To Kill a Mockingbird

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a classic. When I was in middle school in the 60's it was required reading. The book is a powerful story that explores racism, injustice, and moral growth. The story is told through the eyes of a child, who learns valuable life lessons that will undoubtedly shape her into a responsible, compassionate, and moral person. The book is so beautifully written and powerful. This is an excellent book to re-read every decade or so, reminding us of the value of empathy. I have purchased several copies over the years and eventually gave them away to loved ones.

It is obvious why Harper Lee’s incredible book is considered a classic. It is a masterwork and, rightfully, a Pulitzer Prize winner. This is a book to keep for your entire life and read over and over again. I had read this as a teenager and as a young adult and then seen a movie adaption. When my book club chose this for this month’s reading, I thought I knew the story well enough already and didn’t want to buy it or end up on the waiting list at the local library. I am so glad I decided to buy the Harperperennial edition on Kindle. There are many different levels for readers to enjoy this book. As a mature reader, I got much more out of the book than I did as a teenager or as a young adult. The story takes place in Macolm, a small town in Alabama, in the mid-1930s. Scout and Jem have lost their mother to illness but live with their lawyer father, Atticus Finch, and Calpurnia, their housemaid. Later Aunt Alexandra comes to live with them. She is determined to change Scout’s tomboy tendencies into those of a lady. The story is a very good depiction of the South at this time in history. All the family, town and country characters are vividly portrayed. Neighborhood gossip abounds. Racisim (although still with us) was even more rampant then. Growing up with many childhood adventures, Scout and Jem grow up more quickly when their father is appointed to defend a Negro. Tom Robinson, the young Negro (the polite term at the time), is charged with a crime he did not commit. It is his word against that of a white man, Bob Ewell, and his daughter, Mayella. She says Tom raped and beat her, when, in reality, her father had done so. Tom is convicted with no solid evidence as to his guilt. Bob Ewell is determined to get back at Atticus for suggesting at the trial that he beat his own daughter. When a very drunk Bob Ewell tries to kill Scout and Jem one dark Halloween night, they are saved by Arthur (Bo) Radley, a neighbor recluse whom they had been afraid of and made fun of as children. They learn a tough lesson about the so-called “good people” of the town and countryside. They learn tolerance and respect for those who are different. Scout and Jem learn to appreciate the moral compass of their father, who is one of the few adults who has the courage to do what is right. Harper Lee has a wonderful ability to tell a story and pull the reader into each scene. The writing flows fluidly and beautifully. Sometimes I like to hear a story, however. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is such a good story that it deserves to be listened to as well. I supplemented the Kindle with the Audible version with Sissy Spacek as the narrator. How absolutely marvelous! Sissy Spacek is just amazing as a reader. She brought the story even more alive! NOTE: If you buy the Audible version for the Harperperennial edition, Sissy Spacek reads the entire novel.

Not sure what else can be said about this. Some of the best characters in literature. A must-read classic

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper lee is an amazing novel. This book is through the eyes of a young child named jean-louise/scout finch who is a very big tomboy. This book is very good and you end up getting very fond of the characters it almost seems that your growing up with them. As you may know this book is a classic, reading it now the only thing that bothers me is the grammar and the language but in the end i love this book. I highly recommend it for anyone 13 or older because it can be inappropriate sometimes but it's a classic for a reason. This book is very fun to read and see the life of the 1930s. Scout and her older brother Jem grow up in different ways and later in the book jem starts discluding scout from the games he does. In this book you can see how racist people were and how much the world has changed. To kill a mockingbird is about racism and some slavery as well this book really gets it’s thought across of how unfair life was during the early 1900’s. Scout also gets to experience school and how strict they were back than to the point where she was hit with a ruler. Scout growing up realizes that life isn't always perfect like it was when she was younger. This book has wide examples of racism and it's very hard to read about it seeing the world now but to me that's just one con of many pros. I believe the themes to To kill a mockingbird are racial injustice. There are some serious problems including racial injustice and rape. [SPOILER] in this book there is a trail about a black man named Tom robinson accused for rape even with no proof and him stating what actually happened he still was considered guilty. I believe this book could also be considered a mystery because in the book the kids including Jem, Scout, and their friend DIll harris are trying to find out what Boo radley looks like, boo radley was a convict for murder and was in house arrested and the kids always tried to get him to come out of the house. This book can be a mystery and other ways as well, In the book scout one day walking home from school saw a few treats hidden in a tree she kept coming back to the tree seeing all these treats and stealing them, she always wondered who put them there though. In the end I believe that this book deserves it's tittle of being a classic. This book may have a slow start until it becomes interesting but after that it is just a all around great book. I really believe that seeing two sibling who very much acted the same and were very close grow up and become more protective of each other and different in their own ways, I quickly realized how engaging this book is the more you read of it and that's why I believe this is a very good novel.

