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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - review

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books that almost everyone reads at some point in their lives. Whether you've been forced to read it at school, or you've had a look because everyone's been urging you to, most people have their own personal experience of reading Mockingbird.

The book is about Atticus Finch, who appears as an unconventional hero and role model due to his morality rather than his physical capabilities. The theme of morals is apparent throughout the whole novel, especially in relation to religion and perception of sin. Take Mrs Dubose, a recovering morphine addict: she vows that she'll die beholden to nothing and nobody. She's pursuing her own dream of being a free human being because she knows deep down that it's right.

To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on that gut instinct of right and wrong, and distinguishes it from just following the law. Even the titular quote: "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" is in itself an allegory for this message. Being in itself a generic message, the idea of 'doing what's right' obviously has a different meaning depending on when and where you're reading the book. If you take 1960, when the book was written, America was in a state of ethical development as social inequality was - very - gradually being overcome. Women's rights and black rights movements were beginning to emerge and some campaigned through violence. Would Atticus Finch condone this?

In the 1930s, when the book was set, America was in the midst of the Great Depression. This was a time when economic difficulties meant that the American Dream was receding further and further away. We could consider that Atticus Finch felt that his own dream of an equal, morally decent society was also heading in the wrong direction.

Without denying the constancy of the moral message, and the pure ingenuity of the book, it's still open to debate whether, as with all classics, schoolchildren should be forced to read the novel and go over it page-by-page. The beauty of literature and the reason why I love it so much is that a writer must eventually relinquish the meaning of his or her book. Therefore everyone who reads it can take something out of it which no one has before. I find that a beautiful notion myself, but it seems that looking for these life lessons has become a less and less popular exercise as the years have gone by. Let it not be forgotten that a true piece of literature, like To Kill a Mockingbird, is meaningful in every period and that today, Atticus Finch's message should be heard in the midst of all the global conflicts that we hear of on the news every night.

To think that children are suffering across the world because of a tyrannical regime or an unfair justice system is a depressing notion, and I think a modern Atticus Finch would agree. I don't think he would be comfortable knowing that innocent lives were suffering because of inequality. Atticus would now be defending issues that Harper Lee did not consider when writing the book, such as gay and lesbian rights, because what is at the heart of his character is an acceptance of who people are. That is a moral standpoint that you can hold whoever you are or wherever you are born. Atticus Finch is not xenophobic or homophobic. He's not racist or sexist. He's human and he sees everyone else in the same way. Who knows? Maybe Atticus Finch would even be an animal rights supporter.

Should it be analysed, taught in schools and pulled to pieces? I can't say, but what I will say is I'm not against anyone reading for the sake of reading. I've read many a book which I've enjoyed, put down and never thought about since. But I honestly feel that Mockingbird is a book which should be read, be it in school or in adult life (or both), without complete and utter absorption. It's a book with so many layers of meaning that you can get so much out of it. I for one know that To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that really has changed my life and that every time I go back over it, I find something new that I assimilate into my own code of ethics. Going over it, whilst being an arduous task, was in the long run worth all the time it took, and plenty more besides.

I would really advise picking up a copy of Harper Lee's magnificent novel and giving it a try. Because whatever happens, it will never stop being a good book, and it will never stop inspiring good people.

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To kill a mockingbird, common sense media reviewers.

Classic novel examines American racism and justice.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Author Harper Lee offers a snapshot of small-town

Atticus Finch tells Scout, "You never really under

Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout's father, courageousl

A drunk breaks a kid's arm. A man is killed with a

Frequent use of "damn," one "bastard," and one "so

Mr. Raymond drinks Coke (though others think it's

Mrs. Dubose is secretly addicted to morphine. A ma

Parents need to know that Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the terrible impact of racism in America through a little girl's point of view. The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama, in the fictional town of Maycomb, which Lee patterned after her own hometown of Monroeville. The…

Educational Value

Author Harper Lee offers a snapshot of small-town life in Alabama during the 1930s, including views about race and some information about events taking place in Europe leading up to world War II. Readers will also learn about 1930s gender roles, education, and divisions created by economic status.

Positive Messages

Atticus Finch tells Scout, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view -- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Positive Role Models

Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout's father, courageously defends Tom Robinson in a town where racial prejudice is firmly entrenched. He risks not only public disapproval but also his own safety to make sure Tom receives as fair a trial as possible. He imparts many lessons to his children verbally, but his actions speak loudest, teaching them empathy, and to judge people by their actions rather than by the color of their skin.

Violence & Scariness

A drunk breaks a kid's arm. A man is killed with a knife. Atticus and his children face down a lynch mob in the middle of the night. Town gossip includes a story about a man stabbing a family member with scissors. A rabid dog is shot in the street. The trial at the center of the story involves a man accused of raping and beating a woman. A prisoner is shot trying to escape.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent use of "damn," one "bastard," and one "son-of-a-bitch." The "N" word and "('N'-word)-lover" is used liberally by some residents of Maycomb as if it's perfectly commonplace, and by others as a weapon.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Mr. Raymond drinks Coke (though others think it's liquor) and gives some to Dill. Jem eats a Tootsie Roll.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Mrs. Dubose is secretly addicted to morphine. A man named Dolphus Raymond is believed to be the town drunk, because he drinks something hidden in a paper bag, but it turns out to be a bottle of Coca-Cola. Bob Ewell is said to spend his relief checks on green whiskey, letting his children go hungry. Scout smells stale whiskey on a man's breath.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Harper Lee 's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the terrible impact of racism in America through a little girl's point of view. The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama, in the fictional town of Maycomb, which Lee patterned after her own hometown of Monroeville. The narrator, 6-year-old Scout Finch, and her brother Jem and their friend Dill play children's games, but they also have a clear view of the adults in their world. Their youth and innocence contrasts with the prejudice, cruelty, and poverty they often observe. There's some threatened and real violence in this Pulitzer Prize winner: A man breaks a child's arm; a rabid dog is shot and killed; there is a stabbing death; the children and their father, Atticus Finch, confront a lynch mob; and the court case at the center of the novel involves a Black man who's been accused of raping and beating a white woman. Some of this violence is whiskey-fueled, as well. Profanity includes "damn," "bastard," and "son-of-a-bitch." The "N" word and "('N'-word)-lover" is used liberally by some residents of Maycomb as if it's perfectly commonplace, and by others as a weapon. The children in the novel learn powerful lessons about the impact of poverty and prejudice, and the importance of empathy, and so will those who read this classic. The 1962 film version starring Gregory Peck is one of those rare films that truly does justice to the original book. The audiobook read by Sissy Spacek is also note-perfect.

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• Kids say (167)

Based on 27 parent reviews

So many levels to enjoy this book

What's the story.

Growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, Scout Finch -- the narrator of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD -- and her brother, Jem, are being raised by their widowed father, Atticus. Some interesting characters live on their street, both seen and unseen. Dill Harris comes to stay with Scout and Jem's next-door neighbor Rachel Haverford every summer, and the three children develop a close friendship. Elderly Mrs. Dubose shouts insults at the neighbors from her porch. Miss Maudie offers the children friendly advice and baked goods. The young Finches are scared of the Radleys' house, as creepy stories are circulated about Mr. Radley and his sons, especially Arthur, also known as Boo. The children enjoy re-enacting make-believe versions of the stories they've heard about Boo. Scout goes through some growing pains in the story, as her first day of school goes poorly and Jem becomes less willing to play with his little sister. Atticus encourages his daughter to exhibit empathy and patience with others, and he warns both his children that tough times may be coming to their little family; they may hear things that upset them, and he wants them to keep cool. The children learn that Atticus, an attorney, has taken the case of a Black man who has been accused of raping and beating a White woman. The events that unfold surrounding the trial and its aftermath teach the children a lot about their father's inner strength and wisdom, and the effects of racism and poverty on their community.

Is It Any Good?

Told through the eyes of a child, Harper Lee's magnum opus may seem to take a simplistic point of view, but Scout's world is rich and complex. And the author doesn't stint when it comes to the realities Black people face in a racist society -- and the pressures that poverty puts on the Maycomb community. All of that said, Lee's story is about a White family and is told from a White perspective. The reader learns much about the history of the Finch family and very little about Tom Robinson's life other than what's revealed through Scout and her father. This is a beautifully written book, with important lessons to teach, but readers should also be encouraged to read great writing by Black Americans, such as Richard Wright and Toni Morrison .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the prejudice exhibited by some characters in To Kill a Mockingbird . Could this story take place today? How have American attitudes about race changed since the 1930s? How have they remained the same?

This story is told through the eyes of a little girl. What does the author achieve by making Scout the narrator? How does this affect the way the story unfolds?

What does Boo Radley represent in the story? Why do you think the children enjoy re-creating stories they've heard about him?

Book Details

• Author : Harper Lee
• Genre : Literary Fiction
• Topics : Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Time Warner Books
• Publication date : July 11, 1960
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 11 - 18
• Number of pages : 281
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : August 11, 2020

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To Kill a Mockingbird #1

To kill a mockingbird.

323 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 1960

About the author

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James Baldwin: I don't know what most white people in this country feel. But I can only conclude what they feel from the state of their institutions. I don't know if white Christians hate Negroes or not, but I know we have a Christian church which is white and a Christian church which is black. That says a great deal for me about a Christian nation. [...] I don't know whether the labor unions and their bosses really hate me - that doesn't matter - but I know I'm not [allowed] in their union. I don't know whether the real estate lobby has anything against black people, but I know the real estate lobby is keeping me in the ghetto. I don't know if the board of education hates black people, but I know the textbooks they give my children to read and the schools we have to go to. Now, this is the evidence. You want me to make an act of faith, risking myself, my wife, my woman, my sister, my children on some idealism which you assure me exists in America, which I have never seen.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against is really cooperating with it. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.

"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.

People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

For my thoughts on the shameless money grab by the money-greedy publishers recently published first draft of the novel inexplicably (or read: cash grab) marketed as a sequel... Well, I think I just said it all.

“[...] Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.”

"If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside.”

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

“They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.”

“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

«When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow»

Alabama. Early 1930s. The Great Depression. Maycomb, an imaginary town. Tom Robinson (black), falsely accused rapist. Atticus (white), lawyer instructed to represent him. Scout and Jem (white), sons of Atticus. Dill (white), friend of Jem and Scout. Calpurnia (black), maid from Atticus house. Arthur "Boo" Radley (white), mysterious neighbour. Mayella Ewell (white), victim of a sexual assault. Bob Ewell (white), father of Mayella. Take all the elements listed above, add racism, ignorance, humanity, mix them up and you get the masterpiece of Harper Lee .

Sponsored even by the former president of USA Barack Obama, the message of the novel gets loud and clear: do the right thing, bravely, at all costs.

«Jem, mio fratello, aveva quasi tredici anni all’epoca in cui si ruppe malamente il gomito sinistro»

Alabama. Inizio anni 30. Grande depressione. Maycomb, cittadina immaginaria. Tom Robinson, nero, accusato ingiustamente di stupro. Atticus, bianco, avvocato incaricato di difenderlo. Scout e Jem, bianchi, figli di Atticus. Dill, bianco, amico di Jem e Scout. Calpurnia, nera, domestica al servizio di Atticus. Arthur "Boo" Radley, misterioso vicino di casa. Mayella Ewell, bianca, vittima di stupro. Bob Ewell, bianco, padre di Mayella. Prendete tutti gli elementi elencati, aggiungete il razzismo di alcuni, l'ignoranza di altri, l'umanità di altri ancora, mescolate tutto ed otterrete il capolavoro di Harper Lee .

