To Kill a Mockingbird…a review from a like minded soul

Why haven’t you read this?

Photo by Kabiur Rahman Riyad on Unsplash

I was late to reading… I was late to writing. I was a late bloomer in other ways, that no longer matter, but I wish I’d read this book years ago. It’s a classic for a reason.

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer prize winning novel was made to a movie I never saw either. I did see some advertisements for it and to this day I picture Atticus Finch as Gregory Peck.

I recently listened to the book in Audible, and as it was narrated by Sissy Spacek. It was fantastic. I never realized how much I would identify with Scout, the main character. I was a small town kid. Actually, I was one of the country kids, so was poor and didn’t even know it.

But I expected to hear hillbilly jargon. There was some of course, but I was amazed by the shear profound vocabulary the children of this book had. Given that their father was a lawyer, and times were different in the 30’s that could be. But in reality, I don’t think the every-day child would be as proficient with their words as Scout, Dil and Jim were.

Harper Lee was a fantastic writer, don’t get me wrong and I believe it is Pulitzer worthy. However… It got me thinking. Is it not what you know as much as it is WHO you know that brings success?

With a childhood friend like Truman Capote- (who Lee based Dil, Scout’s best friend on) she did have some influential friends. Her father was an editor for her local town newspaper, so she had experience with editing. And when she decided to publish a second book she returned to her original title “Go Set a Watchman,” and being the success she was of course no one told her the title couldn’t be that. I am excited to listen to the next book, (narrated by Reese Witherspoon)… because it takes place when Scout is 26 and returns home to an aging father.

The themes of To Kill a Mockingbird are as varied as those who read it are. We understand it talks about racial injustice and discrimination. But there is so much more. Gender roles, class, and trauma of rape, the law systems, small town politics, and world problems.

One review said it was more of a collection of anecdotes than a novel… but I disagree. When Scout is standing on Boo Radleys porch and surveys the neighborhood she see’s it as he does… She goes through the seasons of events and understands how he could stay hidden for so many years. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read this book. I do agree with another reviewer who said, “This is a book every adult should read before they die.”

I am glad I did. And I will let you know how the second one is as well. But my hat is off for Miss Harper Lee. As an old hillbilly, “She done good”!

As a fellow writer… I only wish to be 1 quarter the writer she is and hope the intentions of my books reach those who need to read them.

With much respect, Diana Day-Admire