December 2018—TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD—Harper Lee (Book 1 of 2)

[Lavan, moderator]

The winner of PBS's The Great American Read is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
To Kill A Mockingbird is the first book in the series.



To everyone—I hope you'll participate and read this selection for our book club.
For those who do—share your thoughts as you read, please!

Spoilers are allowed; add a considerate warning if your comment includes any so members have the option to skip.

Feel free to begin reading it early, if you'd like, and start the discussion at your leisure.

[Andrew, moderator]

For anyone who's considering the audiobook version that's narrated by Sissy Spacek: I have a friend who just finished it. He said it was really good.

When we were talking about it, my friend reminded me that the whole book is told from Scout's point of view, so it works well with a single voice reading it. (I'd completely forgotten that it was told from Scout's POV. It's been so long since I last read it, I don't remember much!)

[Bookish Trina]

Hi Andrew:

I purchased it on audiobook from a rave review as well. I'm looking forward to listening to it.

Thanks.

[Lavan, moderator]

Thank you, Andrew, for sharing the audiobook recommendation!
Are you planning your "reread" in that format?

Let us know how you like it, Trina!

Some info on this novel and author:
Nelle Harper Lee, pen name—Harper Lee, was born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, U.S.
To Kill a Mockingbird was first published in 1960.
The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family, her neighbors, and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama in 1936 when she was 10 years old.
Truman Capote was the basis for the character Dill.
In 1961, Lee received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for this novel.
In 2007, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom* for her contribution to literature.
She died February 19, 2016 in Monroeville, Alabama, at 89 years old.
In 2018, To Kill a Mockingbird was voted by viewers as America’s #1 best-loved novel in The Great American Read.
genres include: Bildungsroman and southern gothic
deals with serious issues of: racial inequality and injustice and rape
also explores: classes (social groups), courage, and the destruction of innocence
GoodReads rating: 4.26—80% rated it 4 or 5 stars
An Academy Award-winning film adaptation was directed by Robert Mulligan in 1962.

* "The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest civilian award of the United States. It recognizes those people who have made 'an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.' "

Video interview of Harper Lee recommended by Laurie : Harper Lee's Only Recorded Interview About 'To Kill A Mockingbird'
(Thanks again, Laurie! I've already watched it twice.)

[Carl]

I love Sissy Spacek. My library carries that edition of the audio book, but there is a waiting list to check it out. I wonder if that's PBS's fault? I said I wouldn't be re-reading at this time, but if I can get an audio copy, I'd do that.

[Rosina]

I was looking for my paperback copy and seem to have buried it somewhere. I have the audio and will start listening to that. I found at the library will give this a read over the next couple of days and then start with the audio.

I first read this a couple of years back and really enjoyed it. Not sure why it wasn't part of my high school reading.

[Lavan, moderator]

I hope you're able to borrow To Kill a Mockingbird in audiobook format, Carl, so you can revisit the story and share your thoughts!

I'm glad you're listening to/rereading this list book with us, Rosina!
I don't think this was required reading for my high school either, but I think it should have been.

I'm going to start after I finish Lu, probably by the 10ᵗʰ. I'm looking forward to it!

[Lavan, moderator]

My copy is 299 pages.
I started on the 13ᵗʰ. I'm on p. 64—at 21%.
I can already see why this novel won PBS's The Great American Read. How have I not read this until now? I'm only ⅕ of the way through, but I love everything about it so far. The writing is phenomenal, the characters are fascinating, and the story is wholly absorbing.
I hope it continues in this fashion!

[Andrew, moderator]

Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to everyone. I'm (finally) going to start this tomorrow. (At least that's the plan. Hoping I don't have to work through lunch...)

[Lavan, moderator]

Merry Christmas, Andrew! I hope you had a wonderful holiday with loved ones!

I'm glad you've started your reread of To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm curious if your opinion of it will change in anyway as you've mentioned that it's been a long time since you first read it.

I'm on p. 194—at 65%.
My lack of comments is not indicative of how I feel about this list book. Instead, it's a direct reflection of spending quality time with family. I've not made time to read since the 22ⁿᵈ, but I did return to TKAM today.

There isn't anything I don't like about this novel. Everything about it has impressed me. (view spoiler)[ I just finished the first day in court scene and I was utterly fascinated. I want to know what happens next! (hide spoiler)] The pacing has been good, but the story just took an exciting turn and I can't read fast enough.

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 277—at 93%.

