To Kill a Mockingbird

Love this book. Another well worn, much loved copy on the book shelves which comes out time and time again. First read at school and will keep reading.

A very thoughtful read, this cleverly covers racism and assumptions of poverty in the deep South at the time. Its a sobering read, though there are some somewhat amusing moments as well. The characters are well described and I thought it pretty easy to picture the scenarios mentioned. A good read. No wonder this is a classic. Yes, I'd recommend it.

The first time I read this story I was not thrilled... however I was also in middle school. I recently reread this story and fell in love. The story is fantastic and Scout is a wonderful character. She is a strong, spunky, and a delight to read about. I would definitely recommend this story.

Another good classic to add to my shelves, loved the characters and the child nostalgic feeling

This book is so good. Fantastic and nothing had really changed with some of the blatant racism. Sad but reality.

characters and theme

I did not like the racism

I was forced to read this in 9th grade, maybe it was 10th grade, about 30 years ago. I hated this book. I just remember it being ridiculously boring, peoples' interactions just being boring, and very slow paced. But, I was a kid back then, with my attention a bit focused on what teen boys like, such as Star Trek TNG, Quantum Leap, Beavis and Butthead, girls, football, etc. So, my review probably isn't worth much. I was a very different person back then, 30 years ago, so I wouldn't give this review much weight if you are interested in this book. I love the thinking/writing of Michelle Foucault, so I'm surprised I found this book so boring, but I did.

I found the societal critique and the point of view to be profound

This is my first reading of

To Kill a Mockingbird since high school. Although the book stayed with me in subtle ways, I didn't remember much of the plot.

I'm not quite sure what I want to say about this book. Scout Finch is one of the greatest narrators I've read in a long time. Harper Lee's ability to convey the complexity of race, class, and sex relations through the eyes of a child is remarkable; like Scout, I probably didn't understand all of what the adult characters say during my first reading. At the same time, viewing these relations through the eyes of a white child necessarily skirts around the truly dehumanizing nature of racism. The black community rallies around Atticus after the trial, bringing him food as thanks for his effots to help Tom Robinson. Link Deas goes out of his way to defend Helen Robinson from Bob Ewell's attacks. There is a sense that the black citizens are nothing but grateful to the white citizens who support them: they quickly give up their seats for Jem and Scout in the courtroom, and the only black person who objects to their presence at the black church is quickly overthrown by her peers. Maybe I'm only noticing this because I just finished reading

Kindred, which is absolutely unflinching and unforgiving in its condemnation of racism. However, it seems to me that

To Kill a Mockingbird is a "safe" read for contemporary high school students. It points out the brutality and dehumanization of racism without asking too much of its white characters.

At the same time, I loved the book and understand why it is so important to the American canon.