xitaproductions

This was my favorite book the year I was 12; I read it that year too many times to count. It remains a favorite book of mine. (I’d already seen the movie when I was 9 or 10, and while it’s an excellent movie, I highly recommend the book.) It’s not a dated story if you think of it as a period piece. I love the bright, early reader Scout and her ethical lawyer loving father Atticus. Many other interesting characters as well, including the neighbor determined to get off drugs before she died-that one stuck with me. This is the best book ever about the power and consequences of making morally correct choices and living with integrity. Beautifully written with great descriptions of southern life in depression era America. This is an extraordinarily intelligent coming of age story, told from a child's point of view. ETA: After my last reread (I still can’t attempt to write a good review but) I wanted to add: I always forget how funny this book is; it’s very funny. Scout is a hoot. Also, I get something new from every reread! It’s a masterpiece. The movie is great too, but the book is a masterpiece. I suspect when I read it at age 12, I identified with having an older than average father. This time I liked Miss Maudie and Jem more than I ever have before, although Scout and Atticus remain my favorite characters. I can’t write a good review of this; it’s too important a book to me. Ditto the 3 other books I’ve also read more than 100 times.

2020-09-12 00:39