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Summary: Timeless
Review: Simple and enduring, yet powerful, story of human nature. Iread itevery year; the integrity shown by Atticus Finch is inspirational. Any critique does not do it justice. You must read it to understand.
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Summary: Once you start reading you'll never put it down
Review: A great book. I am 15 years old and currently in the nineth grade. I read this book for an oral book report and finished it in about an hour because it was so good. From the point of view of a 6 year old Lee teaches his readers about life and growing up with racism, grudgery, rape, justice, curiosity, and mystery. Every one must read this book.
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Summary: This was my favorite book that I had to read in school!
Review: Scout learns a great lesson about looking beyond the surface to see the true nature of a person. One of my favorite parts is when Scout is telling Atticus how her teacher told her she shouldn't know how to read yet.
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Summary: WARNING! Deep thought required!
Review: A totally innocent view from a child who is growing up. The ideas presented are therefore mostly 'hidden', and so noticing their presence is a task in itself. I had to read it about three or four times (how many I cannot exactly remember) before realising that I had been absorbing so much (how much is for me to know and you to read and find out). Like many other reviewers of this book, I first read it in school, so I thought, if the education people placed it on reading lists it must be a good book, either in content or presentation. This one, as I found, was good at both. If one ignores what I wrote above about a difficult read, he/she would understand why Scout is the protagonist. Lee's use of her (Scout's) innocence (and that of Jem and Dill) was highly appropriate, they were yet to be affected by the ugly side of life (or as I like to put it, still existing in the realm of 'It's a small world after all'). As they grow up and undergo certain experiences (if I told which I would spoil your read) they start to realise the prejudice and discrimination that exists in this world. There is more on hypocrism, education, and human nature but I don't think it is appropriate to turn this review into a novel, so I shall stop here.
Some general knowledge of certain things may help in the enjoyment of this book. It would also be interesting to do some research into some names and motifs in the book (like I had to for school) as this would reveal some interesting reasons why Lee chose them. Knowing these reasons would add to one's comprehension of this book.
Definitely worth re-reading and re-re-reading.
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Summary: A perfect,wonderful novel.
Review: Well, this book is so fascinating, I love it. I'm fifteenyears old and I love to read/write/program computers. I love school alot, that probally is a shock to most,but, it's true. I have loved to read for a long time, as well as use computers to the outer limit. My class is on chapter 9 and I finished it this morning. I would say it kinda is sad. As much as I love it, I'm not satisfied with the ending. Don't get me wrong, it's just I want more, more, and more. I want to know what happens to Dill, Scout, Atticus,Tom Robisnon's Family, and Jem as well, at the end Boo Radley saves Scout and Jem, This is Just a marvelous novel. It's sad, exciting, love, and many other things in it. It's a must read.
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Summary: A book that you keep to read over and over and over.....
Review: I have always held within myself a belief that every person no matter how insignificant, or mediocre manages to touch brilliance and greatness for brief moments in his or her lifetime. Such experiences would ofcourse be congruous to that person's capabilities but creativity during such time be it expressed in a book, a painting or even a poem, soars heights of genius which are beyond ordinary human limitations. In my opinion, Harper Lee's novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is a product of such divine creativity. It's very genius in style, setting and plot make it an isolated achievement on the part of the Author who has not been able match this with any of her other works . The kaleidoscope of characters offered by the novel, set in a remote southern town of Maycomb County, holds the reader spellbound, while he marvels at the style with which the author prevents the sombre theme from clouding the general mood of the story. The lighthearted adventures of Jem and Scout have left such vivid impressions on my mind that I almost get the feeling of having been in Maycomb as the novel progresses. I have long since ceased to just 'read' this book. For me, the book has become a lifelong companion. I will always cherish the mixed emotions of pain, triumph, fear and love that it inspires in me.
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Summary: Helps you remember the just America of your imagination.
Review: I have a personal policy to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird every three years. It helps me remember how to exist in the modern world as a moral person. This reaffirmation of justice, honesty, integrity and compassion in the daily lives of common American people involved with uncommon events may be why To Kill A Mockingbird won the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Harper Lee has an intelligence about people -- or at least about the best of us as we'd like to remember ourselves. Is our daily America as decent as this book recalls? Probably not. So, it isn't accurate literature exactly. But it IS an exceptional moral story: how David slew Goliath, how Atticus and Scout beat a thinly-disguised KKK by insisting on the integrity of the accused and accuser alike. It works because it's seen through the eyes of an adult woman remembering everything as a precocious 6-year-old tomboy. Atticus Finch represents a sure and convincing morality, almost larger than life. He's able to shoot a rabid dog straight through the forehead in order to save the street from it, just in time. He's almost mythic. But mythology works sometimes, especially when transported to a dusty Alabama town to explicate terrible mundane events which are, all things considered, equally mythic in force. Racism IS a dragon. The Klan IS a monster. They're just mundane, so we don't recognize them as such. An innocent African-American is accused of an unspeakable crime because the "victim," and then the town, needs it. Finch systematically dismantles the accusations based on simple evidence which no one in his right mind could disbelieve. The story becomes a matter of basic decency and justice because Scout, the girl, has the ingenuousness and moral bewilderment of a smart 6-year-old who sees no racial lines, and who thus is able to express the fundaments which adults either ignore or have become blinded to. Mythologizing her father allows us to understand that, in some things, the fundaments are valid. In some things justice is, in fact, this simple--an deliberate act of integrity and will. A side note: Truman Capote was the model for Dill.
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Summary: heart renching and beautiful
Review: I first read this book when I was only 15 years old. In a few short minutes I was swept up into Scout's world, her eyes became mine. This book travels through a town filled with ignorance, racism, justice, family, love , fear and heroes. The book becomes even more delightful when it connects to today's society and we wonder if times really have changed. I loved Jem, as he were my own brother, teased Boo, admired and loved Calpurnia. Two thumbs way up for this epic tale of love vs hate and truth vs lies. IT was very interesting to see the movie A Time to Kill which was obviously influenced by good ol Harper Lee. Every girl, boy, father, mother and neighbour should read this book.
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Summary: Read it & Die!
Review: I first read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD when I was 15. I began it one evening and finished it just before I had to go to school the next morning...this was my first introduction to literature (& late night reading), and still remains the finest example of love, drama, fear and humour. It is the story of an event which takes place in a community divided by the implication of a white woman having consentual sex with a black man, which can only be tolerated if viewed as rape. We see the action unfold through the eyes of a young girl Scout, daughter of the lawyer, Atticus, given the incredibly difficult and ultimately dangerous job of defending the Negro. This is one book you should read before you die. rj
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Summary: A MUST READ!!!!
Review: I found this book was very real and to the point. It's one I would recomend to everyone of all ages to read, or have it read to you. YOU will find it a learning and fun exsperience that you won't regrete having.
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