Sponsorizzato finanche dall' ex-presidente degli USA Barack Obama, il messaggio del romanzo arriva forte e chiaro: fai la cosa giusta, a qualunque costo, con coraggio.

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Book Review

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, 1961

Author: Harper Lee

Publisher: J. B. Lippincott & Co.

Genre: Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction

First Publication: 1960

Language:  English

Major Characters: Scout Finch, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Arthur Radley, Mayella Ewell, Aunt Alexandra, Bob Ewell, Calpurnia (housekeeper), Tom Robinson, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Judge John Taylor, Dill Harris, Heck Tate, Stephanie Crawford

Setting Place: The fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression

Theme:  Community and Convention, Female Sexuality and Friendship, Faith, Suffering, and God’s Will, Science and Superstition, Justice and Judgment

Narrator:  First person

Book Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes readers to the roots of human behavior – to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

With endless books and infinitely more to be written in the future, it is rare occasion that I take the time to reread a novel. And this time it’s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a timeless classic. The first time I read this I was much, much younger and I remember loving it then. Over fifteen years later, it still held so much for me – wonderful language and characters that I never forgot about, profound themes explored , and relevancy even so many years later. Harper Lee is one of the best female authors.

The story in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is told from the point of view of Scout (Jean-Louise Finch), a six year old girl , through various events that happen in the town of Maycomb and in particular, the court case of Tom Robinson as her father Atticus Finch acts as Tom’s defence lawyer. Tom, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman, has to endure multiple racial attacks. Atticus, widely described as the “most enduring fictional image of racial heroism”, describes the events to Scout so that she sees that all people should be treated equally.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

The narrator of this story is young tomboy Jean Louise (Scout), and her observations of Maycomb and people’s behavior are simple, honest, and visually very rich. I had no problem picturing Scout, Jem and Dill’s childish efforts to draw Boo Radley out of his house, or Calpurnia taking the kids to a colored church.

But when, after 128 pages, the court case begins and the plot really becomes intriguing, you immediately feel a rise in tension and excitement. Here Jem and Atticus become the main characters instead of Scout because they are more aware of the risks and importance of the case, although Scout’s moment with the mob was heartwrenchingly beautiful in it’s innocence.

“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”

The last part of the book was less tense but never dull: it was important to show the aftermath and the effects of the case on different class – and races – of people to convey the impact of Atticus’ actions. Because back in 1935 and even now, in our current political situation, standing up for what’s right while the majority is against you, is an incredible brave and difficult thing to do.

One thing especially about this story that stood out to me, are the interesting gender roles in this book. We have Atticus who isn’t only presented as an amazing father but also as a great male character, because he’s patient, courteous, clever…but not traditionally masculine. In contrast with Bob Ewell, the main antagonist, Atticus isn’t physically strong, doesn’t use strong language, and hates violence (example: he keeps his shooting skills a secret from his children).

“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

His sister, aunt Alexandra, is a very traditional female figure who wants Scout to behave more ‘lady like’, and because Scout doesn’t like her (at first), we as readers dislike her too. Acting as her opposites are Calpurnia and Miss Maudie, who neither show traditional feminine characteristics like politeness and charm, but both are presented as good and right.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a well-loved book for many good reasons, but I was very surprised by its diverse male and female characters, who make this story even richer than it already is.

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• Read TIME’s Original Review of <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>

Read TIME’s Original Review of To Kill a Mockingbird

M ore than half a century has passed since TIME reviewed Harper Lee’s first and only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird — but this summer TIME may have a second opportunity to review this celebrated and reclusive author’s work, when the publishing house Harper releases her recently discovered second novel, Go Set a Watchman . The publisher announced on Tuesday that the novel — which was actually written before Mockingbird — will be available on July 14.

TIME’s first review of To Kill a Mockingbird appeared in an Aug. 1, 1960 edition of the magazine, under the headline, “About Life & Little Girls.” While the reviewer doesn’t hold back on the praise, perhaps no one at the time could have anticipated the sensation the book would become.

Here is TIME’s original review, in full:

Clearly, Scout Finch is no ordinary five-year-old girl—and not only because she amuses herself by reading the financial columns of the Mobile Register , but because her nine-year-old brother Jem allows her to tag along when he and Dill Harris try to make Boo Radley come out. Boo is the Radley son who has not shown his face outside the creaky old family house for 30 years and more, probably because he has “shy ways,” but possibly —an explanation the children much prefer—because his relatives have chained him to his bed. Dill has the notion that Boo might be lured out if a trail of lemon drops were made to lead away from his doorstep. Scout and Jem try a midnight invasion instead, and this stirs up so much commotion that Jem loses his pants skittering back under the fence. Scout and her brother live in Maycomb, Alabama, where every family that amounts to anything has a streak—a peculiar streak, or a morbid streak, or one involving a little ladylike tippling at Lydia Pinkham bottles filled with gin. The Finch family streak is a good deal more serious —it is an overpowering disposition toward sanity. This is the flaw that makes Jem interrupt the boasting of a lineage-proud dowager to ask “Is this the Cousin Joshua who was locked up for so long?” And it is what compels Lawyer Atticus Finch, the children’s father, to defend a Negro who is charged with raping a white woman. The rape trial, Jem’s helling, and even Boo Radley are deeply involved in the irregular and very effective education of Scout Finch. By the time she ends her first-person account at the age of nine, she has learned that people must be judged, but only slowly and thoughtfully. Author Lee, 34, an Alabaman, has written her first novel with all of the tactile brilliance and none of the preciosity generally supposed to be standard swamp-warfare issue for Southern writers. The novel is an account of an awakening to good and evil, and a faint catechistic flavor may have been inevitable. But it is faint indeed; Novelist Lee‘s prose has an edge that cuts through cant, and she teaches the reader an astonishing number of useful truths about little girls and about Southern life. (A notable one: “Naming people after Confederate generals makes slow steady drinkers.”) All in all, Scout Finch is fiction’s most appealing child since Carson McCullers’ Frankie got left behind at the wedding.

See the page as it originally appeared, here in the TIME Vault

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

by Harper Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 11, 1960

A first novel, this is also a first person account of Scout's (Jean Louise) recall of the years that led to the ending of a mystery, the breaking of her brother Jem's elbow, the death of her father's enemy — and the close of childhood years. A widower, Atticus raises his children with legal dispassion and paternal intelligence, and is ably abetted by Calpurnia, the colored cook, while the Alabama town of Maycomb, in the 1930's, remains aloof to their divergence from its tribal patterns. Scout and Jem, with their summer-time companion, Dill, find their paths free from interference — but not from dangers; their curiosity about the imprisoned Boo, whose miserable past is incorporated in their play, results in a tentative friendliness; their fears of Atticus' lack of distinction is dissipated when he shoots a mad dog; his defense of a Negro accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell, is followed with avid interest and turns the rabble whites against him. Scout is the means of averting an attack on Atticus but when he loses the case it is Boo who saves Jem and Scout by killing Mayella's father when he attempts to murder them. The shadows of a beginning for black-white understanding, the persistent fight that Scout carries on against school, Jem's emergence into adulthood, Calpurnia's quiet power, and all the incidents touching on the children's "growing outward" have an attractive starchiness that keeps this southern picture pert and provocative. There is much advance interest in this book; it has been selected by the Literary Guild and Reader's Digest; it should win many friends.

Pub Date: July 11, 1960

ISBN: 0060935464

Page Count: 323

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1960

GENERAL FICTION

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A LITTLE LIFE

by Hanya Yanagihara ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015

The phrase “tour de force” could have been invented for this audacious novel.

Four men who meet as college roommates move to New York and spend the next three decades gaining renown in their professions—as an architect, painter, actor and lawyer—and struggling with demons in their intertwined personal lives.

Yanagihara ( The People in the Trees , 2013) takes the still-bold leap of writing about characters who don’t share her background; in addition to being male, JB is African-American, Malcolm has a black father and white mother, Willem is white, and “Jude’s race was undetermined”—deserted at birth, he was raised in a monastery and had an unspeakably traumatic childhood that’s revealed slowly over the course of the book. Two of them are gay, one straight and one bisexual. There isn’t a single significant female character, and for a long novel, there isn’t much plot. There aren’t even many markers of what’s happening in the outside world; Jude moves to a loft in SoHo as a young man, but we don’t see the neighborhood change from gritty artists’ enclave to glitzy tourist destination. What we get instead is an intensely interior look at the friends’ psyches and relationships, and it’s utterly enthralling. The four men think about work and creativity and success and failure; they cook for each other, compete with each other and jostle for each other’s affection. JB bases his entire artistic career on painting portraits of his friends, while Malcolm takes care of them by designing their apartments and houses. When Jude, as an adult, is adopted by his favorite Harvard law professor, his friends join him for Thanksgiving in Cambridge every year. And when Willem becomes a movie star, they all bask in his glow. Eventually, the tone darkens and the story narrows to focus on Jude as the pain of his past cuts deep into his carefully constructed life.  

Pub Date: March 10, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-385-53925-8

Page Count: 720

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015

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by Hanya Yanagihara

PERSPECTIVES

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

by J.D. Salinger ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 15, 1951

A strict report, worthy of sympathy.

A violent surfacing of adolescence (which has little in common with Tarkington's earlier, broadly comic, Seventeen ) has a compulsive impact.

"Nobody big except me" is the dream world of Holden Caulfield and his first person story is down to the basic, drab English of the pre-collegiate. For Holden is now being bounced from fancy prep, and, after a vicious evening with hall- and roommates, heads for New York to try to keep his latest failure from his parents. He tries to have a wild evening (all he does is pay the check), is terrorized by the hotel elevator man and his on-call whore, has a date with a girl he likes—and hates, sees his 10 year old sister, Phoebe. He also visits a sympathetic English teacher after trying on a drunken session, and when he keeps his date with Phoebe, who turns up with her suitcase to join him on his flight, he heads home to a hospital siege. This is tender and true, and impossible, in its picture of the old hells of young boys, the lonesomeness and tentative attempts to be mature and secure, the awful block between youth and being grown-up, the fright and sickness that humans and their behavior cause the challenging, the dramatization of the big bang. It is a sorry little worm's view of the off-beat of adult pressure, of contemporary strictures and conformity, of sentiment….

Pub Date: June 15, 1951

ISBN: 0316769177

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1951

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by J.D. Salinger

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To Kill a Mockingbird: Book Review, Summary & Analysis

Introduction: to kill a mockingbird by harper lee - book review, summary & analysis, book:  to kill a mockingbird.

• Author: Harper Lee
• Publisher: Harper Collins
• Publication Year: 1960
• Binding: Paperback  

About the Author: Harper Lee  

Excerpts from the original text

There is no need to say everything you know. That's not a lady-besides, people don't like people around them who know more than they do. That will annoy them. No matter how correct you are, you can't change these people. Unless they want to learn, there is no way. You either close your mouth or use their language. —— Quoted from page 153.

Short Comment

Book Summary

Book review & analysis.

"The life that has not read this book is really different from the life after reading it." 

• How to get along with others? 
• How to handle complex interpersonal relationships in an honest manner? 
• How to be a friendly but self-persistent person? 

Main Storyline

How to get along with others?

