Started: December 4, 2023 | Finished: December 9. 2023
To Kill a Mockingbird
One of the most hyped books I've ever read. I went into it with high expectations. "To Kill a Mockingbird" exceeded my expectations. Everybody should read this book.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" was written in 1960 and set in the mid-1930s. It tells the story of Atticus Finch, attorney-at-law, and his two children - the boy Jem and his younger sister, Scout.
It is Scout who is the narrator of this tale. When I first learned who the narrator was I was a bit discouraged. Would this book sound like it was being narrated with the limited grammar and understanding of a child? it turns out my fears were baseless - the narration is not just fine; it is clear and entertaining. I am quite taken with Scout's narrative voice.
This is a book about racism, specifically white-black racism in the American South. But it can apply to all sorts of racism and other forms of discrimination in every part of the world. I suppose this is one of the things that mark it as a great book.
The handling here of the topic of racism is very nuanced and thoughtful and fearless. It makes me angry, yes, but it also makes me think. This book wants me to avoid thinking in terms of black and white, good guys and bad guys. It forces me to acknowledge that this mature topic must be approached with maturity on my part.
The same level of maturity that Atticus Finch exhibits and tries to impart to his children. But. But. Towards the end I think the book puts its foot down in terms of racism and advocates a more hardline, less compassionate treatment of racists. You might want to give it a read and see if you think the same when going through the very last parts of the story.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is the winner of The Great American Read and is therefore no. 1 on the list. It is no. 6 in the BBC's The Big Read. It is included in Time's All-Time 100 Novels
A few pages into the book I began to have a sense of its quality. Scene after scene unfolded and I was rivetted. I found it so rich that I had to stop reading once I had gotten a few chapters in; I had to stop and catch my breath and let the book settle into my mind.
Yes, this book is well-crafted and beautiful but I think the best thing about it is the its message. I don't think is is possible to be a racist or abide racism after reading this book. It also makes me more conscious about my attitude, making me check if I think or behave in any way that can be thought of as racist.
Powerful, beautiful, poignant. Certainly one of the best books I've ever read.