The Great American Read discussion
This topic is about
To Kill a Mockingbird
PAST Group Reads 2018
>
To Kill A Mockingbird- November- SPOILER THREAD
date
newest »
newest »
Seeing everything through Scout’s eyes, yet readers understand everything - brilliant.
Mod
Yes, I think that's what made this book so special. I think more authors are trying to achieve that today, but using multiple perspectives.
I'm sad that Harper Lee stopped writing. I know she found her fast success to be overwhelming. I was excited to see her as a character in the biopics about Truman Capote. I watched them both, mainly to learn more about her.
Does anyone wonder by the narrator keeps on calling her father his full name instead of father? For example, she asked her father "Are we poor, Atticus?" instead of "Are we poor, daddy?"
I think it’s because Atticus wanted Scout to feel there was no patriarchal barrier between them, given the other messages in Southern culture surrounding them. I DID wonder, and think about it.
This is a good thread I found which discussed why Scout refers to her father as Atticus:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
Thanks Vivian. I thought it was strange when I was younger, but now I think it's kind of cool. It did make him seem very egalitarian, and the kids were otherwise very respectful, calling him sir a lot.
Atticus seems sort of distant in some ways, but I loved the description of him reading with Scout on his lap every night, with his finger showing the words he was reading out loud. It made him seem very loving and patient. When I read this book now, I feel more appreciative of the things my father did and said.
What is your favorite part of the book?
NancyJ wrote: "What is your favorite part of the book? "..."The part when Atticus defending Tom Robinson, very dramatic and very true especially the closing statement.. It is very sad to see the jury will find Tom guilty with all evident presented to them.
I have misty eyes when Atticus delivered the news to Tom's wife about his death.
NancyJ wrote: "Vivian wrote: "This is a good thread I found which discussed why Scout refers to her father as Atticus:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."..."
I think the "Sir" is very typical of the South. One of my grad school friends took a job down South post graduation, and said she was happy to hear "Ma'am" so much. Last night, I ran across my first "Nome", and it made me smile.
Adults down South, and in TX, in the presence of children, are
"Miss + First Name:, or "Mr + First Name:", which in real life got my attention, as we always used "Mr/Mrs + Last Name"
NancyJ wrote: "What is your favorite part of the book? "My favourite part was when Atticus stayed outside of the jail to protect Tom from the mob and Scout shamed the men of the mob by recognising their humanity.
It is so easy to get carried away with anger and violence when you feel anonymous but when you are singled out it's a lot harder to justify.
Jess wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "What is your favorite part of the book? "My favourite part was when Atticus stayed outside of the jail to protect Tom from the mob and Scout shamed the men of the mob by recognisin..."
I love that part very much as well. Children is the only one who can break tension a lot of time b/c their innocent minds speak the straight forward truth a lot of time.
Mod
My favourite part was when Atticus stayed outside of the jail to protect Tom from the mob and Scout shamed the men of the mob by recognisin..."
You're so right. People might do things in mobs they'd never think to do otherwise. So many people think they're independent thinkers, but then they conform to whatever the group says is OK.
We see the effect that anonymity has on online behavior as well. I'm glad I'm not a kid today having to deal with that.
When Atticus discussed it with Scout later, I think he said that she helped the men to put themselves in her (and Atticus' ) shoes. That's such a good lesson. The ability to see things from another person's perspective is a part of emotional intelligence.
Mod
https://www.facinghistory.org/resourc...
I really liked what Anna Quindlen says, comparing Scout to Anne of Green Gables, and Jo March in Little Women. I always resisted "girly girly" things too and didn't like wearing dresses.
The clips make we want to see the whole movie again.
Here is a Hey Boo clip, but it's longer than the one I wanted it. Don't watch it if you didn't finish the book yet.
SPOILER ALERT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmIe...
