To Kill a Mockingbird
discussion
Am I the only one...
Yeah this book is just boring.
The book was good. Not my favorite but good. The characters were realistic but I found that I couldn't relate to them.
deleted user wrote: "Malia,Yes, there is killing in the book. To tell if there is a rape is to give away a large portion of the plot. Regarding "blood and guts," the worst of that is the killing of a rabid dog earl..."
This is the best review for this book according to me. You have almost the same view as I perceive of it. I had to kinda struggle with the starting 5 pages. But once I got over it, it totally amazed me.
This is hands down my favorite book of all time. It's just brilliant. It has everything you could hope for in a good novel.
people who have not yet read this book have missed out on educating their minds and conscience ..seldom do we come across books that teach us so much about the dynamics of a society mired by prejudices and how one man teaches his kids to believe and overcome the truth and see the righteousness of others
deleted user wrote: "Malia,Yes, there is killing in the book. To tell if there is a rape is to give away a large portion of the plot. Regarding "blood and guts," the worst of that is the killing of a rabid dog earl..."
I completely agree with this author. It is a lovely book. Give it a chance and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
I honestly don't know how almost everyone finds this book so amazing. I understand that they used the "N word" quite often back then, but did Harper Lee really need to advertise it on every page? I think not. Personally I believe there are much better written material they could use in schools besides this race slandering novel. That's just my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own so there is no need to get all huffy puffy. Just saying.
Sydney wrote: "I honestly don't know how almost everyone finds this book so amazing. I understand that they used the "N word" quite often back then, but did Harper Lee really need to advertise it on every page? I..."I think you need to look at To Kill a Mockingbird in its historical context and also consider that it is not purely a work of fiction. The book was published in 1960, but it is set in a small Southern town in the 1930s. Although not autobiographical, the characters bear more than a passing resemblance to members of Lee's family and residents of the small Alabama town where she grew up. Lee's father (the model for Atticus) was a lawyer and later a newspaper owner. Her brother ("Jem") was 4 years older than her, and Truman Capote ("Dill")regularly stayed next door to Lee with his aunts while his mother went to New York. Lee and Capote were to become life-long friends. Lee has said that some of the elements of the plot are loosely based on characters and incidents from her childhood. She was raised, much as Scout was, with an emphasis on integrity and tolerance.
As for the racial aspect, Lee was writing during a critical phase in the battle over segregation in the South in a state that was the location for many pivotal events -- Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on the bus which led to the Birmingham bus boycott, and the struggle to desegregate the University of Alabama (where Lee had attended law school), to name just two. And before you judge Lee for her use of the "N word", as you call it, you might want to review which characters use which variations. But to write about small-town Southern life in the 1930s without addressing segregation and racial hatred would place the work in the realm of fantasy.
I read To Kill a Mockingbird as a senior in high school, and it rocked my world. I was completely blind to issues of race because my world was almost totally white, with occasional shades of beige. The "minorities" I grew up with were Asians. Did I grow up in the South? Emphatically, no! I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Segregation (red-lining) was just as real there and then, but you can't see what isn't there.
In many ways To Kill a Mockingbird is about so much more than race. It's about the loss of childhood innocence, courage, integrity, the adult world as seen and understood or misunderstood by the innocent, those who are "different" and how society perceives them. For me, one of the most poignant sub-plots revolves around the children's fascination with "Boo" Radley and his invisible presence in their lives. The final scene, when Scout is looking out at the town from the Radley's porch, looking through "Boo"'s eyes, is, for me, the perfect summation of the book's major theme.
Lee's writing is lyrical, her characters, three-dimensional, and the plot comic, suspenseful, horrifying, and morally powerful by turns. Since first reading it, I have read it many times over -- and seen the movie repeatedly. In my opinion, it is the best book I have EVER read and the movie is the best and truest adaptation of a book. Harper Lee wrote only one book -- this one -- but she is and will remain an American literary icon for this stellar work.
All that said, likes and dislikes are opinions, and everyone is entitled to their own. The fact that this book won the Pulitzer Prize, has been cited by many literary critics and regular readers as the single most influential work of fiction in the 20th century, and has been published in hardback every year since its original publication matters not one whit when it comes to opinions. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the book, Sydney. It may be one of those books you'll pick up and read again some other time and find it wasn't as bad as you originally thought -- or not. It's happened to me with some books I originally hated.
