What About the Mockingbirds?
Monday April 28, 2008
I remember the first time I read To Kill a Mockingbird--I was transfixed. It was a requirement and all that (sometimes a sure sign that students will hate it), but many things about that book have stayed with me. The characters are always memorable (of course), as is the situation: the controversial defense of a black man for a crime he did not commit. But, I still love that quotes, from Atticus: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... 'til you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." Literature allows us to get into the thoughts and feelings of characters in ways that are much more difficult in "real" life. Maybe we're just busy; maybe the other person's life really doesn't seem that interesting or worth consideration... But, through great fiction, we can gain an understanding of even the worst characters--as we climb into their skins with all those human foibles and idiosyncrasies.
So, today, we can celebrate that famous novel, as we applaud its author. Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926. Happy Birthday Harper Lee!
Comments
There is no book I love more than this one. It was not required reading when I went to school in the 70s and early 80s (in Harper Lee’s home state of Alabama (go figure. It is required reading now). I didn’t read it until I was in my 20s. I learned so much from this book and it increased my appreciation of the region where I grew up. There is warmth here, but nothing is sugar-coated. There is truth and passion, but no meladrama. I read this book every couple of years Happy birthday, Miss Nell!
My favorite book of all time. I’ve read it at least a dozen times, and it never gets old. The writing style, the characters, and the plot–all are wonderful. I’ve never been able to watch the entire movie, because the images in my mind are the definitive ones for me.
This was an assigned reading that was actually good!
am so much intrested on this
hi
I saw the movie, a good one, pity that I haven’t read the book…