope everyone else enjoys this as much as I did.
Happy reading!
I loved/love this book! I would definitely count this as one of my favorites. Every new chapter either left me crying, laughing, covered in chills, or all three. I am definitely going to read this book again. Happy holidays!
This was one of the best books I have read and has been on my mind even after years have passed since I read it. Really good, authentic and realistic :) hope you will all enjoy it all. From me it was 5 star read.
I haven’t read this book since junior high. It is more ‘small’ than I remember. Jem and Scout live and adventure mostly on one square block or two of their town. It still is a good read, but not quite like it was for me.
I first read this book in high school, 25 years ago, and as an assigned reading, I really didn't focus too closely on the details. I had forgotten where the title came from. I have to say that I am enjoying it a lot more this time around.
I have been avoiding reading this book because of all the hype around it but I guess it is about time. I can't run away from it anymore.
I'm reading this book next year for school, what a stroke of luck that it's our book of the month.
Hey! I am losing interest in the book.
Better late than never, I say! I just joined this group this morning, specifically because you're reading this book. I've always heard about it and have meant to read it but so far have not done so. I just ran to the library and got the book.
Judy wrote: "Better late than never, I say! I just joined this group this morning, specifically because you're reading this book. I've always heard about it and have meant to read it but so far have not done so..."We’re happy to have you, Judy!
I am liking the book so far. I am just 55 pages in. But, I am having issues understanding certain phrases and words. Can anyone suggest me where I can get their meanings or like a glossary-thing for this book?
This thread might provide some meanings to phrases....
What does the narrator mean by "entailment" in page 26(In the edition I am reading from), when she says about the conversation between Atticus and Walter Cunnigham's father?
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Shivangi wrote: "What does the narrator mean by "entailment" in page 26(In the edition I am reading from), when she says about the conversation between Atticus and Walter Cunnigham's father?"In English common law, an entailment was a restriction of inheriting land. Only direct male children, like the oldest son, could inherit a title and land from a father. If a lord had had all girls, the property would go to the nearest male cousin. If the girls were lucky, the male inheritor would allow them some money and/or a room in what had been their father’s home.
Atticus was helping the Cunninghams with such an entailment on the Cunningham property. The author never went into detail, though. In America, an entailment could be about about a restriction about adding a building, or planting a crop, or chopping down trees or changing a river’s course. Maybe the county put the entailment on the property. But it means the owner is forbidden to do something or make changes to the land. Maybe a community road ran through the Cunningham land, for example, and the county said the Cunningham family could never impede public use of it.
aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Shivangi wrote: "What does the narrator mean by "entailment" in page 26(In the edition I am reading from), when she says about the conversation between Atticus and Walter Cunnigham's father?"In E..."
Yes, got it.Thanks for clearing:-)
You are welcome!
I love that book, one of my favorites! I also read Go Set a Watchman, that I really liked too, but it was not the same. TKAMB is for me, a masterpiece: her choice of narrator, how things are described and developped... Hope you really enjoy reading it!
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‘Go set a Watchman’ was a first draft of TKAM. The publishers are selling it as a ‘sequel ‘, which isn’t true, but I can see how they got away with calling it that. I thought the last half was definitely unfinished and rushed - but it appeared she worked hard on the first half - however, it has a racist Atticus, not the one we know in TKAM. I strongly do NOT recommend GSAW, unless you are curious about what seemed to me a more genuine autobiographical book. Scout is a grownup in GSAW, too. She is not quite so happy.
I know I'm a year too late to this party, but maybe someone else is also reading this book now.I promised myself to read more classics in the future and I'm starting with TKAMB now.
I've been through the first 16 pages and I have to admit, that I need some time to get into the language. As a non-native english speaker, it's a little unfamiliar and especially the dialogue is harder to understand. But I hope, I'll get into the story soon :)
Just came here to mark this off. Listening on Audible for 2 different bookish projects. I love when multiple projects intersect. Anyone who maybe missed this and wants to buddy read? The rest of the Goodreads universe seems to use the terms ''list'', ''group'' or ''challenge'', but I prefer replacing all of these with ''project''.
Jennifer wrote: "Anyone listening to the audio version by Sissy Spacek? It is excellent!"I am!
Lena wrote: "I know I'm a year too late to this party, but maybe someone else is also reading this book now.I promised myself to read more classics in the future and I'm starting with TKAMB now.
I've been thr..."
I had the same problem with language too, but after a while you get used to it. The only thing later that I struggled to understand were all those words related to trial.
But the book overall was great!
EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up...
Books mentioned in this topic
Go Set a Watchman (other topics)To Kill a Mockingbird (other topics)
This discussion will be SPOILER-FREE. If you have already finished the book and want to discuss, hop on over to the spoiler-filled discussion HERE .
Happy reading!
Kasey