(view spoiler)[ I just finished chapter 28. Atticus' children have just been attacked by Mr. Ewell while walking home from a school pageant. Although it's not yet been revealed, I think Boo Radley is the unknown man standing in the corner of the room where Jem is currently unconscious with a broken arm (elbow?). I'm assuming he's responsible for stopping (killing) Mr. Ewell before he could do further harm to Jem and Scout (vengeance against Atticus).

I can't help but wonder how Boo Radley will be treated legal-wise as a consequence of his bravery. If he was African-American instead of Caucasian, I've no doubt he'd be found guilty and executed for killing a white man (even one as foul as Mr. Ewell), which is sickening.

There have been multiple points while reading this novel that I've teared-up, mostly because of the injustice, but one part really got to me, because it illustrated the pure goodness that some people are capable of—when all sorts of food items were left on the Finch's back porch after the trial. This show of appreciation for Atticus' honorable attempt to do right at a time when people struggled to feed themselves is heartwarming. (hide spoiler)]

I might finish today. I'm eager to see how this ends!

[Lavan, moderator]

I finished two days ago.
Simply put—To Kill a Mockingbird is a masterpiece. It's the most important book I read in 2018, with 1984 a close second. I think every American should read it at least once in their lifetime. I will definitely reread it in the future and I'm excited to start Go Set a Watchman, hopefully today.

[Andrew, moderator]

Happy New Year Lavan! I'm only on chapter 6 in my reread. I've been reading it on my lunch break at work, and haven't had time to make any progress on it at home. I'm enjoying all the fun stuff with Scout, Jem, and Dill, and haven't gotten to the more serious stuff yet.

[Lavan, moderator]

Happy New Year to you as well, Andrew!

I thought it was hilarious how Jem would tell Scout to stop acting like a girl. Lee captured childhood behavior in such a remarkable way. I adore those kids!

It's too bad that this list book hasn't generated more discussion. I feel as though it definitely deserves it. I think it's a combination of the time of year that it was scheduled as our group read and because many readers have already read it and decided not to reread at this time. I hope this thread continues to be commented on occasionally as long as our group is running.

[Carl]

Just finished the audio version. Sissy Spacek was the perfect choice for narrator. I began to have a criticism towards the end of the book. It seemed to drag a little after the trial was over. When Lee starts talking about the Tutti Fruity sisters and the missing furniture prank, I felt that I had enough color of Macomb county and that this should either be the denouement of the novel or a ramping up to the secondary climax ( the courtroom drama being the first.) But it was short and necessary to explain why Scout was dressed as a ham for a pageant instead of going trick-or-treating, so I changed my mind.

I hadn't noticed before how you always meet the kids before you meet the adults. The Ewall boy who leaves the first day of school, the Cunningham boy who Scout beats up then invites to lunch. There's a line in there where Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about the events in Macomb and says something about "Right family, wrong generation." This generational pattern is reinforced with the ladies of the town and Scouts adult narration. Macomb is a product of tradition and all the families go way back, implying that they will go forward in the same manner. That struck a chord with me this go around. I think Lee is saying that change can be made, but that it must be fought for and is never easy to go against our traditions and culture. Is this the theme of the book? It's purpose?

This really is the perfect novel. So much complexity wrapped up in a simple story. And now the one that I've read the most. It covers so much of the American consciousness, the good and the bad, in such a delightful story. Maybe my favorite book.

[Andrew, moderator]

Good observations, Carl!

I was going to try the audio version, and went as far as borrowing it from the library (on CD), but wound up reading it on my Kindle instead. I may still try the Sissy Spacek audiobook at some point. (No reason I can't read this book a third time...)

[Lavan, moderator]

Carl wrote: "Just finished the audio version. Sissy Spacek was the perfect choice for narrator. I began to have a criticism towards the end of the book. It seemed to drag a little after the trial was over. When..."

Thank you for confirming that Sissy Spacek is a great narrator, Carl!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your insight.
"I think Lee is saying that change can be made, but that it must be fought for and is never easy to go against our traditions and culture. Is this the theme of the book?" — Well said! I think that is a central theme in this list book.
(view spoiler)[ Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to defend Tom Robinson over another lawyer, because in his wisdom he knew that that would give the innocent man the best chance of winning. Atticus knew he wasn't likely to win the case, but he considered it a "victory" (albeit a small one) that the jury took the time it did to deliberate. I think this illustrates your takeaway. (hide spoiler)]

I couldn't agree more with your concluding paragraph.
Thank you so much for sharing!

I noticed that you're currently reading Go Set a Watchman.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on that list book!