• The reason why we don't get along well with a certain person (or a certain type of person) is that we disagree with this person's behavior style, and thus produce an overall negation of this person.
• If we always look at others from our own perspective, it is difficult to understand why others have such "weird" behavior;
• "Standing from the point of view of others": It is not simply imagining yourself as the other party, and guessing based on your own experience. It is to "get into someone else's body and wander around", which means that you have to really understand the person's past background and experience. If you still use your own experience to judge what this person is doing, you will not be able to achieve true transposition.
• If you have not been able to "get into someone else's body and wander around", at least, you should have such a belief in others: "After you finally understand them, you will find that most people are good people. ". This sentence is the last sentence that Father Atticus told Scott in the book. I think it is simply a well-known saying. Before we did not understand other people, at least we can first understand that "other people's actions are justified".

How to deal with dissent?

"Even if you didn't do those pranks, I would still let you read to Mrs. Du Boss to accompany her because I want you to take a good look at her. This is the bravest person I have ever seen. What did she explain? called the real courage. courage gas on hand is not a man with a gun. courage is when you embark on the field before you know you will be Tongzou meal, but you still on the field, and no matter what happens, you Persevere till the end. Most of the time you will fail, but sometimes, you will also succeed."

How to stick to yourself?

"Sometimes, I feel that I am a failure to be a parent, but I am everything they have. When Jim looks up to others, he looks up first. It’s me, I want to live upright so that I can face him calmly..."

"You may hear some bad comments in school, but please do one thing for me: raise your head and lower your fists. No matter what others say to you, don't get angry. Try to fight with your head. Don't because We had already failed for a hundred years before that, and though we had no reason to fight for victory."

"Be sensible about despicable things, and when things pass, you can look back with sympathy and understanding, and be grateful for not disappointing people at the time. When most people think they are right and you are wrong Of course, they have the right to think so, and their views are also entitled to be fully respected. But before they can get along with others, they must first get along. There is one thing that cannot follow the principle of conformity, and that is the conscience of people."

Self-photography in the mirror

"Uh, coming out of the court that night, Miss Gates-she walked in front of us when she descended the steps, you must have not seen her-she was talking to Miss Stephenson. I heard her say: It's time to teach them. They are becoming less and less aware of their identities. Will they think that they can marry us in the next step. Jim, a man who hates Hitler so much, is so vicious to the people of his hometown when he turns his face?"

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Lots of People Love ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Roxane Gay Isn’t One of Them.

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By Roxane Gay

• June 18, 2018

WHY ‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’ MATTERS What Harper Lee’s Book and the Iconic American Film Mean to Us Today By Tom Santopietro 305 pp. St. Martin’s Press. $26.99.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book for which a great many people harbor reverence and nostalgia. I am not one of those people. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the narrator of Harper Lee’s coming-of-age novel set in the Depression-era South, tells the story of how her lawyer father, Atticus, defended Tom Robinson, a black man who has been falsely accused of raping a white woman in the fictional Alabama town of Maycomb. By the end of the novel, Robinson has been murdered while trying to escape prison. Scout has lost her innocence; for the first time, she truly understands the racial dynamics of her environment.

I don’t find “To Kill a Mockingbird” to be particularly engaging. There are moments throughout the narrative that are exquisitely drawn, and I appreciate Lee’s dry wit and intelligence. On the novel’s first page, she writes, “Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings.” That one line says so much about the Finch family, the South and its ongoing relationship to the past. Scout is a memorable character, but such depth rarely extends to the others. Atticus is written as the platonic ideal of a father and crusader for justice. The black characters — Robinson and the family’s housekeeper, Calpurnia — are mostly there as figures onto which the white people around them can project various thoughts and feelings. They are narrative devices, not fully realized human beings.

The “n word” is used liberally throughout and there are some breathtaking instances of both casual and outright racism. The book is a “product of its time,” sure, so let me just say that said time and the people who lived in it were plain terrible. As for the story, I can take it or leave it. Perhaps I am ambivalent because I am black. I am not the target audience. I don’t need to read about a young white girl understanding the perniciousness of racism to actually understand the perniciousness of racism. I have ample firsthand experience.

Which brings us to “Why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Matters,” by Tom Santopietro, whose title makes the bold claim that Lee’s classic has endured over the past 58 years because it offers a message that stands the test of time. The book’s continued popularity, and the success of the author’s only other published work, “Go Set a Watchman,” certainly support this claim. Santopietro’s book, however, does not.

The title is misleading. I expected this text to offer a complex and sustained argument about the merits of the novel itself . Instead, much of the book is given over to a biography of Nelle Harper Lee and an extremely detailed history of the making of the 1962 movie. Some light literary analysis is thrown in for good measure. Never does this book take chances or make a persuasive argument for why “To Kill a Mockingbird” matters to anyone but white people who inexplicably still do not understand the ills of racism, and seemingly need this book to show them the light.

Santopietro has certainly done his homework, and he applies the rigor of his knowledge admirably. I came away from the book knowing a great deal more about Harper Lee. He writes lovingly of her hometown, Monroeville, Ala., and her upbringing, convincingly identifying the connective tissue between Lee’s life and the most significant elements of her novel. The context in which she wrote and sold it is just as finely detailed, as is the book’s critical reception upon release. I enjoyed his insights into Lee’s painstaking process of composition and revision — the time and commitment it took. One of the most striking revelations was the ferocity of Lee’s ambition: She was very invested in the success of both her book and the movie.

[ Our review: “Atticus Finch: The Biography” | Our review: “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” | The Life, Death and Career of Harper Lee ]

Most of Santopietro’s work is given over to that movie — so much so that I began to wonder if this book was intended to be a cultural history of the adaptation alone. Santopietro has previously written books about other beloved film adaptations, including “The Sound of Music” and “The Godfather”; here, he details everything from the producers, the screenwriter, the cast and the set decorators to how the film was received by the critics, the public and Lee herself. He is passionate about Gregory Peck as just the right kind of leading man to step into the role of Atticus, and shares a great deal about the process of selecting the child actors to play Scout; her brother, Jem; and their friend Dill. Santopietro goes so far as to elaborate on the lives of everyone involved in the film for years after its release. All of this material is vaguely interesting, but the author fails to explain how it supports his argument that “To Kill a Mockingbird” matters.

On top of that, the book’s structure is strange. There are all kinds of digressions in each chapter, some of which feel more like information dumps than components of a cohesive narrative. Nor is there a clear progression between them: The 11th chapter is about the merits of the movie as an adaptation, and the 13th is about Harper Lee’s private nature, but the 12th asks the question: “Is ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Racist?” (My answer to that question is yes.) These organizational choices — and the one or two jarring Stephen Sondheim quotations he cites — are bewildering. As much as I admire the exhaustive research, not a lot of care seems to have been put into how it is conveyed.

Not until the last few chapters does Santopietro finally try to make a definitive case for the importance of this seminal American novel . He offers statistics about the book’s commercial success: “Translated into 40 languages, the novel sells approximately 750,000 copies every year,” he writes. “In total, some 40 million copies have been sold worldwide since 1960, and at the time of Harper Lee’s death in 2016, her annual royalties remained in excess of three million dollars.” Few other books have sold so robustly for so long. “Mockingbird” is also required reading “in over 70 percent of American high schools.” These numbers are impressive indeed, but ubiquity and quality are not the same thing (and neither one is necessarily the same thing as importance).

Santopietro also notes that we’re still living in a world where ethnic prejudice abounds, not just toward black people but Mexicans, Syrian refugees and others. The author is not ignorant of the racial zeitgeist, but it is odd that he thinks Lee’s novel speaks to it adequately. He boldly claims, “‘Mockingbird’ succeeds in a basic task of literature: the expansion of worldviews by means of exposure to differing communities and cultures.” In that it tells the story of a wrongfully accused incarcerated black man, he is correct, but it is important to question just what kind of exposure the text offers . Given the shallowness of the black characters — how they are vehicles for Scout’s story instead of their own — we as readers should raise the bar higher than mere “exposure.”

Santopietro saves his keenest observation for the final pages of “Why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Matters,” in which he acknowledges the power of nostalgia: “The continued heartfelt response to ‘Mockingbird’ now seems inextricably tied up in Harper Lee’s ability to underscore a sense of community sorely lacking today.” He goes on to discuss how people spend too much time in isolation with their electronic devices, as neighborhoods, communities and communication disintegrate. He acknowledges how much the culture has changed since the book’s publication in 1960, but laments the proliferation of “dark and damaged characters”on television and in film. What he conveys most powerfully is a yearning for a simpler time — a uniquely white yearning, because it is white people to whom history has been kindest. It is white people who seem to long for the safety of cloistered communities where everyone knows one another, where people know their place and are assured of what their lives may hold. Clearly, Santopietro identifies more with Scout, Jem and Dill than with, say, Boo Radley, the town recluse who probably wouldn’t yearn for that simpler time when the townspeople regarded him with open distance and mistrust.

And then the author illustrates why it is hard to take this book seriously: “The United States found in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was unquestionably a more racist, oppressive America, deaf to the desires and hopes of women, homosexuals, minorities and nearly anyone who did not fit the prevailing definition of ‘normal.’” This statement is technically true, but it overlooks the serious racial tensions our nation still faces. Santopietro does make brief mentions of President Trump and his lack of leadership during the Charlottesville riots, as well as of the responses (or lack thereof) of black people to “Mockingbird,” but these asides feel tacked on and unexplored. The groundwork for “Why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Matters” is astute, but the intellectual analyses are not, and the book suffers for it.

Roxane Gay is the author, most recently, of “Hunger,” and the editor of “Not That Bad.”

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Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill A Mockingbird is up there with some of the all-time classic books recommended to anybody who wants to consider themself “well-read”. It’s a book that takes you through all the range of emotions, teaching you morality and pure kindness along the way.

Originally published in 1960, To Kill A Mockingbird was Harper Lee’s first of two books she ever wrote. It is set in Southern America, in Alabama and follows the lives of Jean Louise, the daughter of Atticus Finch and her family and friends. It discusses and covers prejudice in a very gritty and down-to-earth manner and takes you through a story that will see you experience all the emotions.

To Kill A Mockingbird follows the story of Jean Louise, a young girl who lives in sleepy Maycomb, Alabama from 1933-1935 during The Great Depression. We follow Jean Louise’s experiences as she learns about the world. She learns what’s expected of women, how certain families come from “good blood” and “bad blood”, how poverty or wealth can affect a family’s standing. She learns most importantly about morality, mostly via guidance from her father Atticus Finch, the town’s lawyer. Most of the story is set around Atticus Finch’s defence of a black man within the town who has been accused of raping one of the young women. From this one trial, Jean Louise learns so much about people’s beliefs at the time – a time when black people were wrongly seen as far inferior to white people and were supposed to work for white people.

I’ll be honest, I absolutely loved every single word written in this book. Harper Lee writes from the point of a child in such a pure and believable way. Jean Louise questions everything – she hasn’t been brought up to hate black people – their housemaid is black and she is one of the family, she’s loved equally to everyone as that’s how she’s been brought up. So when people show displeasure and prejudice, Jean Louise asks her father, she asks her older brother Jim and she questions everyone as she’s not sure why they do. With these questions, Atticus consistently gives her a balanced and morally right view of the situation. He tells her why, he tells her his views and he explains that she should develop her own views based on how people treat her, not the colour of their skin, their gender or anything otherwise.

It’s a story that will leave your heart feeling whole and pure. Atticus Finch is the perfect father figure and Jean Louise is the perfect blank canvas with Harper Lee uses to ask the real questions that would have been asked by so many young in the 1930s and prior. I could go on for many more paragraphs about how this book can teach children and those with prejudice views a smarter, more simple way to view everyone but I’ll stop here before this begins to become an ethics essay.

