To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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Book Reviews of To Kill a Mockingbird
Book Review: to kill a mocking bird.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ren Marc Serrano
English Acc. 10 pr.2
August 16, 2006
A Book That Influenced My Life
A book that influence my life would be the book To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.
This is a book that took place in a small town in Alabama some where between the 1800's - 1900's the days when blacks were supposedly free but were still segregated from the whites. In the story, we are taken in by thoughts of what seems to be an old women looking back to her childhood. The book which is in the first view point of view, uses the mind of a child to relate with the reader. As the narrator describes her life when she was a child and one important event in her life which will be highlighted for the rest of her life, the story continues to represent and express so much that will teach a valuable lesson to the reader.
This book has influenced my life in many ways, one way that it has influenced my life was from the topic of the story. Following from the plot itself, this book teaches you the value of life and how even though we try so much to make life fair, there are still people who will keep it unfair for their selfness reasons. Considering a moral like this, it may see as if the book was not good or is very gloomy, well this is not the case. This book still has many morals to it as for respecting others and teaches about growing up. Before I read this book I was a person who thought fairness was the key to having the "right" life, as I was told while growing up. After reading this book my perspective of life changed, knowing that life can't always be fair, but as to live life to the fullest and to never look negative among things, but to respect what happens and keep moving.
To Kill A Mocking Bird brought me the attention of what people use to be back in the times of the book and what people still are now a days. Covering the issues or racism, segregation, rape, and death all explained to the narrator which is only 5 -8 years old. This shows that you cant hide the truth about what some human beings are and the situations of life that occur almost everyday some where around the world.
After finishing the book you will come to realize that the world is a crucial place and it brings you to a reality that everything isn't always safe. That in which in the end keeps the reader filled with questions and wanting to know more in the real world.
From this book I have learned the following things that will guide me in the future and my life. I have learned the values of life and that every human being should be treated as equals. There is no need to segregate others because of the color of ones skin or what class they are in society. I have also learned that life is not always going to be fair, and that the world goes around but not the people, meaning everyone is similar in some ways and we all live in one world but no one is exactly the same, and because of this there won't be all kind hearted people in the world. Some are heartless and that is why there are kind people who help keep control over these people who can be heartless and ruthless.
The style that Harper Lee uses in To Kill A Mocking Bird, revolves around the narration of the book. Using first person point of view, she begins to describe what a five year old girl would see and becomes that five year old girls. Most of the story is told in first person in the eyes of a five year old, but the narration will then switch to the omniscient point of view for the reader to understand what is going on in the society. Because Harper Lee uses this as her style the reader begins to understand what goes on in the mind of a little girl.
Book Review: Idealism at its best
Summary: 5 Stars
This classic is one of those "required" novels that young people will be surprised to find they actually enjoy. This is mainly because the narrator, Scout, is such a likable tempestuous girl whose unflinchingly honest opinions are often as amusing as they are truthful. As the novel begins, Scout is a 6-year-old attending school for the first time. Her teacher is a newcomer to Maycomb, and although her methods of teaching frustrate Scout, her father Atticus explains that one never really knows a person until he walks around in that person's skin.This theme of "putting oneself in another's place" echoes throughout the novel, as Scout clumsily continues to ridicule or fear people who are different than she. One of these people is a mysterious neighborhood recluse named Boo Radley. Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill naively turn the situation into a game in which they try to get Boo to come out of his house. In the meantime, they create their own idea of what Boo must look like, and the composite they come up with is a seven-foot ogre who eats raw animals. The kids are unaware of their cruelty in "reenacting" Boo's life, and their insensitivity is a metaphor for prejudice, which stems from people's ignorance, and which is also in abundance among the conservative Southern white folks in Maycomb.
The standout character is Atticus, who is a lawyer. His motive is clearly not money, since they live in one of the poorest areas in the country; he is an idealist. Soon he will fight an uphill battle involving a young black man named Tom Robinson, a church-going family man who has nevertheless been accused of raping a 19-year-old white girl. Most of the townspeople are scandalized and pronounce him guilty on the spot, even when it becomes apparent during the trial that the "evidence" doesn't fit the accusation. Tom is almost too saintly as a character, but then, he is more of a symbol than a person--the mockingbird of the title. His reluctance to utter the "unfit" language that the girl's father, Bob Ewell, so readily uses, shows his gentle good breeding. Atticus has repeatedly told Scout that killing a mockingbird is a sin, because they do no harm to anyone. Scout sees how Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and even Atticus at times, fit into the "mockingbird" theme, and that is the first glimmer of maturity and understanding experienced by her.
