To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Restarting June 1st 2020

[Rachael]

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

[Rachael]

I guess we're both late to starting this but I do have it and I plan to start tomorrow and make a big dent in it Monday.. Are you here buddy?

[Connie]

I've heard a lot of things about this book, and I'm excited to start! One of the first classics I'll be attempting outside of school xD

[Rachael]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ This has been pretty slow going.. I have a hard time following the story line but that's typical of Classics. It's not really written in old English or anything though there are some words that I thought were kinda funny how they were used. I'm not really connecting to any of the characters (also common of Classics) but I'm interested to see where the story goes.. I wish it would pick up the pace a bit. I wonder who lives in that Radley house that kept leavin treats for the kids? Is it haunted? (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ UGH.. I don't like Aunt Alexadra's friends at all.. They remind me of the stuck up ladies that sit around for tea in The Help (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I gave this book 3 stars.. It's not really my cup of tea however I understand why it was a classic. There's a lot of lessons in there about racism and equality and about children too. About how children see everyone as equal until their parents start teaching them otherwise.. It really has a great message and I'm glad to have read it. I'm also glad times have changed a lot since this book took place. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Wow, that was so fast! My response to your Part 1 spoiler: (view spoiler)[Agreed, it's always a struggle for me to push through classics. The way that they're written is just so unfamiliar, I tend to space out sometimes (I couldn't even finish Pride and Prejudice because of that, haha). There's a general eerie sense I get when reading this book~ (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting March 3rd 2015. Happy Reading ☺

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[Noella]

End chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Scout is an ignorant child I'll bet she opens her eyes as the book goes on. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

End of chapter 1- (view spoiler)[I am very curious about boo radley. Why is his family always shut inside? (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Noella wrote: "End chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"


I'm on chapter 4 and I don't think I like Scout (view spoiler)[ she's really bloody annoying lol but i bet she'll be the one who shakes the town even though she's like 5 (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Christina wrote: "End of chapter 1- [spoilers removed]"

Oh my god same, it's the only reason I'm still reading because I don't think I like it very much tbh...so far anyway my eyes will probably be opened

[Noella]

end chapter 8
(view spoiler)[Boo radley made an appearance! Well, sort of. Why doesn't he show his face in public though? So perplexing! (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[Still no closer to the Radley mystery yet. Are they as Jem Dill and Scout depict them in their play?

I like Calpurnia. She looks out for Scout and points her to the right direction when she's judging other people. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

@Connie
Yes this is one of those books that are read at school so it must be life changing in some way.

I can't believe Scout is 5-6 years old. She's only in Grade 1 so no wonder she questions everything. She's pretty smart too if she can read and write!

[Noella]

End chapter 10
(view spoiler)[ Wow it was a surprising revelation how good Atticus was with a gun. Could he have done something regrettable in his past so he no longer holds the rifle? (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

End of chapter 13
(view spoiler)[I totally felt for Jem and Scout when Atticus was trying to explain the Finch history to them. He was acting all out of sorts. Looks like they might find out the hard way though since Atticus withdrew the information. (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

End chapter 17
(view spoiler)[It really doesn't seem appropriate for young children to attend courtroom proceedings but that aside, Mr Ewell and the Sheriff are acting fishy. Atticus raised a point about sending for a doctor after they saw Mayella being raped. I think any normal person would send for a doctor first but these men seem to brush it off. I think they're collaborating in a false story! (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

End chapter 21
(view spoiler)[It's so wrong! I'm sickened at how those people on the jury still judged Tom based on their prejudices against his race. Atticus' case was solid as steel! (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

chapter 28
(view spoiler)[How could Ewell go after Atticus' children? What a monster! I suppose the countryman Scout speaks of is Arthur Radley and he might've killed Ewell. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Chapter 7-(view spoiler)[the kids had no business sneaking into the radley house during night! Who left jems pants for him to collect? Was it boo? It certainly wasn't Nathan radley. He seems scary (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Ending thoughts
(view spoiler)[So Tate took the switchblade from a drunk man (Ewell) and the wielder of the kitchen knife that stabbed Ewell was Arthur if I understand correctly?
As Ewell caused Tom's unjust death, he paid for it with his life and the sheriff left it at that. He didn't want Arthur to be in the limelight because that would be punishing him rather than being grateful.
This book made me glad times have changed and racism and prejudice is not as extreme as it was 50+ years ago. The title "To Kill a mockingbird" was a great analogy by Scout to sum up what happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

End of chapter 8 - (view spoiler)[Miss Maudie's house catching fire was quite unexpected. Boo seems to be quite the ghost who performs random acts of kindness! (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Christina wrote: "End of chapter 8 - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was wondering at this part of the book, would snow stop the fire? @_@ (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Chapter 10-(view spoiler)[ I didn't know Atticus was that much older than Jem and Scout. But I guess it would explain his wisdom. I hate how others are calling him niggerlover because he's defending Tom. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

End of Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[I don't like Aunt Alexandrea very much. She is so full of herself and thinking she's superior because she's a Finch (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

End of chapter 18 - (view spoiler)[The Ewells are a suspicious lot. Miss Mayella's testimony isn't consistent at all. She's up to something and hating on Atticus and crying because we know she's lying!