Characters – 5/5 

Jean Louise is brilliant – she’s a young feisty girl who defies everything that society expects her to be. During the period, women were expected to behave like “women”. This meant wearing dresses, understanding your role as a man’s aid, speaking properly, curtsying to everybody etc. However, as I mentioned above, Jean Louise has been brought up by a man that’s never taught her what she should or shouldn’t be and so having an older brother has left her as a bit of a tom-boy. She loves to get muddy, she gets into fist-fights at school and she’s not afraid to answer back if she genuinely doesn’t believe what’s being asked of her is what she should do. She’s strong, incredibly intelligent and utterly lovable throughout – despite her quite obvious flaws as a child growing up in a fairly backwards society.

Atticus Finch is written as a true hero. He’s a well-educated, well-read white man who always says and does the right thing. He always knows the best way to phrase tricky topics and he never fights or argues, even in situations where he has every right to do so. There’s an element to Atticus of wanting so hard for his children to be genuinely good people that the choices he makes and things he says are possibly not what he’d always say or do out of the earshot of the children.

The supporting characters throughout the novel are all fantastic too. You have those who are racist, those who are sexist, those who come from more affluent backgrounds and those who come from poorer backgrounds. These all meld into creating such a broad stroke of different characters.

To Kill A Mockingbird summary – 5/5

I listened to To Kill a Mockingbird via audiobook and I read the kindle version too and whichever I was choosing to do, I found myself absolutely obsessed and invested by the story and the characters. When I pick up a classic, I always go into it with hesitancy as I worry I won’t grasp why  it’s received the acclaim it has and to have endured for such a long time. But I can 100% see why To Kill A Mockingbird is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. It gives you an utterly pure look into prejudice and the beginnings of the questions of whether it’s right the way people of colour were treated back then and whilst doing so writes in some utterly loveable characters, a gripping story and the feeling of completion when finished.

If you’ve not read To Kill A Mockingbird , I would highly recommend it to absolutely everyone. Usually, I pick a genre so I can link it to those genre reviews on my blog but I have to recommend this book to everybody. It’s fantastic and possibly up there with one of my favourite novels I’ve ever read.

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News, Notes, Talk

Read the very first reviews of To Kill a Mockingbird .

Sixty-three years ago today, a young Alabama writer by the name of Nelle Harper Lee published her debut novel: a Southern Gothic-adjacent bildungsroman about racial injustice and familial love in the American South.

In the months leading up to publication, Lee’s editors at Lippincott were keen to manage expectations, telling the author that her novel would probably sell only a few thousand copies.

Things, as we now know, played out a little differently.

Indisputably one of the best-loved American stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an Oscar-winning film starring Gregory Peck, and consistently been voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. It has also become one of the country’s most frequently challenged and banned books .

To mark this publication anniversary, here’s a look back at the very first reviews of To Kill a Mockingbird .

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

“In her first novel, Harper Lee writes with gentle affection, rich humor, and deep understanding of small-town family life in Alabama … Macomb has its share of eccentrics and evil-doers but Miss Lee has not tried to satisfy the current lust for morbid, grotesque tales of Southern depravity … The dialogue of Miss Lee’s refreshingly varied characters is a constant delight in its authenticity and swift revelation of personality. The events connecting the Finches with the Ewell-Robinson lawsuit develop quietly and logically, unifying the plot and dramatizing the author’s level-headed plea for interracial understanding … it is no disparagement of Miss Lee’s winning book to say that it could be the basis of an excellent film.”

–The New York Times Book Review , July 10, 1960

“All the magic and truth that might seem deceptive or exaggerated in a factual account of a small town unfold beautifully in a new first novel called To Kill a Mockingbird . At a time when so many machine-tooled novels are simply documentaries disguised behind a few fictional changes, it is pleasing to recommend a book that shows what a novelist can accomplish with quite familiar situations … To Kill A Mockingbird opens the chrysalis of childhood quietly and dramatically … Miss Lee’s characters are people to cherish in this winning first novel by a fresh writer with something significant to say, south and north.”

– The New York Times , July 13, 1960

“Clearly, Scout Finch is no ordinary five-year-old girl—and not only because she amuses herself by reading the financial columns of the Mobile Register , but because her nine-year-old brother Jem allows her to tag along when he and Dill Harris try to make Boo Radley come out.

Boo is the Radley son who has not shown his face outside the creaky old family house for 30 years and more, probably because he has ‘shy ways,’ but possibly—an explanation the children much prefer—because his relatives have chained him to his bed. Dill has the notion that Boo might be lured out if a trail of lemon drops were made to lead away from his doorstep. Scout and Jem try a midnight invasion instead, and this stirs up so much commotion that Jem loses his pants skittering back under the fence.

Scout and her brother live in Maycomb, Alabama, where every family that amounts to anything has a streak—a peculiar streak, or a morbid streak, or one involving a little ladylike tippling at Lydia Pinkham bottles filled with gin. The Finch family streak is a good deal more serious—it is an overpowering disposition toward sanity. This is the flaw that makes Jem interrupt the boasting of a lineage-proud dowager to ask ‘Is this the Cousin Joshua who was locked up for so long?’ And it is what compels Lawyer Atticus Finch, the children’s father, to defend a Negro who is charged with raping a white woman. The rape trial, Jem’s helling, and even Boo Radley are deeply involved in the irregular and very effective education of Scout Finch. By the time she ends her first-person account at the age of nine, she has learned that people must be judged, but only slowly and thoughtfully.

Author Lee, 34, an Alabaman, has written her first novel with all of the tactile brilliance and none of the preciosity generally supposed to be standard swamp-warfare issue for Southern writers. The novel is an account of an awakening to good and evil, and a faint catechistic flavor may have been inevitable. But it is faint indeed; novelist Lee’s prose has an edge that cuts through cant, and she teaches the reader an astonishing number of useful truths about little girls and about Southern life. (A notable one: ‘Naming people after Confederate generals makes slow steady drinkers.’) All in all, Scout Finch is fiction’s most appealing child since Carson McCullers’ Frankie got left behind at the wedding.”

– TIME , August 1, 1960

“Almost all the elements of the ‘southern’ novel are to be found somewhere or other in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, but they seem to wear a look of innocence, an aura of freshness, as if we were encountering them for the very first time … there are memorable moments in this story, some vivid and candid portraits in black and white, a gentle, persuasive humor, and a glowing goodness in the central figures. There is a timelessness about them and Miss Lee’s novel leaves one feeling that they will prevail in the difficult and painful adjustments the South must inevitably make. At least one has hope, and is grateful for it.”

–The Los Angeles Times , August 7, 1960

“Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is sugar-water served with humor … It is frankly and completely impossible, being told in the first person by a six-year-old girl with the prose style of a well-educated adult. Miss Lee has, to be sure, made an attempt to confine the information in the text to what Scout would actually know, but it is no more than a casual gesture toward plausibility … A variety of adults, mostly eccentric in Scout’s judgment, and a continual bubble of incident make To Kill A Mockingbird pleasant, undemanding reading.”

–The Atlantic , August, 1960

“…a wonderfully absorbing story … [it] will come under some fire in the Deep South … The fact is simply that she has written a wonderfully absorbing story, unencumbered by either of the gimmicks—the bedroom or bestiality—which are supposed to be the only things that sell fiction today.”

–The Mobile Press-Register , 1960

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To Kill a Mockingbird

By harper lee.

'To Kill A Mockingbird' is a 1960 novel by American writer Harper Lee. It is a classic that exposes the folly and injustice of racism in the Deep South through the lens of childhood innocence.

About the Book

Article written by Onyekachi Osuji

B.A. in Public Administration and certified in Creative Writing (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee begins with Scout Finch, who reminisces on events that took place in her hometown from when she was six years to nine years old. Scout, with her brother Jem, and their friend Dill undertake many childish ventures in a bid to unravel the phantom of a reclusive neighbor known as Boo Radley. As she grows older, Scout begins to see the sheer injustice of racial discrimination and prejudice in her society when her father Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Having seen what an unjust society they live in, the children begin to reason that perhaps Boo is right in shutting himself away from the world.

Key Facts about To Kill a Mockingbird

• Title : To Kill a Mockingbird
• Publication Year : 1960
• Number of Pages : 273
• Literary Period : Modern
• Genre : Bildungsroman
• Point of View : First-person Narration
• Setting : 1930s  Alabama, USA
• Climax : Boo Radley fends off Bob Ewell as he attacks Jem and Scout
• Protagonists : Scout; Atticus Finch
• Antagonists : Bob Ewell; the racist people of Maycomb County

Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is the centerpiece of Harper Lee’s career as a novelist . It was her first novel, published in July 1960 when she was thirty-four years old, and was her only published novel for most of her life until July 2015, when she published a second novel at eighty-nine years old. The second novel was titled Go Set a Watchman and was an earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, with some chapters of the two novels being the same.

Harper Lee was pursuing a Law degree at the University of Alabama but dropped out without obtaining the degree and moved to New York in 1949 to pursue a career as a writer. However, her move to New York was not without challenges, as she had to work to make ends meet and could only write in her spare time. For many years, Lee worked as a ticket reservation agent for an airline, which dampened her productivity as a writer. Then on the Christmas of 1956, Lee’s friends, Micheal Martin Brown, who was a Broadway composer and lyricist, and his wife Joy Brown gave Harper Lee a year’s worth of her wages as a Christmas gift with a note that read: ”You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas”.

Harper Lee promptly focused on her writing after receiving the gift, and by the spring of 1957, she had produced a manuscript that was sent to various publishers.  J.B Lippincott Company bought the manuscript, and a member of the company, Tay Hohoff began to work on the script as editor. In Hoff’s opinion, the script was more of a series of anecdotes than a fully conceived novel, and it took both author and editor about three years of dedicated hard work to restructure the script and produce the finished work that the world now knows as To Kill a Mockingbird . Within those years, Lee had despaired and almost given up on the script. It is said that she had once tossed the script out of the window on a winter night and had called her editor in tears. It is a good thing that Harper Lee did not give up on the script at the end because the novel became a gift to many readers and the world at large.

To Kill a Mockingbird earned its author Harper Lee the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and many other awards and recognition, including the Medal of Freedom from two presidents of the United States and appointment to the National Council on the Arts.

Harper Lee included numerous autobiographical details in To Kill a Mockingbird . The narrator Scout Finch had many similarities with Harper Lee as a child, the character Dill was based on Harper’s childhood friend Truman Capote, the morally upright lawyer Atticus Finch was based on Harper Lee’s father Amasa Coleman Lee, and many other characters in the To Kill a Mockingbird were based on real-life family, friends, and neighbors of Harper Lee. The fictional location of Maycomb County in To Kill a Mockingbird is based on Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama.

Although To Kill a Mockingbird was a bestseller that garnered public attention to the author, Harper Lee was reclusive and did not bask in the public attention. Asides from some interviews in the first few years after the publication, she turned down many requests to grant interviews and make public appearances and lived a relatively private life, shuttling between Manhattan New York, and her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama.

Books Related to To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel that showcases many aspects of the culture of the Deep South in the United States—small-town lifestyle where everyone knows everyone else, men with an exaggerated sense of gallantry towards their women, social class distinctions and racial discrimination. Below are some other novels with similar qualities.

• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936). This historical novel by Margaret Mitchell narrates the struggles of a sheltered white girl Scarlett O’Hara as she witnesses the ordeals of the American Civil War and the new age of the Reconstruction Era in the southern state of Georgia, USA. It is similar to To Kill a Mockingbird in being a classic storytelling from a Southerner that depicts the class, gender, and racial discrimination in the South.
• Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote (1948). This Gothic novel was written by Truman Capote, who was Harper Lee’s close childhood friend . The protagonist of the novel is a 13-year-old boy named Joel Harrison Knox, whose life takes a new turn after the death of his mother. Joel moves to a new home rife with decay and strange appearances but finds friendship with a tomboy around his age called Idabel.

