To Kill a Mockingbird

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Summary: Princeiples of the novel
Review: The novel is from the point of veiw of Scout, telling the story of when she was 6, during 1935. The first half of the book is centered around Scout, her brother Jem, and "boyfriend" Dill as they discover the secrets of Aurther "Boo" Radley. He hasn't left his house for about 30 years and the children suspect his father is keeping him inside. Scout eventually quits the game when she relizes tht maybe Boon wants to stay inside, away from everyone tormenting him.

The second half of the novel is about Atticus, the father, still from Scouts view. He defending a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. Jem is sure Atticus is going to win, even after the black man says he "felt sorry" for a white women, indicating he was somehow better than her.

The underlying message is about how people are the same and different, beyond just being black and white. Atticus emphisizes this point over and over again and he trys to teach his children principles in life.

Rating:
Summary: Truly an American Classic
Review: I read this when I was 19 and I was completely blown away. By the end of the first chapter I didn't want to put it down. The characters, the conflicts, settings, descriptions -- somehow I felt as though I could not only picture it all, but that it had happened in my childhood neighborhood and that I had even witnessed some of the events, perhaps even participated! I'm sure that if I read it again today, I'd have a different reaction to it, seeing some of its flaws, like the lack of moral ambiguity demonstrated by some of the characters. For instance, Atticus is a one-dimensional saint. Tolerant, patient, understanding, unassuming and overflowing with integrity -- he's the father everyone wishes they could point to proudly, at least looking back from adulthood. No, he doesn't play football with Jem, but even Jem comes to realize Atticus is different somehow, better than everyone around him. Atticus never says anything even remotely questionable. Does he have a single flaw? Not unless you look under the surface.

Lee and most readers (me included) gloss over the fact that Atticus has to be chosen to take the Tom Robinson case. Herein lies a crack in his shield of integrity -- and I don't think Lee intended for us to see that crack. I don't think even she knew it's there when she wrote it. If Atticus really did have so much integrity, he'd have volunteered to take the case. But given that it's the 1930s, no white lawyer would have done this. Not only was he guaranteed to lose, but he's guaranteed to lose with dishonor, even outright physical danger. It wouldn't have been believeable even for Atticus to volunteer. Still, if he had volunteered, how much more moral courage would he have shown? How much more grief would he have had to endure from his neighbors and relatives? I think Lee missed an opportunity there. But she also needed to have shown some of Atticus's flaws. Didn't he ever lose his temper with Scout? Didn't he ever do something he could have apologized for? No, Atticus is a superman.

Nevertheless, the first time you read "To Kill a Mockingbird," the story and its telling are so good, the characters, their emotions and conflicts so universal, that you are completely distracted from any literary analysis. And that's what any good story does well, it makes you lose yourself in it. Given that criteria, "Mockingbird" succeeds in the extreme. 10 stars out of 5!

Rating:
Summary: Harsh Reality
Review: Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is to me, one of the greatest books of all time. I give this book a five star. I think this book is about children's curiosity and harsh reality of racism. The book is narrated by a young girl named Jean Louise Finch, who is usually called Scout. She has an older brother named Jem Finch and a dad named Atticus Finch. In the first part of the story, Jem and Scout are curious about Boo Radley. Boo Radley is a very mysterious man and both Jem and Scout have never seen him before, but have heard things about him, mostly bad. The story then goes on to talk about Tom Robinson, a poor black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus, who is a lawyer, will defend Tom Robinson throughout the book in any way he can, but fails. Tom is convicted for something he did not do, mainly because of his color. The trial will deeply affect Jem and Scout's lives forever; and they will also realize, at a young age, the cruelty that comes with racism.

I would have to say that I get into and love reading books that deals with racial issues. I am bound to be touched in some way shape or form when I read books that involves racial conflicts or issues. I like books the deals with racial issues because for the most part, I know what one character is going through. As a minority, I have unfortunately experienced some racial conflicts/ issues that I would not think would happen this day in age. Unfortunately there are still people out there who aren't well educated enough to realize that everyone is different in their own ways, but should not be judge in any way shape of form. I honestly think that the only way to solve racial discrimination is through education.

Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: I have been reading some of the so-called 'American Classics' and this is one of the few that is actually a great story. Harper Lee did a great job of developing the main characters and tying in different sub-plots into the main plot. It was also interesting to read about the southern culture in the 1930's. The author did a great job painting a picture in the minds of ther readers. And, of course, there was a positive message about race coming from Atticus and his two children.

Rating:
Summary: "'Tis a sin to kill a mockingbird."
Review: A true classic, this is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. A very moving and touching piece of work. I've never seen the movie, but I wish I did. I hear that the movie is counted as a classic, too. Only a truly invincible title can be excellent as a movie AND a novel.

Rating:
Summary: If you haven't read this book you're making me jealous.
Review: Like many people,I'd seen the movie a few times; but never read the book. It was so good! I wish I'd never read it so I could read it again.

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Summary: Thrilling Court Story
Review: Rarely am I facinated by court stories. They usually bore me and I can never follow them. But with this story, you got so familiar with all the characters that you can't help but get sucked into the story and pay cloes attention. This book made me nervous, made me scared, upset, most everything. It's one of the best classic books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird: A True Classic
Review: To Kill a Mockingbird is a true classic for children and adults alike. I have read this book for school twice, and both times I absolutely loved it. I wish that people could have been treated better back in the 30's, especially African Americans. It's hard for me to say which character was my favorite in the book because I liked all of them. I think that Harper Lee did a good job with Robert Ewell, the drunkard and the accuser of Tom Robinson. There is a lot of symbolism in the book. There is even symbolism in the title itself. The main characters are the Finches; Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell. Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer in town, is asked by the sherriff to defend Tom in the trial. If you want to find out what happens throughout the book, I strongly suggest that you curl up on your couch and start to read To Kill a Mockingbird.

Rating:
Summary: My first ever reading this book
Review: I see that this book hasn't been rated since 2002, man I hope someone will read this rating. I thought the book to be interesting and thoughful. Maybe I missed something in the reading but It wasn't as grand as it was hyped up to be it was just an okay book. The movie version was better.

Rating:
Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird
Review: This book never ceases to amaze me. I have read it countless times, always finding out new meanings or information.

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in southern America during the Great Depression. At this time, many people in the South are strongly prejudiced against blacks. The narrator of this story is an eight-year-old girl by the name of Scout. She and her brother, Jem, are insistent on meeting their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley.

Another storyline in this book is the case against Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson, a Negro man, has been accused or raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Scout's father, Atticus, has been appointed as the lawyer for Tom. Atticus is a well-respected man, but soon people begin badmouthing about Atticus to Scout and saying that she and her family are "nigger-lovers."

One major symbol in the book is a mockingbird. One Christmas when Scout and her brother received guns as presents, their father told them that it was a sin for them to kill a mockingbird. Hence, the title of the book. There are many "mockingbirds" in this book, such as Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. This phrase is very important.

I highly recommend that anyone, any age, should read this book. It is a great classic about life in the South during the Great Depression.