Tom's got a useless left arm - it makes sense that her right black eye would've been caused my a left arm which makes Mr Ewell very suspicious (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

End of chapter 25 - (view spoiler)[I can't believe they treated Tom like that and then shot him when he tried to escape. Tom probably felt hopeless and knew he wouldn't be able to make it out alive.. Poor wife and kids. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

I'm focusing on finishing this now! I'll post my thoughts later!

[Christina]

@Noella (view spoiler)[Ohh that'll make sense. So Tate got the switchblade (that Mr Ewell had) to cover up the fact that there was a second knife and that someone was involved in Mr Ewell's death?
(hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

@Christina Read my ending thoughts above. I'm pretty sure that's what happened.

[Connie]

I'm on chapter 9 and it's kind of putting me in a slump

[Christina]

Connie
Yeah this book kind of does that. It's not one I could do in a single seating!

[Connie]

I've almost read 10 chapters in one sitting and it's a chore (view spoiler)[ can they punch their aunt? (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter 19: It's starting to get interesting!!

[Connie]

Almost done now, (view spoiler)[ the way they treated Tom was horrific. he deserved a lot better than his lot in life. And that Ewell family deserves a lot worse. (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

@Connie Part 1 was definitely slow moving

[Connie]

Just finished and it actually was a lot better the more you got into it, review coming soon!

[Connie]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting October 4th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[Alex]

a bit late but life happened

Chapters 1 - 2

(view spoiler)[ Quite like how it started and the tone of it. When I read the name ''Jem'' I thought about Carstairs one, lol.
There is a lot of dialogue and I am not sure how I feel about it.
The characters are nothing for me at this point but we don't know much about them yet so there is still time. (hide spoiler)]

[noor]

I just started too because I've been soo busy. I am soo confused though. Who is Simon finch? I'm going the audiobook route to be able to listen and do other work but seriously, I am soo lost

[noor]

Chapters 8/9
(view spoiler)[ I don't understand the plot of this book. I'm into like chapters 8/9 and its still recounting the story I think of when Jew broke his arm. And to think a friend said its better than Twilight.
Ummm.. I don't think so. If I wasn't listening to it, I wouldn't be able to finish it. But seriously, what is so amazing about this book?
I don't get it. and I'm still confused as to who is white and who's black and I think that is an important part in the book (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting May 15th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Jill]

(view spoiler)[We are getting to know the characters and the setting in these first chapters. The most interesting thing is the Boo Radley thing. He's a recluse with a lot of wild rumors surrounding the reason behind his shut in. But Scout and Jem have friendly encounters with him. Like how Jem found his pants in the window sewn and neatly folded. The knot in the tree where they found the pennies and other "treasures." They don't realize it's him yet though

Also, I really like Scout. She's smart and holds her own and is inquisitive. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 6

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[While Mrs. Maudie's house is on fire, Boo Radley puts a blanket on Scout. He left his "hiding place" to comfort Scout. The kids get more gifts from Boo in the tree, but eventually it gets filled with cement. The guy who filled it didn't want Boo Radley having contact with the outside world.

We get the quote that is the title, "All mockingbirds do is make music for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Mockingbirds symbolize innocence, which is a big part of the story i.e. Boo Radley.

We are starting to get introduced to the Tom Robinson trial. The racism in Maycomb is obvious and he is likely not to get acquitted because he is a black man accused of raping a white woman. Tom Robinson can be seen as a "mockingbird." (hide spoiler)]
Ch 11
End of Part 1

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[The kids' aunt has moved in to help while Atticus has the trial and I don't like her. She's racist and wants to fire Calpurnia. The kids aren't big fans of her neither.

Dill has appeared again after running away from his parents.

There was a scene where a mob was threatening Tom Robinson, so Atticus stuck around to protect him. When the mob emerges the kids jump in and essentially break it up. IDK if this was meant as innocent trumps evil or something else.

The trial is about to start and the kids are watching from the balcony (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[We get the trial and testimonies of Bob Ewell, Mayella, and Tom Robinson. It's obvious that Bob beat Mayella for kissing a black man. And that Mayella went after Tom because of her loneliness. Although the evidence is obvious, the jury still convicts him because they are racist.

Jem gets pissed because he thought Maycomb was filled with good people. This goes back to the theme of innocence and how it can coexist with evil. Jem is just starting to realize that (hide spoiler)]
Ch 22

[Jill]

(view spoiler)[Bob Ewell is tormenting everyone involved with the case. He's a real bad guy. Even goes as far as stalking the kids after the play to harm them. He almost stabbed Scout to death and broke Jem's arm. A mysterious figure saves them, who turns out to be Boo Radley.

Atticus annoyed me when he was like oh my son will pay for his crimes when clearly he was attacked and not the one who stabbed and killed Ewell.

Tate totally did the right thing by not arresting Boo Radley as Tom Robinson ended up murdered for a crime Ewell committed. And Scout was so right when she said convicted Boo Radley would be like killing a mockingbird.

It's sad they never saw Boo again since he was kind of like their friend and protector.

I enjoyed this book! (hide spoiler)]
End

[Shae]

6% (view spoiler)[ it’s crazy how the teacher is not keen for scout’s dad to teach her anymore at home. Just shows the age of when this happened, and how the purpose of education was so systematic! (hide spoiler)]