Other Voices, Other Rooms, and To Kill a Mockingbird both have children as major characters and are similar in addressing themes of childhood, coming of age, and parental dynamics, along with issues of gender and race. Both authors also modeled a character after each other in the two respective novels— Truman Capote modeled the character Idabel in Other Voices, Other Rooms after memories of Harper Lee as a child, and Harper Lee modeled the character Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird after Truman Capote as a child.

• Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee (2015). This is Harper Lee’s only published novel besides To Kill a Mockingbird. Go Set a Watchman is an earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird submitted to publishers in 1957 but was published fifty-eight years later in 2015. Go Set A Watchman follows the later lives of characters in To Kill a Mockingbird as the South continues to face tensions around the issue of race and discrimination. Go Set a Watchman places controversies around the morally upright Atticus Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird . Scout Finch as a single lady in her twenties becomes disillusioned with her idolization of her father as she senses that like many other Southern men, her father might also have racial prejudice.

Lasting Impact of To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird caused a sensation from the moment it was published in July 1960. It quickly became a bestseller and was translated to ten languages just within the first year of its publication. And in 1961, it won Harper Lee the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

To Kill a Mockingbird was adapted into a film of the same title in 1962. The film adaptation, directed by Robert Mulligan with a screenplay by Horton Foote, also got a successful reception, grossing over 20 million US dollars from a 2 million dollar budget and getting numerous Academy awards and nominations. The film got eight Oscar nominations and won three out of them, including Best Actor for Gregory Peck, who played the character Atticus Finch.

Since 1990, a play based on the novel has been performed annually in Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama.

In a 1999 poll by the Library Journal, To Kill a Mockingbird was voted the Best Novel of the Century.

In 2006, it ranked ahead of the Bible in Britain in a poll of ”books an adult must read before they die”.

In 2008, the novel emerged in a US survey as the most widely read novel by students in grades 9-12 in the United States.

The novel has currently sold over 30 million copies in hardcover and paperback and has been translated to over 40 languages. Many consider To Kill a Mockingbird as the Great American Novel, and it continues to be a sensation and a topic of both academic and socio-political conversations in the US and across the globe.

To Kill a Mockingbird Review ⭐

An excellent novel that comes highly recommended for good reasons. Everyone should read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’

To Kill a Mockingbird Character List 📖

Meet the characters in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’. From Scout the adorable tomboy, to the mysterious Boo Radley and the noble Atticus Finch.

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes 💬

Here are some quotes worth noting in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee that covers religion, empathy, race, and more.

To Kill a Mockingbird Themes and Analysis 📖

The theme of race and injustice is a powerful element of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee that makes the novel a great sensation.

To Kill a Mockingbird Historical Context 📖

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee was apt in timing as it addressed the powerful issue of race at a time in history when serious conversations and actions about race were taking place across the world.

To Kill a Mockingbird Summary 📖

‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is a coming of age story where a child discovers that white and black belong to two unfairly different worlds in her society.

It'll change your perspective on books forever.

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Book Review

To kill a mockingbird.

Readability Age Range

• Harper Perennial Modern Classics
• To Kill a Mockingbirdwon a Pulitzer Prize. Librarians across America agree with the New York Public Library in their selection of this book as one of the best of the 20th century.

Year Published

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine .

Plot Summary

In their small Southern town, Scout and Jem Finch start out as innocent youngsters who play, attend school and attempt to communicate with their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. Their lawyer father, Atticus, always proffers wise insights for living. For example, he tells them it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, since mockingbirds do nothing harmful but simply sing. Though a peace lover and gentleman, Atticus finds himself in the midst of fierce social turmoil as he defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The entire town becomes swept up in the trial. Scout and Jem learn hard lessons about social inequity, personal restraint and compassion. When Boo Radley ultimately saves the children’s lives, it solidifies their resolve to care for the “mockingbirds” in their society.

Christian Beliefs

Scout asserts that church is their town’s “principle recreation”; she says she spent long hours in church copying chapters from the Bible, which is part of how she learned to read and write. The Finch family’s most noteworthy ancestor, Simon Finch, was a stingy and pious Methodist. Scout and a neighbor discuss the rift between the city’s “foot-washing Baptists” and non-foot washers. (The foot washers criticize a neighbor for having beautiful flowers, because they believe anything that brings pleasure is a sin.) When the children attend church with the black housekeeper, Calpurnia, they witness a pastor who brazenly reports some congregants’ sins from the pulpit — but also refuses to let anyone leave the church until they’ve given enough money to help a family in trouble.

Other Belief Systems

Prejudice — racial (the term n-gger is used repeatedly) and otherwise — plays a key role in the story. Jem tells Scout and Dill about “hot steams,” dead people who can’t get into heaven so they walk around sucking out others’ breath. He also contends that if a whole stadium full of people would concentrate on the same thing at once, the object would burst into flame.

Authority Roles

Atticus Finch teaches his children tough life lessons by talking to them like grown-ups and by allowing them to witness some difficult realities. His actions provide them with an example of how to show compassion to others, and he refuses to force his children to adhere to the social expectations and class distinctions of their day. Calpurnia, a stern but loving black woman, respects her neighbors and friends by not flaunting her ability to read and speak well.

Aunt Alexandra comes to live with the family, intending to help Atticus instill some good upbringing into the children; Atticus makes it clear he won’t allow his children to absorb her condescending opinions of others and her rigid view of how society should operate.

Profanity & Violence

Jacka–, son-of-a-b–ch, d–n, h—, b–tard and godd–n whore all appear.

Sexual Content

A black man stands trial for raping a white woman; fairly tame accounts of the event are provided in the courtroom scenes. Dill gives Scout quick kisses.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie review.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ wrestles with the past while seeking its place in the present

If written today, the work couldn’t be produced. it’s actually only because of its deep-rooted place in american culture that it’s worth doing, as aaron sorkin’s new adaptation attempts to articulate..

Atticus Finch (Richard Thomas, center) ponders the next question for the plaintiff Mayella Ewell (Arianna Gayle Stucki, left) in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” now playing at the Nederlander Theatre.

Julieta Cervantes

Atticus Finch, a beloved character in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” most famously played by Gregory Peck in the 1962 film of the same name, has for over half a century been considered a paragon of virtue.

But should he, in today’s parlance, be canceled? 

Playwright Aaron Sorkin’s new adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” — now playing in an impeccably produced national tour replete with an extraordinary ensemble cast led by Richard Thomas as Atticus — toys with that question.

The answer: Yes and no. 

In the bigger picture, we should also wonder if that is really the right question to ask.

In Sorkin’s take on the story of a white lawyer who agrees to defend a Black man accused of raping a white woman in the Jim Crow South, Atticus remains the embodiment of civility, working hard to see the very best in everyone.

But that kindness also seems a willful, almost absurd blindness to the depth of racial hatred his “friends and neighbors” harbor. Even his own kids sometimes have doubts about his gradualist, even accommodationist, views. He’s a good man, and a naïve one. He may well be part of the problem, even though he is so effective at articulating it: “We can’t go on like this,” he pleads in his closing argument. “We have to heal this wound or we will never stop bleeding.”

That double-sided quality to Atticus is not the only challenge involved with producing this play in contemporary times. Sorkin, to keep even within the core universe of the original (and the Lee estate sued him over relatively small liberties before resolving the matter), can’t write his way out of the fundamental issue that will forever make it problematic.

A Southern white lawyer Atticus Finch (Richard Thomas) defends Tom Robinson (Yaegel T. Welch), a Black man accused of raping a white girl in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”|

It’s not just the very frequent use of the “n” word — that’s a whole other dispute that is fully essayable. In the end, this was and is a story centering on a trial of an unjustly accused Black man, and the hero is the white savior lawyer, all told through the innocent view of his daughter’s coming of age and discovering prejudice and injustice. The entire conceit is a giant pat on the back for waking up to evil in the world.

In the meantime, the Black characters, the victims of the evil, are both aesthetically as well as socially subservient. Sorkin does significantly up the involvement of Atticus’s housekeeper Calpurnia to give some voice, in this case a sardonic one, but wow is it a liberal fantasy view of domestic servant relations.

To be clear. I love this show. Simultaneously, I wonder if perhaps I shouldn’t. 

If written today, the work couldn’t be produced. It’s actually only because of its deep-rooted place in American culture that it’s worth doing, but requires some form of critical distance to avoid both irrelevance and offense.

Exactly “some” form of critical distance is definitely here, in both the writing and direction. But it remains an authorized distance, with a commercially savvy sheen.

With that limitation in mind, it should also be said that if you are looking for pure theatrical craft, you can’t do better than what’s on stage.

Sorkin, always so skillful with a courtroom drama (where he started with “A Few Good Men”), begins directly with the trial and flashes back, emphasizing the memory aspect of the work but from a closer distance in time. He also spreads the narration out among the young characters to avoid too monotonous a voice.

The production, directed by Bartlett Sher, is beautiful visually and inventively graceful in how characters move through and around the wall-less scenery designed by Miriam Beuther. Adam Guettel provides a winsome score that perfectly expresses the sad — but not TOO sad! — tone.

Atticus (Richard Thomas) has a heart-to-heart with his daughter Scout (Melanie Moore) on the front porch of their home in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”|

And then there’s the acting, which is so compelling and moving that it pulls you deeply into the tale no matter how much careful resistance you want to maintain. Thomas, who has been American wholesomeness personified since his days as TV’s John-Boy Walton, doesn’t hesitate to let us see the negative dimension of that very quality. The kid characters Scout (Melanie Moore), Jem (Justin Mark) and Dill (Steven Lee Johnson) are all played by adults who use wonderfully specific physicality to indicate youthfulness but recognize that their language is too knowing to be age-appropriate and don’t force it. It all comes across with complete authenticity.

As Calpurnia, Jacqueline Williams, a familiar face to Chicago audiences, rolls her eyes and controls her words in a way that comes off as both comic and complex. As the defendant Tom Robinson — the victim of what is in the end a tragic story — Yaegel T. Welch is the essence of human nobility and ultimately far more aware than Atticus himself.

As the unabashed racist Bob Ewell, Joey Collins expertly connects humiliation and vitriol. And as his daughter Mayella, Arianna Gayle Stucki explodes from a whisper into a racist rant so explosively that it generates (uncomfortable) applause for its performative excellence.

The sad part about all this is of course what it says about America today, because a decade ago it might have been different. Today, The Ewells of the country are ascendant in power.

Maybe the best we can wish for is that the flawed Atticus Finches will once again drive the national narrative.

That would be problematic and wrong. And an improvement.

To Kill A Mockingbird Book Review

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Review by: Brandy Carroll

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

To Kill A Mockingbird Introduction

“ To Kill a Mockingbird “ by Harper Lee is a renowned Southern Gothic novel set in 1930s Maycomb, Alabama.

It explores themes of injustice and racial discrimination through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl brimming with curiosity.

She witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of assault.

Lee’s powerful narrative challenges societal norms, shedding light on racism’s harsh realities and emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in the face of injustice.

Synopsis for To Kill A Mockingbird

In the deep South of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama, “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” by Harper Lee takes readers on an unforgettable journey through Scout Finch’s eyes.

