Friday, October 16, 2009

To Kill a Mockingbird





So I read "To Kill a Mockingbird" last week. A long time ago, Daddy read it out loud to all of us, and I barely remembered it, but thought I liked it. And then I heard people saying how they didn't like it, it was sort of confusing/weird, etc, and I thought... hm. It's weird that I liked it!

Anyhoo, I decided to read it to see what I thought of it now.

And I really liked it!

It is a very different kind of book, because it doesn't have a big plot, and the focus is more on the small events and realistic people in a small town. A lot of it is about a court case involving a black man, which the main character's father is a lawyer in.

Her writing style was unique, and very powerful, I think. Since it is in the first person of a little girl, it gives an interesting perspective--she sees and interprets things like a child. I hate it in books and movies when the children are the only ones who understand, and everyone else is stupid, but I think that it is true that a child can look with unprejudiced eyes, since they do not have all the complications and opinions of adults, and can be like, "Hey, people! This is so unfair!"
This is brought powerfully into the story because of the blatant racism of the people in the town.

The main character, "Scout" (her real name is Jean Louise), her brother Jem, and their friend, Dill, are shocked that people could treat each other the way they do. Atticus, their father, has taught them to treat everyone well, and they cannot understand why the people in their town act the way they do.

This book made me add two new heroes to my extensive Hero List. Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson. Tom is the black man that is on trial, and he is basically awesome.

SO: to sum up. I really enjoyed book, it made me think alot, and I really liked the characters and writing style. Plus, it helped to comfort me when I was sick. :-)

Have any of you read it? What are your thoughts?


4 comments:

Bethany said...

I remember liking it. Cool post.

Shayleen said...

I just got this book from the library and I've been putting off reading it because I'd heard it was really depressing... I think I'll read it now... :)

Bethany said...

Depressing is over rated. So many things are called depressing that are not in the slightest bit...basically anything that seems real lifeish is depressing...
No...hello?

dura mater said...

Where did the book go? I want to read it as soon as I finish the Sigmund Brouwer books!