Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Lawyer Atticus Finch defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic, Puliter Prize-winning novel, a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes of Atticus's children, Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unanswering honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s.

Somehow I went through my high school and college years without ever reading this book. With the recent publicity about this book, I decided now was the time to read it. I packed it and took it along on our 2 week vacation and finished it the day we got home!


I'm not sure I would have appreciated it as much if I had read it sooner in life. As a parent, I saw myself looking at this book much differently than I would have as a student. I was moved by Atticus' parenting style and how he showed love to his children and his friends and his community. I loved Scout's innocence. She said the things that as adults we wish we could ask or say. Unfortunately, I don't think our country and the people in it have changed much with their prejudices. They may not be as blatant as they are in this story, but the same thoughts are still there. I am still amazed when I still hear the word "colored people" or when I was asked just a couple weeks ago, why do you want to go to Philadelphia, it's all black people down there?!?
This was a definately a book that makes you stop and think about your life and how you treat those around you. I am grateful I took the time to read this classic. I am anxious to see the movie version as well.