I got the book for my teenage son to read, as I read it when I was young, and it's a great classic that I'd recommend! This is an attractive and inexpensive book, so definitely worth the money.

Perfect gift for teen.

A genius book, to read at least once. Buy it or at least give it to someone you like.

Harper Lee created an amazing literary classic with To Kill A Mockingbird. To write a book that educates, inspires but is also an enjoyable read is no mean feat and Lee pulls it off with extraordinary aplomb. We see the world through the eyes of a grown up Scout who is relating the events she witnessed during her childhood as a little girl being raised with her brother Jem by her lawyer father Atticus, ably assisted by Calpurnia the family's housekeeper. The story takes us on a journey through some significant events in the Finch family life and we witness in the small community of Maycomb racial prejudice, injustice, domestic abuse, poverty and violence. This is no sweet tale of childhood friendships and memories of perfect summers. There is a great deal simmering under the surface of Maycomb's serenity and we see many instances of the darker side of human nature. However, through Atticus Finch, Calpurnia and Miss Maudie we see that all is not lost. The children learn great moral lessons from these characters, lessons for the reader as well. In this novel, we see the ugly side of human nature and the beauty in life that helps us cope with and overcome it. We see the children warmly welcomed into Calpurnia's community, into her church and onto the 'coloured balcony' in the court. They feel at home with people who are shunned and mistreated everyday by the injustice of segregation and they are stung by the prejudice displayed towards people who have been kind to them and who are made to suffer simply because of the colour of their skin. We, like them, feel our faith in justice shaken by Tom Robinson's trial. Atticus Finch sets a good example for his children. He stands up for Tom Robinson, the black man accused unjustly of sexually assaulting a young white woman even though he had to face down threats from a lynch mob and the possibility that his career and standing in society would suffer from accepting the case. He and the very small band of characters who think like him help provide the moral compass of the novel. However, perhaps the most important character in the book is the one we do not meet until the very end. It is the reclusive and ultimately heroic Boo Radley that brings our three children together (Scout, Jem and their friend Dill) and he is an enigmatic presence throughout the novel until his eventual unveiling at the story's close. If we had to live in Maycomb and had a sensitive personality, would we choose the same life that Boo did? This is a masterclass in how to create a morality tale that does not preach but educates and inspires in equal measure. Rightly described as a book every adult should read before they die, this is definitely one that should be on your bookshelf or your Kindle.

