read "to kill a mockingbird"

I think it was worth it from the standard of english it has. I love Lees style of writing. But the theme of the poor black man doesnt really interest me that much.

In my opinion this book is overrated. Don’t get me wrong—it’s nice in a shallow, feel-good kind of way and I guess for most kids it’s a stepping stone into “heavier” classical literature.

It’s plot is fairly well developed, the writing is nice, and the symbolism is more than enough fodder for an English teacher. What’s wrong, then? The characters, mostly. They’re black-and-white (pun intended); stereotypical incarnations of The Righteous Defender, The Innocent Children, The Evil Racist Poor-Whites and yes, The Wronged Black Man.

While in most novels characters are loosely based on archetypes, looking back at this book, although it combats the stereotypes of racism, it also reinforces other stereotypes. While some characters (the Finches, Dill, and the Robinsons) are portrayed as the epitomes of Good, others (the Ewells) are portrayed as scheming and Evil.

This book is good in so many ways. But people in real life are not completely one way or the other. Perhaps Lee thought that if she gave negative characteristics to the Finches or the Robinsons it would weaken the anti-racism theme. But I don’t think so; the lack of “shades of gray” just made the book have an annoyingly righteous, moral taste, like medicine.

My favorite passages actually had nothing to do with the main trial; I mostly continued reading to see what Boo Radley was up to. :)

It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever recieved.

x

Only worth doing if you choose to read it of your own accord.

I read it for the first time in an English Lit class, and I always find that overanalysing books the way you do in lit classes takes the enjoyment out of them. (Don’t get me wrong, I love English Lit. It’s broadened my knowledge of the written word no end, but it can be rather tedious.)

I read it summer before last, and then during the following school year as part of the curriculum. When I first read it, I felt that it went nowhere until halfway through, but it was SO much better the second time. I could see the big picture of all the events and how they tie together, and I appreciated the little details. Such a wonderful book!

Our family critters are named:
Harper (German Shep.)
Scout (border collie)
Boo (Skipperkie)
Addicus (the resident squirrel in our garage the last 3 years…)

I never had to read this in school, so I just read it for the first time (at 28). I love it. It’s one I will keep on my shelf for always and re-read over and over. In a way I’m glad I was never forced to read it when I was younger…my attachment to it as an adult is so strong.

We had to read this book for English as our novel study. I didn’t really like it then then, but I like it more now. It’s well worth reading.

What a great story full of so many leassons to be learned. It acts as a reminder on how far we have come….. but still today we have prejugdeces. So be nice to people like boo radley, they may just save your life…

good so far, it has even been quit thrilling and scary in parts which was a suprise. It is also depressing at times.. but a good book none the less.