Review: To Kill a Mocking bird

To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Published by Vintage, The Random house group
0 099 46673 2

I’ve just finished reading this as an aid to helping my son define different types of prejudice encountered through the book, so I thought I’d write a short review of it while I was at it.

To Kill a Mockingbird was originally published in 1960 and won the Pulitzer Prize.

Set in Alabama in the 1930’s, it is a stark look at the culture and the prejudices that prevail in southern America through the eyes of a little girl.

Her family is white, and live in Maycomb. It is an old community with most white families able to trace their heritage back a common group of ancestors. The little girl – Jean Louise, is of the first generation that probably wont be marrying a second cousin.

Her dad, Atticus Finch, is the local member of the state legislature, and the incumbent public defender in this narrow minded town.

He is given a case to defend a black man against allegations of raping a white woman.

The story is split into two parts. The first details Jean Louise and her brother Jem, growing up without a mother. They have a fascination for the local recluse and the story goes into depth of their adventures into trying to get Boo Radley to come out into the light of day.

The first section also weaves the background into the tale, highlighting the differences between different folk and the social class structure that was in place.

The second part of the book deals with the trial and repercussions, of a racists America, and shows the first glimpses of people realising how wrong it was.

This novel has always been on school reading lists around the world and is considered a timeless classic. Although the language is occasionally hard to decipher, it is still an excellent read.

Time Out

Have managed not to sit in front of the keyboard until 8:30PM. I spent the first part of the day pitching in at a working bee down at the cricket club.

I've spent most of the afternoon, vegetating on the couch watching football - Australian style football, not that American style where they wear copious amounts of padding to protect themselves and not that European style football where diving has become and art. Real Australian Rules Football where, despite the best efforts of the administration, spectators can still see a truly physical, man's game.

I then put a chair together for my mother and fetched decidedly average Chinese take-away for dinner.

Now - after I've finished blogging - I will settle into my comfortable chair and finish the second half of Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird". My son is in year 10 and has asked for help with his English essay. I have no intention of writing it for him but I can't provide prompts or suggestions on how to complete his assignment if I don't know the text. Besides, it's supposed to be one of those English Lit books, everyone should read. So far, it's a pretty good story and an eye opener on life in pre-World War II Alabama. I'll post a review on my review page.

Final drafts of my three dark shorts, will not be completed before the end of the week :( I have a bit of house reno to complete at the start of the week, so they won't be done until towards the end of next week. I also have my article for SA50s+ to finish Sunday night after the lad finishes his essay.

And I still have two reviews to do for HorrorScope.

Once that's all done, then I can start to look at the next assignments due for my diploma. Oh and I must make time to write a new dark fiction story for this month.

No wonder I needed three weeks holiday......

Good luck with your writing.

BT