With her astute observations and innocent curiosity, Scout guides us through a tale that delves into the dark underbelly of racial prejudice and injustice.

As her father, Atticus Finch, fearlessly defends a falsely accused black man, Scout navigates a world where ignorance and hate clash against compassion and truth.

With memorable characters like the enigmatic Boo Radley and the resilient Tom Robinson, Lee weaves a mesmerizing narrative that challenges societal norms.

She leaves readers contemplating the profound power of empathy and the complexity of the human spirit.

Analysis of Harper Lee’s Writing Style

With an exquisite blend of innocence and maturity, Harper Lee employs Scout’s authentic voice to explore themes in “ To Kill a Mockingbird .”  In my humble opinion, this is a powerful narrative technique.

Characters Development for To Kill A Mockingbird

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” showcases remarkable character development, particularly Scout Finch. Initially, Scout is a spirited and curious young girl. However, as the story unfolds, she better understands race, prejudice, and human nature.

Through her experiences, Scout learns empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

Similarly, her brother Jem transforms from childhood innocence to a more nuanced world understanding.

The evolution of these characters, along with others like Atticus Finch and Boo Radley, adds depth and richness to the narrative.

This makes their growth a significant aspect of the novel’s impact and provides beloved characters you will remember for years.

Pacing, Plot & Structure

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” maintains a well-paced narrative, balancing moments of reflection and tension. The plot unfolds through interconnected episodes, each contributing to the overarching story.

The novel follows a linear structure, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. This allows readers to engage with the characters and their experiences while exploring injustice and morality.

Themes & Messages 

“To Kill a Mockingbird” explores several powerful themes and delivers thought-provoking messages.

The novel tackles the destructive nature of prejudice and racism, highlighting the importance of empathy, understanding, and equality.

It delves into the complexities of justice and morality, challenging societal norms and emphasizing the need to fight for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

The story also highlights the significance of innocence, childhood perspective, and compassion in overcoming world darkness.

To Kill A Mockingbird Strengths & Weaknesses

Harper Lee’s memorable writing style and unforgettable characters make “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” a winning novel and an undisputed classic.

Weaknesses 

While “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” is widely acclaimed, it has a few perceived weaknesses. Some critics argue that the narrative occasionally deviates from the main plot, leading to pacing issues.

Additionally, the predominantly white perspective on racial issues has been criticized, as it limits the portrayal of black characters.

However, it’s worthwhile to note that these weaknesses are subjective and do not diminish the overall impact and importance of the novel.

What’s So Special About To Kill A Mockingbird?

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” is special for several reasons.

First, the book explores complex themes of racial injustice and moral courage through the eyes of its young protagonist, Scout Finch. It tackles racism and prejudice prevalent in the American South at that time.

Secondly, the novel uniquely critiques society’s treatment of marginalized individuals. It sheds light on prejudice’s devastating consequences and empathies’ importance.

Lastly, the book’s enduring popularity and impact on literature stems from its beautifully crafted characters, compelling storytelling, and timeless messages that resonate with readers across generations.

Is To Kill A Mockingbird Appropriate For My Child?

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” is often recommended for readers aged 14 and above.

The book deals with mature themes such as racism, alleged rape, injustice, and violence.

While it is a classic work of literature studied in many high schools, its content may be challenging for younger readers to comprehend and appreciate.

Parents and educators can consider individual readers’ maturity, reading level, and emotional readiness when determining if they are ready for the themes and language presented in the novel. 

Will TKAM Appeal to Adults?

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” appeals to a wide age range, extending beyond its recommended reading age.

While it is often studied in high schools, it has also garnered a significant following among adult readers.

Its universal themes, compelling storytelling, and memorable characters make it accessible and engaging for readers of various ages. 

Final Thoughts

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” remains a literary masterpiece. Harper Lee’s poignant exploration of important themes makes it timeless and thought-provoking.

The novel’s enduring impact lies in its ability to challenge societal norms, inspire empathy, and shed light on the complexities of the human condition.

“ To Kill a Mockingbird ” is a testament to literature’s power to provoke reflection, spark conversations, and promote understanding.

Find the book here:

If you don’t already have Kindle Unlimited , now is the time to check it out! 

You’re missing out on a VAST number of incredible books that you can read for a monthly membership.  

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Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee may strike your perception as a seemingly uninteresting story. The book tells the tale of two young children in a sleepy Alabama town, and at face-value, the plot does not garner much intrigue. However, I was in the same situation when I was required to read this book in the spring of my freshman year at high school. Indeed, while at first the story seemed boring, as I continued to carry on with reading, every turn of the page immersed me ever further into Lee’s timeless story.

As a reader, you share the emotions felt by Jem and Scout, two young siblings, as they learn the nuances of life in the prejudiced American South during the early 1900s. Not only was their community weakened by the economic collapse of the Great Depression, but also sickened by the bitter contempt felt among whites and blacks.

In the beginning of the novel, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch and her brother Jem innocently play games with their friend “Dill” and enjoy life in Maycomb with their father, Atticus. During this time, they have little to no apprehension of the racial tension hanging in their society, but when their father, Atticus Finch, who works as lawyer, openly chooses to defend an African American in court, trouble arises.

Jem and Scout undergo a number of personal developments during the course of the novel. While at first, they carry with them a genuine and child-like innocence, the court trial their father has taken on exposes them to the racist indignity felt by their fellow community members. Jem and Scout struggle to balance their conflict between the social norms of Maycomb and the morals their father has instilled in them. With the trial’s end, Jem and Scout are lead to discover the imperfections of their society, and the ways with which they are forced to deal with them. As the reader follows along, they not only watch Jem and Scout change, but they too themselves are shaped through Lee’s captivating story.

Overall, I enjoyed most aspects of the book. Although some scenes I felt were a bit plain and unprogressive, these minor flaws were overshadowed by the powerful themes Lee expresses through the story. If you haven’t already read To Kill a Mockingbird, I would certainly give the novel a try. If not for the genuine enjoyment of reading the story, try this novel to feel the powerful emotions stirred from Lee’s literary masterpiece.

Reviewer Grade: 10

Unveiling the Depth of Characters in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

This essay delves into the vibrant character tapestry of Harper Lee’s iconic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Set against the backdrop of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the piece explores how each character uniquely contributes to the novel’s exploration of racial injustice, moral growth, and innocence lost. Scout Finch, the narrator, offers an innocent yet insightful perspective on the events unfolding around her. Atticus Finch, her father, stands as a paragon of integrity and moral courage, especially evident in his defense of Tom Robinson, a black man unjustly accused in a racially charged trial. Jem Finch’s transformation from naivety to maturity reflects the painful growth that comes from facing harsh realities. The essay also examines the roles of Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbor; Calpurnia, the Finch’s housekeeper; and Miss Maudie, their morally upright neighbor. Additionally, it touches on antagonists like Bob Ewell, who personify the novel’s central conflicts. Overall, the essay portrays these characters as not just elements of a fictional narrative but as reflections of societal dynamics, offering insights into human nature and the quest for justice and understanding. PapersOwl showcases more free essays that are examples of To Kill A Mockingbird.

How it works

Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ isn’t just a book; it’s a narrative mosaic, with each character adding a unique shade to the story’s rich tapestry. Set in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, this novel explores themes of racial injustice, moral growth, and the loss of innocence. However, what truly breathes life into these themes are the characters – each one vividly sketched, embodying the complexities of human nature and societal norms.

At the forefront is Scout Finch, the narrator and the heart of the story.

Through her innocent eyes, we witness the unfolding events, her narrative both endearing and enlightening. Scout’s journey from innocence to a more nuanced understanding of her world is a pivotal element of the novel. She’s spunky, curious, and often oblivious to the adult complexities around her, yet her observations are disarmingly honest and insightful.

Then there’s Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, and an emblem of integrity and moral courage. A lawyer by profession, Atticus represents the moral backbone of the novel, standing up against racial prejudice in his defense of Tom Robinson, a black man unjustly accused of raping a white woman. Atticus is a beacon of wisdom, teaching his children life lessons about empathy and justice, famously saying, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Jem Finch, Scout’s older brother, represents the bridge between innocence and adulthood. Throughout the novel, Jem grapples with the harsh realities of the world, transitioning from a carefree boy to a more contemplative and understanding young man. His character arc reflects the painful but necessary growth that comes from confronting injustice and prejudice.

Tom Robinson, the black man Atticus defends, is a crucial character whose plight encapsulates the deep-seated racial prejudices of the time. His characterization and the trial’s outcome serve as a harsh commentary on the societal inequalities and the perversion of justice in a racially divided society.

Another pivotal character is Boo Radley, a reclusive and mysterious neighbor. Initially a figure of local myths and children’s imaginations, Boo emerges as a symbolic character representing the judgment and fear of the unknown. His interaction with Scout and Jem towards the end of the novel reveals the kindness and protectiveness beneath his enigmatic exterior, challenging the children’s (and society’s) preconceived notions.

Calpurnia, the Finch family’s black housekeeper, is more than a peripheral character. She’s a bridge between the Finch family and the black community, offering a different perspective and maternal guidance to Scout and Jem. Her presence in the novel highlights the complexities of the social hierarchy and racial dynamics of the South during that era.

Miss Maudie, another notable character, is the Finch’s neighbor and represents the moral righteousness present in Maycomb. Her sharp wit, independent spirit, and empathetic nature provide a counterpoint to the town’s more bigoted and gossip-driven residents.

The story also features antagonistic characters like Bob Ewell, representing the ugly face of racism and classism. His actions and attitudes serve as a stark contrast to the values espoused by Atticus and are central to the novel’s conflict and resolution.

In conclusion, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is more than a story about a child’s awakening to the harsh realities of the world. It is a profound exploration of the human condition through its characters. Each character, from Scout’s wide-eyed innocence to Atticus’s steadfast morality, from Boo Radley’s mysterious kindness to Tom Robinson’s tragic innocence, weaves into the narrative’s fabric, creating a timeless tale that resonates with readers across generations. The characters of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ are not just figments of a fictional town; they are reflections of our society, our prejudices, our virtues, and our journey towards understanding and justice.

Cite this page

Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. (2024, Feb 01). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

"Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'." PapersOwl.com , 1 Feb 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/ [Accessed: 13 Apr. 2024]

"Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'." PapersOwl.com, Feb 01, 2024. Accessed April 13, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

"Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'," PapersOwl.com , 01-Feb-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/. [Accessed: 13-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Unveiling the Depth of Characters in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/unveiling-the-depth-of-characters-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/ [Accessed: 13-Apr-2024]

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“To Kill A Mockingbird” starring Emmy Award winning actor Richard Thomas coming to Columbia Co. Performing Arts Center

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – The Columbia County Performing Arts Center will be putting on the production of “To Kill A Mockingbird” on Tuesday, April 30th, which is on a national tour starring Emmy Award winning actor Richard Thomas.

Reverend Sonny Mason, from the Woodlawn United Methodist Church, says that the church will be using this classic story to teach some Biblical concepts.

ALSO ON WJBF: PGA Professional Andre Lacey shares love for golf with community, giving back to Paine College

Reverend Mason says they plan to take a deep dive into the the historic book of the same title in which the stage play is based off of with scripture based lessons.

Patrons can get more information about how to get tickets by calling (706) 447-6767.

“To Kill A Mockingbird” is coming to the stage Tuesday, April 30th at 7:30 P.M. at the Columbia County Performing Arts theatre, located at 1000 Market St in Evans, Georgia.

Woodlawn United Methodist Church is located at 2200 Walton Way in Augusta, Georgia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.