Harper Lee hat eine bemerkenswerte Gabe des Geschichtenerzählens. Ihre Kunst ist visuell, voller taktiler Brillanz und mit kinematografischer Fluidität und Subtilität ausgestattet: wir sehen vor unserem geistigen Auge, wie eine Szene mit einer anderen verschmilzt, ohne dass es dabei zu holprigen Übergängen kommt. Die Schicksale der Protagonisten sind im Kopf, im Herzen und in der Seele des Lesers emotional und moralisch miteinander verbunden. ***** Setup Anfang Der Schauplatz dieses Buches (erschienen 1960) ist die fiktive Stadt Macomb (Alabama) Mitte der 1930er Jahre. Dort lebt der Rechtsanwalt Atticus Finch (50 Jahre alt) mit seinen Sohn Jem (Jeremy) und seiner Tochter Scout (Jean Louise) – die auch die Erzählerin der Geschichte ist. Die Geschwister sind zu Beginn des Romans, der etwa eine Zeitspanne von 3 Jahren abdeckt, 10 bzw. 6 Jahre. Die Mutter der beiden starb einige Jahre zuvor. Atticus verteidigt einen schwarzen Mann (Tom Robinson), der der Vergewaltigung einer weißen Frau beschuldigt wird. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass ein solcher in den 1930er Jahren in den Südstaaten einen fairen Prozess bekommt, liegt bei etwa 1 zu einer Million... optimistisch betrachtet. UND: Der Leser sieht die Welt durch die Augen eines jungen Mädchens, das noch versucht, seinen Platz in ihr zu finden (genau wie ihr Bruder), und dem ganzen Trubel um sie herum einen Sinn zu geben. Ein größerer Teil des Buches (und seiner „Faszination“) besteht eben auch aus einem Bericht über das „Aufwachsen“ / „Erwachsen werden“ zweier Kinder, ihren Fragen, Freundschaften zu anderen Kindern & Erwachsenen, ihren Erlebnissen und wie sie diese verarbeiten. ***** Setup Ende Das Buch behandelt eine breite Palette von kontroversen Themen, das Verhüllen von Klassensystemen, Geschlechterrollen, Südstaatenmanieren und Tabus sowie einige Botschaften wie Freundlichkeit, Liebe und Überzeugung - alles in einem skurrilen Bilderroman enthalten, den kein Leser, der je von seinen Seiten beglückt wurde, je vergessen wird. Ich habe TKAM zum ersten Mal vor 40 Jahren in der Schule gelesen und es hat mich tief berührt. Und als ich das Buch im Jahr 2017 noch einmal las, war ich genauso ergriffen, erschüttert, betroffen und überwältigt. Harper Lee brachte uns dazu, Vorurteilen und Ungerechtigkeiten ins Gesicht zu blicken, und danach zu streben, ein Atticus-Fink zu werden. Fähnchen schwingend gibt es 5-Sterne! ***** Einordnung *** Die Weigerung der Afroamerikanerin damals 42-jährigen Rosa Park (1913 - 2005), ihren Sitzplatz in einem Stadtbus einer weißen Person zu überlassen, führt nicht nur zu ihrer Verhaftung und Verurteilung (wegen Störung der öffentlichen Ruhe), sondern löste auch den Montgomery-Bus-Boykott von 1955 aus. *** Die US-amerikanische Professorin für Literatur und Theater-Geschichte, Claudia Durst Johnson, schrieb 1994 in ihrem Buch „To Kill a Mockingbird: Threatening Boundaries“: „In den 33 Jahren seit seiner Veröffentlichung stand das Buch noch nie im Mittelpunkt einer Dissertation, und es war nur Gegenstand von 6 literarischen Studien, von denen einige nicht mehr als ein paar Seiten lang waren.“ *** Harper Lee (1926 - 2016) wuchs in der Stadt Monroeville (Alabama), auf, wo sie sich mit dem später berühmten Schriftsteller Truman Capote anfreundete. Capote war ziemlich sicher Vorbild für den Nachbarjungen Dill (Charles Baker Harris) im Roman. *** Es gab auch zahlreiche Gerüchte, habe Capote habe in Wahrheit den Roman geschrieben oder zumindest stark redigiert. Diese wurden 2006 durch den Fund eines privaten Briefs Capotes an eine Verwandte zu Fall gebracht. *** Originaltitel: „To Kill a Mockingbird“; auf Deutsch: „Wer die Nachtigall stört“. Der „Mockingbird“ ist aber eigentlich die sogenannte Spottdrossel (Mimus polyglottos). Das Gesangsrepertoire des Männchens besteht aus 50 bis 200 Liedern. *** Harper Lee veröffentlichte ein Jahr vor ihrem Tod ihr zweites Buch „Gehe hin, stelle einen Wächter“ (im Original Go Set a Watchman; 2015). Der Titel spielt auf die Rolle von Atticus Finch als den moralischen Kompass ("Wächter") von Maycomb an. Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, mittlerweile 26 Jahre alt und Jurastudentin, kommt aus New York City zu Besuch nach Maycomb und trifft viele der Figuren aus TKAM. ***** Zitate „Aber bevor ich mit anderen leben kann, muss ich mit mir selber leben.“ (Atticus (11. Kapitel)) „Vorurteile, ein schmutziges Wort, und Glaube, ein sauberes, haben etwas gemein: Sie fangen beide da an, wo die Vernunft endet.“ (Onkel Jack Finch; jüngerer Bruder von Atticus) „Dill hatte einen großartigen Plan ausgeheckt, um Boo Radley ohne jede Gefahr für uns herauszulocken. (Man nehme Zitronenbonbons, lege sie als Köder auf den Weg zwischen Radleys Hintertür und dem Vorplatz, und schon wird Boo wie eine Ameise der Spur nachgehen).“ „Man versteht einen Menschen erst dann wirklich, wenn man die Dinge aus seiner Sicht betrachtet - wenn man in seine Haut steigt und darin herumläuft.“ (Atticus (3. Kapitel)) „Wenn ein Kind Sie etwas fragt, antworten Sie, um Himmels willen. Aber machen Sie keine Inszenierung daraus. Kinder sind Kinder, doch sie erkennen ein Ausweichen schneller als Erwachsene, und es bringt sie einfach durcheinander.“ (Atticus)