I find it interesting that this is a book not often read in minority cultures. As an African American female who grew up all over the US (teenage years in Deep South) I love and hate this story at the same time. What motivates you to read this book? Reputation? A look at the past? I hated this book when I lived in Mississippi mainly because everything that happened in the book was still happening in MY LIFE. I guess my question to you (general public), are you reading this novel as a work of art or a look into society. Because I guarantee that crap like this still occurs today. How do recognize our faults like Scout and stand up for what is right on a regular basis? How do we teach our children to do right like Atticus? Many of us are still fighting the “small lawsuits” everyday but how do we change the culture if it doesn’t want to change?
message 15:
by
Joy, Your Obedient Servant
(last edited Nov 25, 2018 12:35PM)
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Mod
We're reading the novel since it finished first in PBS's Great American Read. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm re-reading it as a work of art, a literary classic.
QueenAmidala28 wrote: "I find it interesting that this is a book not often read in minority cultures. As an African American female who grew up all over the US (teenage years in Deep South) I love and hate this story at ..."Both a “look into society” and “work of art” as well as a weird PTSD after effect I have with an obsession with stories like this (affirmation? confirmation? sharing the pain? idk, but I revisit these realities like a tongue poking a bad tooth.). I, fortunately, look white, but my Alaskan Native mother suffered from both race prejudice and gender prejudice. I only suffered from gender prejudice and impoverished underclass norms.
I couldn’t read these books like this for awhile, either, but it passed into obsessive readings of books like this. Yes, unjust social/legal discrimination still is happening, here and there. Seattle (liberal city) police are under watchful eyes because of their shooting and beating of unarmed Black and Native American citizens which fortunately are on video. The police have recently been informed they have to undergo training, but believe it, the police union is filing a protest about having to attend ‘stupid time-wasting classes.”
QueenAmidala28 wrote: "I find it interesting that this is a book not often read in minority cultures. As an African American female who grew up all over the US (teenage years in Deep South) I love and hate this story at ..."Obvious answer is J's, that it was the winner for the GAR, and we'd pre-determined that we'd read the winning book.
But since I got lost in Latin American lit from the age of 21 on, I missed out on a lot of English-language classics for lack of time, and this was one of them. I'm glad I finally got to read it (and I've never seen the film, either).
I think I agree with April, it's both.
When I think of literature, I think of what about the book is universal, or speaks to a wider crowd than niche writing (part of why I was so shocked to see 50 Shades on the list)......those summer days, when we have no school, and the games we make up.......that weird house on the street that people avoid because people say horrible things about the person who lives there, those small details are things that many people experience, in lots of countries.
On to the bigger issues, like teaching our kids to be true to their values and stand up for what's right........yes, you're right, crap like this does still happen today, sadly, North, South, everywhere. And if anyone had the solution, it wouldn't. And change happens so slowly, but I can say that things I've discussed with my students in the last months have reminded me that things that were scandalous when I was young are commonplace now. Does that mean we give up, or become complacent? I hope not. So we keep on tryin'......and when we weary of trying, I guess it helps to know that there are others out there who are also trying. Commiseration isn't everything, not by far, but it helps.
I look on Mockingbird as a work of art -- it's a well-crafted novel, but even more as a hard look into society and its dealing with the "other" by making laws that permeated every part of an African American's life, as well as by rule making by social norms and taboos.To answer your last question, QueenAmidala, there's nothing to do except fight. Bear witness, call racist bigots out, and keep the pressure on. It's something I've been doing since I was six, and saw the newscasts from Alabama. Hopefully, it helps to know that there are a lot of us in this fight standing right beside you.
Mod
The trial was just a part of the book, but it's the part we remember best. Atticus Finch didn't win his case. He didn't stop the racism, but his effort was noble and inspiring, and it affected many people. Racism and bias are still here. It may be more subtle in some areas, and more blatant in others. Despite advances in some sectors, black men are still dying senseless deaths.
This book didn't stop racism, but it still inspires people to do the right thing. It's use in classrooms helped improve kid's moral standards. It inspired us to stand up to people who are doing the wrong thing. To speak up to help someone or, question unfair or biased assumptions. To shake a few people out of a mob mobility. To vote for people committed to fight for fair trials, or to stop the violence. Everyone can do something to help, in their own area of influence.
This is the spoiler thread. You can discuss anything about the book in this thread. If you're just starting the book and don't want to read spoilers, go to the Pre-read thread.
Warning. This thread contains spoilers.