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The best books set in all 50 states

Posted: March 13, 2024 | Last updated: March 13, 2024

When traveling on holiday in the United States, you might be tempted to send the folks at home a postcard. But why not give them a book about the place instead? A good novel or true story set in a particular state can capture the locale, people, climate of the times, and social forces at play better than anything else. So whether it is a classic like To Kill a Mockingbird or a celebrated modern debut such as On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, here are the 50 books for 50 states that should be on your list of must-reads.

Alabama: To Kill a Mockingbird

While writer Harper Lee didn’t have voluminous output, she secured her place in American literary history with this Pulitzer-winning classic on race and family set in Maycomb, Alabama. To Kill a Mockingbird follows lawyer Atticus Finch, as seen through the eyes of daughter Scout, as he defends a Black man accused of sexual assault on a white woman in the racially charged South during the Great Depression.

The book’s ongoing relevance is measured by the number of recent attempts to ban it in U.S. schools (some successful), often because of its use of racial epithets.

Alaska: Into the Wild

The bestselling book written by Jon Krakauer is based on the true-life mystery of Christopher Johnson McCandless , the scion of a well-heeled family who hitchhiked to the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley in Alaska. After bestowing $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoning his car and possessions, and chucking his old identity, McCandless was found dead and decomposing some months later by moose hunters.

The 1996 book was turned into the 2007 film Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn, and starring Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn and Catherine Keener. The Alaskan scenery also, of course, has a starring role.

Arizona: The Bean Trees

This 1987 novel has been described as “a lovely, funny, touching and humane debut, reminiscent of the work of Hilma Wolitzer and Francine Prose.” The Bean Trees follows Taylor Greer as she hits the road to escape her rural Kentucky roots, picking up a three-year-old Native American girl named Turtle along the way.

She finally ends up in Tucson, Arizona, and works in a tire-repair shop while she interacts with a colorful assortment of characters, including sanctuary workers, refugees, other former Kentuckians, social workers and spinsters, as she tries to find herself and get her 1955 Volkswagen roadworthy. Award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver herself grew up in rural Kentucky and spent two decades living in Tucson before moving to Virginia.

Arkansas: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Published in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings recounts the life—from ages three to 16—of celebrated African-American writer Maya Angelou. At the beginning, Maya and her brother, Bailey, are sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their grandmother, after the breakup of their parents’ marriage. There the author must cope with prejudice, and the pain of abandonment.

Of the touching tale, writer James Baldwin says, “ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”

California: The Long Goodbye

Raymond Chandler’s novels featuring hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe capture the gritty underside of living in the City of Angels. In 1953’s The Long Goodbye , Chandler expresses a lot of venom for the 1950s lifestyle of the entitled wealthy in Hollywood, who believed the rules just didn’t apply to them.

Marlowe deals with a rising body count, oily villains and glamorous dames using his gruff charm, hard fists, and hard drinking. He also loves to crack wise. For example , “A dead man is the best fall guy in the world. He never talks back.”

Colorado: The Shining

The Shining is horror-meister Stephen King at his best, with the story set in the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Jack Torrance is the new winter caretaker for the resort. He stays there with his wife, Wendy, and young son, Danny. As the parents deal with their crumbling lives, their clairvoyant son senses the evil residing in the hotel. Much drama ensues.

King recalls staying in the prototype for the resort, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park: “That night I dreamed of my three-year-old son running through the corridors, looking back over his shoulder, eyes wide, screaming. He was being chased by a fire-hose. . . . I got up, lit a cigarette, sat in the chair looking out the window at the Rockies, and by the time the cigarette was done, I had the bones of the book firmly set in my mind.”

Connecticut: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

This 2019 debut novel by American-Vietnamese writer Ocean Vuong , which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list, is the letter from a son, Little Dog, to his mother, who cannot read. Vuong was born in Saigon, Vietnam and raised in Hartford, Connecticut in a working-class family of nail salon and factory laborers.

Much of the novel is also set in Hartford, where the mother and son live in a tiny apartment in a rough section of town, with gunshots sometimes heard in the near distance.

Delaware: The Book of Unknown Americans

This 2014 novel written by Cristina Henríquez shares the points of view of different immigrants from Mexico, Paraguay and Panama living in an apartment building in modern Delaware. Although they are mostly U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, they are often “treated like slaves, animals, and idiots because they are perceived as ‘wetbacks,’ ‘illegals,’ ‘lazy Mexicans,’ and other insulting stereotypes.”

The main story is about the relationship between an outcast boy and a girl who is left brain-damaged and shunned because of an accident.

Florida: Tourist Season

Florida native and former journalist Carl Hiaasen uses wit and biting observations on life in the state, often taking aim at the entertainment behemoth Disney World in various guises. His 1986 Tourist Season is a mystery that GQ calls “one of the top 10 destination reads of all time.”

The dark but funny story begins with a Shriners’ fez washed up on the shores of a Miami beach, followed by the discovery in a canal of a suitcase filled with the almost-legless body of the local chamber of commerce president. Locals try to keep the tourist-damaging discoveries under wraps while a reporter-turned-private investigator searches for the crocodile-bitten truth.

Georgia: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Based on a true story , the book by John Berendt captures the gothic atmosphere, moss-dripping trees, historical squares, and colorful characters of Savannah, Georgia. The action revolves around the real case of Jim Williams, who was put on trial in 1981 for shooting to death his lover/employee Danny. Was it murder or self-defense?

The cast of characters in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil includes a redneck gigolo, a sharp-tongued Black drag queen, an aging and profane Southern belle, a recluse with a bottle of poison powerful enough to kill everyone in the city, and many others.

Hawaii: Simmer Down

The rom-com by writer Sarah Smith follows Nikki DiMarco, who quits her dream job to run a Filipino food truck with her mother on a Maui beach. Despite the idyllic location, trouble simmers when the local food scene turns out to be more competitive than imagined. The arrival of Callum James, a British food truck owner, turns the heat up and gives Tiva’s Filipina Kusina a run for her money.

Given the nature of the literary form, one has to wonder if the rivalry between Nikki and Callum in Simmer Down will turn into something else.

Idaho: Idaho

The title of this 2017 debut novel , written by Emily Ruskovich, tells you what you need to know about where it is set. The action takes place in the rugged mountains of northern Idaho, where Ruskovich herself grew up. The story is told from multiple perspectives, and looks at the lives of Ann and Wade (whose memory is failing), focusing on Ann’s attempts to find out about what really happened to her husband’s first wife and daughters. Hold onto your armchair. Shocks are in store.

Illinois: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Writer Erik Larson deploys on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling techniques for his book based on the true events of the 1893 World Fair in Chicago and the series of brutal murders that took place at the same time. Larson tells the story of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, architect of the “White City,” on which the fair was based; and Henry H. Holmes, a maniac who killed scores of Chicagoans lured to his torture-equipment-filled hotel for the fair.

“By juxtaposing these widely disparate lives, the author exposes the dark side of a glittering era,” writes the National Book Foundation.

Indiana: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

The 2013 novel by Karen Joy Fowler is about an ordinary Indiana family with three children—well, ordinary except that the youngest daughter is a chimpanzee. The premise is not quite as far-fetched as you may think; We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is inspired by some real sources, including Winthrop and Luella Kellogg, Indiana University scientists who raised their baby son alongside a chimp for almost a year in the early 1930s.

In the book, Dr. and Mrs. Cooke have a son called Lowell and two new daughters, Rosemary and Fern. Writes the Washington Post : “Rosemary never stops talking; Fern never starts. But their parents have ‘promised to love them both exactly the same.’”

Iowa: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Worth buying for the title alone, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid tells the story of popular writer Bill Bryson growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, in the 1950s. Apparently Bryson liked to run around his house and neighborhood as a superhero, dressed in a towel/cape and old football shirt with a lightning bolt, ready to fly into action and defeat villains.

The book evokes a happier time in a loving but eccentric family, when cigarettes, DDT and even nuclear fallout were considered not bad for you—and perhaps even good.

Kansas: In Cold Blood

Instead of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , you might want to read a darker story set in Kansas: In Cold Blood . The celebrated nonfiction novel by Truman Capote, published in 1966, tells the true story of murder of the Clutter family in Kansas. Using fictional storytelling techniques, the author recounts in dramatic form the killing of the family by two drifters, who are subsequently captured, tried and executed. The book helped catapult Capote to literary stardom.

Kentucky: Beloved

Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War. While the main protagonist, Sethe, is abandoned by her sons and lives with her youngest daughter in Cincinnati, she is haunted by memories of when she was enslaved in Sweet Home, Kentucky.

The novel is based on the true story of Margaret Garner , who escaped with her family from slavery in the Bluegrass State to Ohio, in 1856. When arrested by U.S. marshals, Garner killed one of her daughters rather than letting her return to enslavement.

Louisiana: The Tin Roof Blowdown

After growing up on the Texas–Louisiana coast, James Lee Burke sets his most-famous novels in the bayous of Louisiana, featuring the haunted detective and sometimes alcoholic Dave Robicheaux, and his frequent collaborator in crime fighting, the beignet-loving Clete Purcell.

While the level of Burke’s writing always transcended the crime fiction genre, his 2007 novel The Tin Roof Blowdown kicks it up a notch, containing one of the most vivid depictions anywhere of the Big Easy trying to survive the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, amid the floods, looting and power blackouts.

Maine: Empire Falls

The 2001 novel by Richard Russo won a Pulitzer Prize for its depiction of blue-collar life in the small Maine town of Empire Falls. Russo , who has lived in the state with his family since the 1990s, tells the story of Miles Roby, who has slung burgers at the Empire Grill for about two decades, giving up his self-respect, marriage and future in the process.

Maryland: Chesapeake

The 1978 blockbuster by James Michener is a sweeping saga that covers about 400 years of history centered around Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The book includes the stories of Quakers and pirates, slaves and abolitionists. The journey starts in the early 1600s, when young Edmund Steed strives to escape religious persecution making the harrowing voyage across the ocean to the shores of the New World.

Massachusetts: Writers & Lovers

Written by Lily King, who grew up in Massachusetts, Writers & Lovers follows Casey Peabody after she arrives in the state, in 1997, in the wake of her mother’s death and a failed love affair. The former child prodigy is now a waitress in a Harvard Square restaurant and lives in a tiny apartment above a garage, where she works on a novel that’s been underway for six years. Peabody works hard to balance the conflicting demands of work and life.

Michigan: Beach Read

The romantic novel by Emily Henry tells the story of two writers of distinctly different genres of literature. They come together living as neighbors in North Bear Shores, a fictional location based on the Michigan towns of Holland and Saugatuck. Henry, who went to college in Michigan, has the two authors—January Andrews and Augustus Everett—accept the challenge of trying to write in the style of each other’s specialty: romance novels and “bleak literary fiction.” As they take a walk in each other’s shoes, a slow-burn romance arises.

Minnesota: In the Lake of the Woods

Known as the “Walleye Capital of the World,” Lake of the Woods offers tens of thousands of miles of shoreline and waters dotted with islands. In Tim O’Brien’s 1994 novel , protagonists John and Kathy Wade stay in a cottage here following John’s disastrous campaign for the U.S. Senate, which he lost in a landslide.

Within days of their arrival, Kathy goes missing in the pristine wilderness. Was foul play involved? Or perhaps Kathy was scared off by her husband’s violence—he took part in the infamous My Lai Massacre in Vietnam.

Mississippi: The Sound and the Fury

The majority of William Faulkner’s novels were set in his native state of Mississippi. In The Sound and the Fury , three of the book’s four sections take place in fictional Yoknapatawpha County, in the early part of the 1900s.