I very much liked this book. very good writing. I could picture what it must have been like during this time era. I liked that it was through the eyes of Scout.and one of those rare times when the movie is just as good as the book.
This novel is an unquestionable classic. The most profound element of the book is the understated tone of Atticus. During all of Scout's "teachable moments" throughout the book, Atticus seems to hold back from using more potent language. While reading it, I thought that I would be more animated with my child but that is the beauty of his character and his consistent subdued style in the end is even more effective not only on Scout but on the reader as well.
This is probably one of the books that I really enjoyed and gained a great deal from. Studied it for English Literature, must read it again soon
Rebecca and (a few) othersI'm wth y'all.
No, I did not hate or even dislike it.
The word 'underwhelmed' is spot on.
Sydney wrote: "I honestly don't know how almost everyone finds this book so amazing. I understand that they used the "N word" quite often back then, but did Harper Lee really need to advertise it on every page? I..."So let's sugar-coat everything right? Please, stop whining and talking your "race slandering" bs. This is a great book that reaches into people's hearts and minds to give them pause to think about how ignorant the population was about racial problems in those days and how far we have come and how far we still have to go.
I personally loved this book, but even if one doesn't like the book as a story, one must admit that she is a master writer. Her use of language, the wording every about her writing leaves me breathless, it is that beautiful.
I am Welsh and so this book never had the stigma of being 'educational' - I didn't read it until I was in my early twenties and I'd already seen the film.My mother was in love with Gregory Peck so she had told me all about the film before I saw that.
By the time I got to the book I was old enough to appreciate it and also independently minded enough to skip the boring bits - I find long descriptions extremely boring.
I have always skipped the boring bits in books and I understand they are important to some people but I don't see why I should let them spoil my enjoyment of an otherwise great story about people I am interested in.
So I can see why some people would find the book underwhelming as we all have different tastes.
If I'd been force-fed the book in class and made to analyze every nuance - it is quite possible I wouldn't like it much either.
As it is I loved it and still reread it - and still skip the boring bits and the nasty bits too.
Might as well not read the book at all if you're just going to skip parts of it. You miss important details that way and then you go this book sucked because you didn't understand parts of it. Not very brilliant IMO.
I read the book as an adult, and I thought it was okay. What frustrates me is all the people that say they love it and one of their all time favorite books. If that was the case then discrimination would be elimated. A truly great book moves you. Each person that is moved should try to be more like Atticus Finch - if each person took a stand and followed Atticus' lead then we wouldn't have bullies. Not one person can change the world, but there ia huge ripple effect.
Melanie wrote: "I read the book as an adult, and I thought it was okay. What frustrates me is all the people that say they love it and one of their all time favorite books. If that was the case then discriminatio..."Why assume that people who say they love and one of their all-time favorites were bigots before they read it, who needed the book (or movie) to motivate them to change? Is it possible that a KKK member read it, felt ashamed of self and decided not to discriminate any more? Doubtful.
More likely the people who love this book have never been bigots, fight discrimination in small ways through out their lives, people who are idealistic and believe in justice.
It could also be some of the people who love the book lived through the Civil Rights era, when Negroes could not swim in a public pool or lake, drink out of a water fountain, be brutally murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman, and so on.
I can not say the book created the ripple effect that made it possible for a descendant of slaves to be First Lady in the White House, along with a biracial president.
This book was far more powerful when it was first written because the events in it were contemporary. While we have a ways to go still, the blatant racism depicted in Mockingbird is no longer a part of our day to day culture, so it doesn't resonate with people today the way it did when it first came out.
I see and hear plenty of blatant racism, especially since Obama became president.
Racism will exist as long as "groups" exist, thinking in terms of us and them, divided lines. You have to be individual enough to choose to be alone, at least in your thinking, to separate from racism. "To Kill a Mockingbird" will always be relevant and true until we evolve higher.
I read the book years ago, and recently saw the movie on TV so I re-read the book. I have to admit I understood the book more because I'd seen the movie.
I HATED THIS BOOK WITH A PASSION. I read it my freshman year of Highscool and hated every minute of reading it. NOT my style of book at all.
I'd be curious what the readers who were underwhelmed usually like to read.
I like this book a true book a bout how innocent kids truly are
There are few books written in the English language that has moved me like this book has. Read it. Read it again.