An absolute gem of a book. Set in a backdrop of 1930s Alabama - from the point of view of being a Southern state with tremendous anti-African-American racism, not just at a social level but also very much a part of the system, particularly the criminal justice system - To Kill a Mockingbird, through the eyes of Scout, a young girl trying to make sense of a lot of things around her, including the way people in her town treat each other, attempts to expose the hypocrisy of the society and its failure to meet the basic standards of human well being. Till almost 30-40% of the book, the author has invested in building the foundation for the rest of the events, so it appeared to me that a lot of things were happening but it wasn't going anywhere. However, the story gains quite momentum later on and absolutely glues the reader till the end. Definitely one of the classics to be kept in your personal library!

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee REVIEW. "In Harper Lee's timeless classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird," the author explores the complexities of apartheid and racial discrimination in 1930s Alabama. Through the eyes of Scout Finch, the narrator, we witness the intricacies of small-town life in Maycomb County, where social hierarchies and prejudices prevail. Initially, the novel's focus on Scout's childhood adventures with her brother Jem and friend Dill may seem lighthearted, but it skillfully lays the groundwork for the more serious themes that unfold. The introduction of Tom Robinson, a wrongly accused black man, and the reclusive Boo Radley, who becomes an unlikely hero, adds depth to the narrative. Lee's writing is deliberate and nuanced, with clever use of foreshadowing and symbolism. The hand discrepancy, mentioned in the opening paragraph, becomes a pivotal piece of evidence in the trial, highlighting the importance of details. The author's choice to introduce characters through varying names, such as first names, designations, and surnames, adds complexity to the story and keeps the reader engaged. Through "To Kill a Mockingbird," Lee delivers a powerful exploration of empathy, morality, social justice, and the loss of innocence. The novel's thought-provoking themes and relatable characters make it an iconic piece of American literature. As a reader, I appreciated the author's ability to balance lighthearted moments with serious commentary, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and enlightening. Overall, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a masterful tale that has captivated readers for generations, and its exploration of human nature, prejudice, and redemption continues to resonate today." Dr.Shipra Bhattacharya.