To Kill a Mockingbird

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Publisher: Random House, Random House Audio

Genre: Classic Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, General Fiction, Literature

Year of release: 1960

Release date: July 1^st, 2010

Rating

Tw racism, discrimination, rape, outdated language

Synopsis

A black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man’s struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much. 

Review

 Welcome to Maycomb, Alabama, 1933 as seen through the eyes of 6-year-old Maycomb native Jean Louise Finch better known as Scout, daughter of Atticus Finch a widower as well as the county’s trusted and well-respected lawyer. Scout is just beginning her schooling years happy to explore and play in the streets with her older brother Jem and their friend Gill; life is good.

Atticus Finch believes in justice for all, when Mayella Ewell accuses fellow Maycomb resident Tom Robinson a of rape, Atticus does his best to prove the African American man is innocent. Unfortunately, the Maycomb townsfolk take sides and not everyone takes to kindly to Atticus Finch defending this man, some in the community think he should be put to death for this accusation against him.

Can Atticus Finch unveil the truth before it’s to late? Will Jem and Scout discover why Atticus is so important to the community?

Having first read this book back in high school I wanted to familiarise myself with Author Harper Lee’s masterpiece once more, and I’m so glad I did! I feel I understand it more, I believe any book that continues to teach its readers 61 years after its publication is worthy of further investigation.

Harper Lee previously stated that her protagonist Jean Louise “Scout” was loosely based on herself and some of the situations the Finch family experienced growing up in Monroeville, Alabama, in 1936 are detailed in the novel; at that time Ms Lee was 10 years old I believe that this is what made Scout so interesting, and a forever favourite character Jean Louise had so much insight into the world and people around her without being to be overbearing.  

“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Characters of this novel are well suited the situations they found themselves in where suitable based on the time period and the location.  The unlikely friendship between Arthur “Boo” Radley and Scout was an absolute joy to witness, as it teaches us that maybe we shouldn’t believe everything we hear about our neighbours and to approach life with youthful enthusiasm.  

“I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year.
Scout”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 Thanks to the Authors skilled writing the world of Maycomb County was bought to life right in front of my eyes, this making To kill a Mockingbird one of my most memorable reads in 2021; Topics such as racism, discrimination, rape and language that is considered misused and outdated nowadays are not shied away from in this book, however at the same time are dealt with, with sensitivity for that particular time period.  

“Atticus said to Jem one day, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 The conflict and resolution chapters were my favourites because even though I knew the ending I felt I was better able to fully understand all sides of this story once and for all, even though the plot might be considered slow I feel this only added to the everlasting love I and so many others have for this novel.

To kill a Mockingbird is a book this reader personally believes everyone should read once in their lives, I will say if you struggle with small print the audiobook does this title justice. Upon farewelling the Finch’s and the townsfolk of Maycomb, Alabama, I realised I went through all the emotions when reading, not many books have that effect, this is the reason for my 5-star rating.

I highly recommend this book to mature readers, readers who love a character-based book with grit should endeavour to read this book.