I read it 1st in 8th grade but saw the film much earlier. It was a good read and movie. It was one of the first times I had encountered racism. As one who missed the civil rights movement; it got me asking many questions. Over the years I understand the theme of the book a lot more. Many of the books I read plus a American History and other authors collections class(es) in College helped in my knowledge of a sad time in our Nation's History. Racism is taught. Children accept differences and their innocence is in full bloom. "The Help" and "Mudbound" are good to read too!
I read this book early on like most of the other commentators here. I loved the visuals Nelle Harper Lee created for me. When I was older, I read the book aloud. It took on a whole new palette. TKAM was what first inspired me to become a writer. I started writing when I was eight, poems, nonsense, and my own Macon County. Whether you find the story boring, not your style, or even mundane and undeserving of praise, you will have to admit, it has had an affect on many.
I think this book gets way too much hype. Is it a good book? Sure, I suppose. But I didn't enjoy it as well as most people seem to... I've read it three times now thinking maybe I'll enjoy it more this time around. Doesn't happen. I think I'm throwing in the towel on this one; sorry Harper, I've got better things to read.
Kelsey wrote: "I think this book gets way too much hype. Is it a good book? Sure, I suppose. But I didn't enjoy it as well as most people seem to... I've read it three times now thinking maybe I'll enjoy it more ..."To each their own, I think you're crazy but whatever.
I agree that I would really like to know what your favorite novels are. Not to judge, but to get some perspective.
My cat felt cheated because there were absolutely no instructions, not a single mention of mockingbirds and he's had it up to here with finches. He wants to complain to the Better Business Bureau about the false advertising.
I can't discuss this book in public. Everybody I talk to thinks I'm a heretic for not loving it. 200 or so pages and it took me a month. I haven't bothered to finish the last fifteen. It's just drags. The first half is another How I Grew Up in A Small Town story, and not a very good one at that. The schemes aren't funny enough, the townspeople not quirky enough. Scout's nine, but it's not a nine-year-old girl type story (and I read Little Women when I was nine, so I'm not stereotyping). The whole time I was asking myself, "What is this book about?" Then the Unjustly Accused Fieldhand part kicks in, the only reason it's remembered. I don't think it's a very good book, but I give it a grudging sort of admiration for being the first to go there.
Maybe it's an age thing. I grew up in the south, in a small town, in the early seventies. I can really picture the small town and the attitudes of the time. This book brings tears to my eyes just talking about it. Atticus was a hero to me and couldn't have been a better role model. It's deeply offensive and painful to me to read the attitudes toward this book by some. Not often in life, especially in our disposable society, will you experience a book, movie, etc. That leaves a lifetime impression and still moves you so deeply even after all these years and the countless times I've read this book. This book is like a national treasure, and at the very least should be respected for it's part in opening blind eyes to racism. I believe this book had a profound effect on a generation of people in a way few others could. .
An incredible journey that I could relive over and over again. The characters grow on you so much you hate to finish the book.
This book is my favorite book by far. I own a copy of it and never let people borrow it.
I first read it when I was thirteen and was so enthralled I read it nearly straight through. Even at a young age this book really stuck with me. The cruelty and hatred towards African Americans blew me away...I didn't grow up around that, and it really hit me for the first time how awful it used to be for those who were not white. It made me look at myself in a different light for sure. None of my friends liked the book. They thought it was 'boring' or 'stupid'. But to this day I love that book and I am proud to say it is a favorite of mine and I am honored to have it on my bookshelves.
I first read it when I was thirteen and was so enthralled I read it nearly straight through. Even at a young age this book really stuck with me. The cruelty and hatred towards African Americans blew me away...I didn't grow up around that, and it really hit me for the first time how awful it used to be for those who were not white. It made me look at myself in a different light for sure. None of my friends liked the book. They thought it was 'boring' or 'stupid'. But to this day I love that book and I am proud to say it is a favorite of mine and I am honored to have it on my bookshelves.
Julie wrote: "Maybe it's an age thing. I grew up in the south, in a small town, in the early seventies. I can really picture the small town and the attitudes of the time. This book brings tears to my eyes jus..."
I couldn't agree with you more.
I couldn't agree with you more.
I simply adore this book, and the Gregory Peck B/W movie is one of a tiny few that are as good as the original novel...I first read Mockingbird when I was about 12/13, and 30 years later I have recently finished it again.. for maybe the 10th or 12th time.. even thought I know every twist and turn, I will never tire of such a brilliant read...