While Faulkner’s complicated, experimental style documenting the decline of the Compson family received a lukewarm reception when the book was first published in 1929, The Sound and the Fury went on to be acknowledged as one of the great novels of the 20th century.

Missouri: Gone Girl

Named one of the most influential books of the decade , Gillian Flynn’s 2012 Gone Girl covers the strained marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. After losing his job as a journalist, Nick returns broke to his hometown of North Carthage, Missouri.

He opens a bar using some money from his wife, who resents her new life. When the couple celebrates their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing and the police are left trying to find the truth in conflicting stories.

Montana: A River Runs Through It And Other Stories

In A River Runs Through It , author Norman Maclean shows his skill at lyrical description in the book’s opening: “In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of great trout rivers in western Montana, and our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen.”

The 1976 novella by the Montana native offers memorable descriptions of life along Montana's Big Blackfoot River, combining fishing with matters of the heart.

Nebraska: Night of the Twisters

The exciting young adult novel published in 1984 takes place in the summer in tornado-prone Grand Island, Nebraska. When yet another tornado watch is issued, 12-year-old Dan Hatch and his best friend, Arthur, don't really pay much attention. Soon they are caught in blasting winds and the blaring of sirens, and they scramble to make it to an emergency shelter, knowing their ordeal is just beginning.

Night of the Twisters, written by Ivy Ruckman, won various literary awards and was loosely adapted in a 1996 made-for-TV movie.

Nevada: The Ox-Bow Incident

Also made into a 1943 film with Henry Fonda, The Ox-Bow Incident provides a wrenching depiction of frontier life in the American West, under the threat of mob violence. The book by Walter Van Tilburg Clark was first published in 1940 and focuses on the lynching of three innocent men in Nevada, in the spring of 1885, providing an engaging meditation on vigilante justice.

New Hampshire: The Hotel New Hampshire

John Irving wears his pride of place in the book’s title: The Hotel New Hampshire. According to a Time magazine review, “[The novel] is a startlingly original family saga that combines macabre humor with Dickensian sentiment and outrage at cruelty, dogmatism and injustice.”

Irving himself was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, and in his 1981 novel he uses black humor to depict an eccentric local family, the Berrys, who become pet-bear owners, befriend Freud (an animal trainer and vaudevillian; not the psychotherapist), and turn an abandoned girls’ school into the Hotel New Hampshire.

New Jersey: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Judy Blume’s 1970 coming-of-age novel follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon as she moves with her Christian mother and Jewish father from New York to the suburbs of New Jersey.

Writes Blume : “For the first time since I’d started writing, I let go and this story came pouring out. I felt as if I’d always known Margaret. When I was in sixth grade, I longed to develop physically like my classmates. I tried doing exercises, resorted to stuffing my bra, and lied about getting my period. And like Margaret, I had a very personal relationship with God that had little to do with organized religion.”

New Mexico: Bless Me, Ultima

Published in 1972, Bless Me, Ultima is Rudolfo Anaya’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story, often hailed as a leading example of Chicano literature. The book is set in rural New Mexico of the 1940s and tells the story of a boy who makes his way through the challenging American landscape of World War II, guided by a curandera (spiritual healer).

Anaya himself was raised in a rural New Mexico community, with a vaquero (cowboy) father, and under the strong influences of both the Catholic church and spiritual healers.

New York: Winter’s Tale

Mark Helprin’s 1983 Winter’s Tale embraces magic realism to present a New York City of enhanced beauty and criminality. Against the backdrop of a city alive with light and energy, Irish burglar Peter Lake goes to rob a mansion on the Upper West Side only to find a young girl, Beverly Penn, who is dying and sleeps outside in the winter cold to reduce her fever. Because of his love for her, Lake is driven to try to stop time and bring back the dead.

North Carolina: Where the Crawdads Sing

Also released as a 2022 film, Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, is set in the marshlands off the North Carolina coast, and serves as both a murder mystery and coming-of-age tale. The chapters alternate between Kya (starting when she is a six-year-old girl) and the sheriff investigating the murder of Chase Andrews, whose body was found in a marsh.

The New York Journal of Books warns that this is a riveting read: “Readers should set aside daily tasks, turn off cell phones, forget about laundry and possibly even eating once they start this story.”

North Dakota: The Round House

Winner of the 2012 National Book Award for Fiction, The Round House, by Louise Erdrich, takes place in an Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota. It follows a boy whose mother has been the victim of a terrible crime.

Of Erdrich’s body of work based around the North Dakota town of Argus, the Washington Post says, “Few writers have done as much to help modern readers consider the position of Native Americans within a national culture that has denigrated, ignored and romanticized them. And yet her books never feel like a whip for right-thinking people to lash themselves with for the ill treatment of Indians.”

Ohio: Eligible

Curtis Sittenfeld’s 2016 novel Eligible is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice . The experimental take on Jane Austen’s classic involves different members of the Bennet family. Liz, a magazine writer, and Jane, a yoga teacher, leave New York for their old Cincinnati Tudor home after their father has a health scare. Younger sisters Kitty and Lydia are too occupied with CrossFit workouts and paleo diets to get a job.

Mr. Bennett has one end in mind: to marry off his daughters, especially Jane, who is approaching 40. Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome doctor and reality TV dating show contestant…

Oklahoma: Killers of the Flower Moon

In Killers of the Flower Moon , writer David Grann looks at the real-life crimes committed against the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma. In the 1920s the tribe members were the richest people per capita in the world, because of the oil reserves under their feet. But they began to be killed off one by one under mysterious circumstances, causing the newly formed FBI to investigate and exposing a chilling conspiracy.

Oregon: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The action of Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel takes place in the Oregon State mental hospital, ruled over by tyrannical Nurse Ratched. Her domination is threatened by the arrival of McMurphy, a trickster who opposes her despite the threats of sedation and electric shock therapy.

The 1975 film of the same name , starring Jack Nicholson, won Academy Awards for best picture, director, lead actor, lead actress, and screenplay. Kesey was educated at the University of Oregon.

Pennsylvania: The Lovely Bones

In her 2002 debut novel , Alice Sebold explores the terror and trauma of the murder of a young girl in chilling, straightforward fashion, drawing on her own experience being sexually assaulted as an 18-year-old freshman. Seybold also uses her experience growing up in suburban Philadelphia in The Lovely Bones setting.

Says Sebold: “Who would have thought that the place I most despised growing up—where I felt like the weirdest freak and the biggest loser—would turn out to be a gift to me”

Rhode Island: My Sister’s Keeper

Jodi Picoult describes her 2004 book: “ My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another?”

Taking place in the fictional town of Upper Darby, Rhode Island, the novel focuses on 13-year-old Anna, who seeks medical emancipation from her parents after she's pressured to donate her kidney to her dying sister Kate, who suffers from leukemia. The book was turned into a 2009 film, starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin.

South Carolina: The Invention of Wings

Sue Monk Kidd blends fact and fiction in her tale of Sarah and Angelina Grimke, two sisters from Charleston, South Carolina, who completely devote themselves to abolishing slavery and fighting for women's rights in the 19th century. The story is based on the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, with Kidd using her literary gifts to go beyond what is on record and fleshing out the interior lives of characters.

The Invention of Wings earned effusive praise upon its release in 2014: “Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world.”

South Dakota: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

The 1983 book by Peter Matthiessen relates the story, set in South Dakota, of Leonard Peltier and “the FBI’s war on the American Indian Movement.” It covers what happened at Pine Ridge, providing a portrait of a violent era ranging from the 1973 Wounded Knee takeover through to the FBI shootout in 1975. The controversial political content led to the book being withdrawn from circulation for a while because of lawsuits.

Tennessee: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley

Tennessee and the legend of Elvis Presley and Graceland are forever entwined. Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick digs beneath the myth to get at the real musician and person. The writer draws on a decade of research and hundreds of interviews to give a compelling portrait of the man as well as the era and culture he left his mark on.

“Elvis steps from the pages. You can feel him breathe. This book cancels out all others,” writes Bob Dylan in a testimonial.

Texas: All the Pretty Horses

This is the first novel in Cormac McCarthy's “Border Trilogy,” and focuses on the 16-year-old cowboy John Grady Cole who must leave the ranch after his grandfather dies and his mother sells the property. Cole convinces his friend Lacey Rawlins to ride with him to Mexico, to find a more traditional way of life than enjoyed in fast-changing Texas. Along the way, they run into Jimmy Blevins, “a dangerous young boy on a magnificent horse.” Adventures are had.

The 1992 novel was turned into a film released in 2000 , starring Matt Damon, Henry Thomas and Lucas Black.

Utah: The Executioner’s Song

The true-story book may be Norman Mailer’s greatest work, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1980 (even though it is not a work of fiction). Mailer used taped interviews with relatives, friends, lawyers, and law enforcement officials to reconstruct the crime and fate of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who sought his own execution in Utah.

Gilmore had robbed two men in 1976 and killed them in cold blood. He fought for the right to die in a system designed to put off execution as long as possible.

Vermont: Life Among the Savages

In her 1953 memoir , Shirley Jackson puts a warm spotlight on her family life in rural Vermont, where cars and furnaces break down, a bully awaits on the corner, and husbands are blissfully oblivious to all the work done by their wives.

Jackson settled in North Bennington, Vermont, in 1945, and lived there until her death in 1965. She is best known for her 1948 New Yorker short story, “The Lottery,” in which a small-town lottery winner is stoned to death for her ‘luck.’

Virginia: Razorblade Tears

S.A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears captures the tensions between races in Virginia, and between the conservative elements in the state and the LGBTQ+ community. The 2021 novel follows a Black and a white father, both with a checkered criminal past, who must work together to bring to justice the murderers of their two sons. The young men were married to each other and living in Richmond, and had been rejected by their now regretful dads.

Washington: Snow Falling on Cedars

The novel written by David Guterson takes place in 1954, set on San Piedro, a fictional island off the coast of the state of Washington. Snow Falling on Cedars helps to examine the treatment of people of Japanese descent in the Pacific Northwest, following World War II.

The 1994 book opens with the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a struggling commercial fisherman who is accused of killing another fisherman over a land dispute. The trial must work its way through even though all the players have their visions clouded by their own particular beliefs.

West Virginia: The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle is Jeannette Walls’ 2005 memoir of life in a unique but dysfunctional family. The parents take the four children all over the country, trying to avoid financial debts. To escape the dad’s alcoholism, the mother takes the kids to their paternal grandparents’ home in Welch, West Virginia , driving there in a used car that continually breaks down and can’t go faster than 20 mph.

The book spent 261 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Wisconsin: American Gods

American Gods —Neil Gaiman’s 2001 novel and subsequent TV series—tells about gods living on Earth who draw their power from people’s faith in them. As the old gods waned, new ones replaced them, reflecting popular aspects of U.S. culture, including a preoccupation with celebrities and recreational drugs. Gaiman’s life in Wisconsin shows its influence in his work. For example, the state’s otherworldly House on the Rock carousel helped to inspire his magical thinking.

Wyoming: Close Range

Annie Proulx’s collection of Wyoming stories includes her crowning achievement, “Brokeback Mountain”—set on a fictional mountain in the state. The 1997 short story tells the tale of two ranch hands, Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar, who spend a summer tending sheep on a mountain while their friendship evolves into a sexual relationship. The romance becomes complicated by the attitudes of the times and their subsequent marriages to two women.

“Brokeback Mountain” was developed into a critically acclaimed film in 2005, directed by Ang Lee and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.

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