The book is unique because it encompasses so many emotions: humor, misery, tragedy, indifference to others' suffering, loneliness, nobility, understanding, bravery, and acceptance. Scout herself is as feisty a heroine as any recent tomboys; she refuses to repress herself, even when she is told to be "a lady". Atticus is almost god-like in his idealism; he is clearly a metaphor for Jesus in his lack of materialism and determination to seek justice at all costs. Jem, Scout's older brother, is so naive in his idealism that he, too, is wounded like the "mockingbird"; he did not realize that prejudice is so deep that no amount of logic can instantly dispose of it. Dill is the classic "child orphan" who is also wounded in his own way--emotionally. Mayella Ewing, Tom's accuser, is also a mockingbird in a sense--she was so mistreated, abused, and lonely, without any friends or confidantes, that she inspired the pity of a black man--an unforgivable sin on Tom's part, as far as the majority of Maycomb was concerned. There are so many noble and spiteful characters that the reader will not be bored; this book is truly an inspiration for all.
Book Review: The Nature of Integrity
Summary: 5 Stars
The daughter of a noted attorney, Harper Lee was born in 1926 in the small town of Monroeville, Alabama. Although she studied law, she became increasingly interested in writing, and in the 1950s she created a series of semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical writings about the events of her childhood. Over time, these writings developed into a novel, and she completed TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in 1959. Published in 1960, the book not only proved an instant bestseller but received every critical accolade available, including the Pulitzer Prize. It also proved controversial, and almost fifty years later the American Library Association continues to list it as one of the most frequently challenged and banned books in both the United States and abroad.
Told in the form of an extended flashback, the novel unfolds in a series of scenes in which Lee seems intent upon evoking the small challenges and quiet charms of childhood in a small, Depression era southern town. We are introduced to Scout, our tomboy narrator, and her brother Jem and their playmate Dill, and we join in their summer games: climbing to the treehouse, rolling in a tire, and most particularly their fascination with "Boo" Radley, a mysterious recluse of unsavory past who has long been a focus of town gossip.
Written with remarkable simplicity, it is a charming, often comical tale--but as the story extends it comes to focus not so much upon Scout and Jem as upon their father Atticus Finch, a noted local attorney who is suddenly appointed to defend a black man accused of the vicious rape of a white woman. And Atticus Finch is a man of rare integrity, quietly but firmly determined to bring the facts of the case to light. In doing so, he places himself and his children at storm center of a controversy that threatens to tear both his family and community apart and which ends in violence and death.
In 1960, with the United States of America embroiled in the Civil Rights movement, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was considered a political statement. It proved a lightening rod for controversy, and in truth the novel still speaks to us of the evils of racism. If this were all, it would be a novel of historical interest and little more. But that is not the case.
The two threads of the story--the children's fascination with Boo Radley and Atticus Finch's defense of Tom Robinson--are not separate portions; they interweave and ultimately dovetail into a seamless whole, remarkable in narrative, brilliant in clarity, to create a portrait of social bigotry counterbalanced by deep humanity, at times monstrous, at times deeply beautiful as only perfect honesty can be. The characters spring to vivid life; the events unfold with a mixture of the unexpected and inevitable. There is pain, there is suffering, but there is growth as well, and as the children grow in knowledge and understanding so too does the reader. It is a remarkable work, not only capturing the texture of life in a small southern town, but bringing its events to a universal level that transcends time and place and touches something that speaks to the best in all of us.
Since the novel's publication, Harper Lee has become almost as much a recluse as Boo Radley, seldom appearing in public, even more rarely speaking or writing for publication. She has never again created a work of this length. Even so, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD places her at the forefront of American authors. This is a great novel. I wish I had written it.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird
Summary: 5 Stars
My Review on To Kill A Mockingbird
I am fifteen years of age and I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee as part of my English course. When my English teacher first gave us this title, I must admit I was far from delighted. I was not very optimistic because " To Kill A Mockingbird" was completely different to the type of book I would usually read. At the library I used to quite happily breeze past the shelf crammed with classic novels such as these, on to my preferred light hearted teen books about romance etc... However after reading this novel I can gladly say I have been completely converted. The novel, which I had thought would be dull and boring, has become one of my favourites. My opinion of "To Kill A Mockingbird" has changed entirely and I have nothing but absolute respect for its author Harper Lee.