Kelsey wrote: "I think this book gets way too much hype. Is it a good book? Sure, I suppose. But I didn't enjoy it as well as most people seem to... I've read it three times now thinking maybe I'll enjoy it more ..."I just checked, and the current population of the United States is ~312 million people, many of whom probably have not even heard of To Kill a Mockingbird, let alone read it. As Alyce (Message 122)said, it isn't likely that a member of KKK is going to throw their sheet in the laundry, let alone the trash, because they read TKAM. In fact, I would expect TKAM to top their list of books to burn/ban.
From reading the comments, it seems those who love TKAM fall into four groups with a lot of overlap: 1) Those who grew up in the South and have some experience with racism, which, BTW, is still alive and well here, although less politically correct than it used to be, 2) Those who grew up with no direct experience of racism, but were catapulted into knowledge by TKAM, 3) Those who were alive and aware of what was going on in the 1960s, and 4) Those who appreciate the delicate beauty and stark honesty of Harper Lee's writing. ALL OF US were affected by reading TKAM; TKAM changed ALL OF OUR LIVES FOREVER, and ALL OF US have tried a little harder to be a tiny bit more like Atticus. But even if one of every four people in the United States has read and loves TKAM (that's 78 million people, so that's a pretty high estimate), we're not going to erase discrimination overnight. There's another 234 million people out there we have to convince!!
I will tell you one thing, though. I would be willing to bet every single one of us who love TKAM stood a bit taller and felt just a little prouder of our country on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. 146 years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, and in the 200th year of Abraham Lincoln's birth, the son of a black woman stepped into the vision of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and so many others. Barack Obama is 1/2 black. Under the old laws of the South, he would not be counted as white unless his only black ancestor was his great-great-great grandfather or grandmother.
We're trying, Kelsey, each in our own small way, to banish discrimination. And we've made some progress. But cultural changes of this magnitude don't happen overnight, or has the age of instant communication lulled you into believing EVERYTHING can happen instantly? Please help up make it happen, Kelsey! Forget how you feel about the book and let your feelings about discrimination inform your actions!
Deanna wrote: "Kelsey wrote: "I think this book gets way too much hype. Is it a good book? Sure, I suppose. But I didn't enjoy it as well as most people seem to... I've read it three times now thinking maybe I'll..."You are mistaken, Barack Obama is the son of a white woman -- it was his father who was black. Unless you're going for some poetic metaphor I'm not picking up on?
Just a little trivia. I was in park city, UT and ran into a coffee shop on main street called Atticus and the bathroom walls were covered in quotes from TKAM. I was so tickled.I didn't know the author was still alive. Sounds like a one hit wonder to me and an excellent one too.
I personally LOVED, LOVED, LOVED To Kill A Mockingbird. However, I would never tell another person that they SHOULD love a book. I hated Great Expectations. I could not get past the whining of Pip. Books are so personal and they have to call to each of us on a personal level. If someone dislikes a book, that does not make it a bad book, just a bad fit for that particular reader.
Mike wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Kelsey wrote: "I think this book gets way too much hype. Is it a good book? Sure, I suppose. But I didn't enjoy it as well as most people seem to... I've read it three times now thin..."Oops! Knew I should have Googled before I wrote. Thanks, Mike!
Mary wrote: "I personally LOVED, LOVED, LOVED To Kill A Mockingbird. However, I would never tell another person that they SHOULD love a book. I hated Great Expectations. I could not get past the whining of P..."I couldn't agree more, Mary.
And there's no law anywhere that requires you to finish any book, especially after you get out of school. A librarian friend told me that!!
I read To Kill A Mockingbird in 9th grade. I was affected. I fell in love with characters for the first time. My daughter read this book for her 9th grade literature class. She loved it too. Today, its still one of my all time favorite reads. Brilliant. But, to each his own.
Paul, I teach the book to my college students every semester, and I never thought before of Atticus deliberately holding back on his language. Thanks for the idea.
Shelley, Rain: A Dust Bowl Story
http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com
I personally liked the book. I grew up seeing the movie..And liked it as well. When I started trying to read the classics, this was one of the first, along with Diary of Anne Frank. I've got a few others sitting on my book shelf that I will try to get through as soon as I can.
This is the first classic I ever read. It took me 139 (ONE HUNDRED THIRTY NINE!!!)days to finish it.
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