The story of "To Kill A Mockingbird" takes place in the small close-knit town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930's, a time when Negroes were still segregated from white people. It was also the same time as the "Great Depression". The story is narrated by the truly, loveable character, of Scout Finch, who is only six years of age when we first meet her. The story begins quite slowly, telling us how Scout, Jem (her brother) and Dill (their friend) spend the summer before Scout starts school and the different attics they get up to, such as their unsuccessful efforts to get the neighbourhood recluse, "Boo" Radley to come out of his house. When school starts Scout finds herself getting into trouble very often and she is even given out to by her teacher for being able to read and write!!
The story up till this point has been fairly light-hearted and even humorous. Suddenly, the novel changes and increases in its dept, dealing with serious issues such as racism, prejudice and violence. Scout and Jem's father Atticus, a lawyer in the town is asked to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Scout and Jem have to deal with many crude and disapproving remarks about their father from their classmates and the people of Maycomb. The children are forced to mature quickly and they begin to see the true colours of their neighbours, who up till now, Scout and Jem had thought were the best kind of people in the world. They start to see that the people of Maycomb are deeply racist, prejudiced and hypocritical. The children also develop a newfound respect for their father when they see his bravery and moral courage to do the right and just thing.
This fine novel is truly captivating and a masterpiece of writing. The author cleverly uses the innocence and curiosity of a small child to tell this story. Through Scout's young eyes we see what she sees and hear what she thinks. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is so compelling; I just couldn't put it down! I kept finding myself turning the page to see what was going to happen next.
I would recommend "To Kill A Mockingbird" to men and women, boys and girls, both young and old. I would definitely give this novel the "Big Thumbs Up" and the most possible "Stars" any review could give! I don't think I can say much more about this book to persuade you to read it, but let me just say I promise you will not be disappointed. "To Kill A Mockingbird" really is a timeless classic that you will be truly proud to see sitting on your bookshelf, among your collection years form now!!
Enjoy! * (",) *
Gill Moore
Book Review: A Book That Influenced My Life: How to Kill a Moockingbird
Summary: 5 Stars
Joana Miraflor
August 17, 2006
Period 1
Jem and Scout, the children of a Maycomb, Alabama lawyer, Atticus Finch, deal with hardships and prejudice throughout the story. They share a secret friendship and adventure with Boo Radley, who lived across the street and left them all sorts of surprises in the tree hole until it was cemented. Their father, Atticus Finch, was responsible for the life and case of Tom Robinson, who had been accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell because of his race. Scout was raised without a mother-figure because she passed away and was known as the tough girl with attitude. But she grew up with Atticus's perspective of equality for all. They were taunted by townspeople because that reason. Mayella's father, Bob Ewell, is shocked that Atticus proved him wrong during the trial so he end up trying to kill Jem while walking back home with Scout, after a school play. Boo Radley rushes to the scene and saves the two children bringing them safely back home. After staying by Jem's side, Scout finds out that the creepy man across the street wasn't so scary after all.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" was very influential. Before reading this story, I thought to myself,
"Great, I'm being forced to read this, I won't like it one bit." But surprisingly, I loved it. It taught me life lessons about people, family, friends, and how people dealt with conflicts back then. This story showed me that without great minds that believed in equality, the better and comfortable environment we live in wouldn't exist. Plus, we'd have to deal and live with everything these characters went through.
This story taught me that there were numerous people out there that didn't show or give respect just because someone else was different. It showed me the hatred different races had against each other back then and how racism affected one's life greatly. Atticus gave the Tom Robinson case his all, even though people said only the negative about it. His children went through the obstacles with him and stood up for him in front of Tom Robinson's jail cell. "To Kill a Mockingbird" has a lot taught me that if you work as a family and keep each other on their toes, you can get through anything and everything regardless of everyone else's opinions.
From reading this book, I learned how much self esteem a person needs to get through life. Once that self esteem lowers, everything else goes downhill with it. Atticus was ahead of his time and had his own point of view on people and how life should be lived, especially without racism. I agree with his perspective because racism just builds up to more issues and no one out there needs more problems. I am thankful to be living is a more positive society compared to those times. I am also grateful that the intensity of racism back then isn't repeating itself today as well.
Lee's style of writing contained the southern accent in most of the character's dialogue, especially the townspeople. The dialogue helped the reader sense the character's feelings, a stronger way without having to describe everything plainly. Some of Lee's choice of words was words used long ago. Although this could have complicated things, each chapter consisted of a different situation happening in Maycomb. This made it easier for the reader to understand what was going on and when even with the complex vocabulary and terms.