Classics for Beginners discussion

Start: July 18th, 2014

Anyone is welcome to join in at any time. Just jump right in to the discussion. Would you guys like to do this chapter by chapter or the entire book?

I'm in. I've been waiting to read this book for a long time. I have no preference as to reading this but it does help to be able to discuss after a certain number of chapters. I forget to discuss if I have to wait until completed due to the fact I have so many review books and get waylaid by them.

I agree with Darlene. I think it might be best to discuss after a couple chapters.
Have any of you read this book before?

Maricruz wrote: "I agree with Darlene. I think it might be best to discuss after a couple chapters.
Have any of you read this book before?"

I agree. I have not, but my son read it this year for American Lit. and 'forgot' to turn in the book at the end of the school year so i could read it. :-) He LOVED it! I'm glad this book discussion came up so he can turn it in the first day of school. :-)

Are you guys okay with 3 chapters per day and then some discussion? We can mark our discussions as spoilers so that people can still read at their own pace.

Apparently a bunch of my classmates have read it (I'm new at the school) and I haven't so I really want to. I've heard a lot of good things about it and saw a scene from the movie for Mock Trial.

To mark something as a spoiler, just type this on the sides (without the spaces I added in):
< spoiler >This is where you write your spoiler< /spoiler>

It will turn up looking like (view spoiler)[this (hide spoiler)].

Im good with three chapters a day

I'm new to this group and to buddy reads, but I would love to join into reading TKAM with you all.

So I've been reading 3 chapters per day and I am definitely enjoying this book!
I've read through chapter 6 and Lee has already introduced various issues: class status, education, sexism, and discrimination. Can't wait to see how she continues to address these things throughout the book.

I'm almost ashamed to say I've never read this book. Never saw the movie either. And I don't know much about the plot. It is a book I always meant to read though. And I did recently but a copy.

I want to join in. But I'll be getting a late start. Probably sometime during the next week.

Niemna please join us. I have never read this book (always wanted to) and I have never seen the movie (although I ADORE Gregory Peck) I'm really enjoying it, parts of it has made me laugh out loud!

Teresa wrote: "I'm new to this group and to buddy reads, but I would love to join into reading TKAM with you all."
Teresa I hope you join us as well

"Do you smell my mimosa? It's like angels' breath this evening." Miss Maudie

I don't know about you all, but i would sure love to sit on Miss Maudie's porch and have a mimosa with her!!!

I really was unsure about this book when I first started reading it today. The first couple of pages bored the heck out of me to be perfectly honest. As with a lot of books however, it started getting better.

Yes! Miss Maudie seems so lovely! I really like that this book is bringing up so many issues already. Sadly, the education system back then and now still is very flawed in my opinion. I remember a teacher back in 2nd grade reprimanding my classmate for being ahead in math as if it was a crime to be smart.

Also, another thing I wanted to mention. I love how young, 6 year old Scout is our narrator. Her voice and opinions are just so spot on and adorable!

Arlene wrote: "Niemna please join us. I have never read this book (always wanted to) and I have never seen the movie (although I ADORE Gregory Peck) I'm really enjoying it, parts of it has made me laugh out loud!"

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I will be joining as soon as I finish one of the two books I'm reading

Scout is definitely older than her years - maybe too mature? I've just started, and I'm trying to keep an open mind, but she seems just way too mature to me. I hear a woman in her 30's, at least, not a young girl.

And I have issue with the quote-

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. "
I guess she's saying she took it for granted. But- as a person who loves to read, and always have, this quote did not endear me to her, quite the opposite actually.

Nienna wrote: "Scout is definitely older than her years - maybe too mature? I've just started, and I'm trying to keep an open mind, but she seems just way too mature to me. I hear a woman in her 30's, at least, n..."

Why did that quote strike a nerve?
It seemed to me that for Scout, reading just was what she and Atticus did together. She didn't intentionally learn and didn't really realize there was another way and now this teacher was telling her that her father was wrong and to stop. Suddenly, learning to read this teacher's way was boring and she didn't love it any longer.

Karen I agree reading to her was just like breathing (not something that she loved) but something that she always did.

When you have a parent that speaks to you as he would speak to any adult you tend to speak the same way no matter your age.

I love that she started cussing in hopes that her father would realize that she picked it up from school and she wouldn't have to go any more because it was a bad influence on her.

Nienna, I think that this may be an older Scout talking. Almost like she's telling someone about her childhood. I could be wrong though. I think that Scout could also be borderline genius? Or at least very smart for her age.

About the quote, I thought of it as Scout thinking of reading as a fact of life. Something that she needs (just as one needs to breathe).

By the way, where is everyone in the book right now? I'm only at chapter 9 so far.

'Next morning i awoke, looked out the window and nearly died of fright. My screams brought Atticus from his bathroom half-shaven.
"The world's endi', Atticus! Please do something---!" I dragged him to the window and pointed.
"No it's not,"he said. "It's snowing." '

This is exactly how i felt when we reached our 14th foot of snow fall this winter here in West Michigan. :-)

This girl seriously cracks me up!

Dianne wrote: "'Next morning i awoke, looked out the window and nearly died of fright. My screams brought Atticus from his bathroom half-shaven.
"The world's endi', Atticus! Please do something---!" I dragged ..."

I agree, Dianne, hilarious!
I'm starting chapter 10 today and think some of the humourous parts may be coming to an end as the negative issues with Atticus' defense trial is beginning.

Charlotte wrote: "Nienna, I think that this may be an older Scout talking. Almost like she's telling someone about her childhood. I could be wrong though. I think that Scout could also be borderline genius? Or at le..."

I finished the book yesterday. I loved it!!

Today I have just started this book. Still on first chapter :P

Dianne: Yes! Scout's adorable. I love how much of a child she is at times.

There are moments in the book that allude to the fact that Scout is now an adult looking back on memories of her childhood. She says things like "I now understand what he was trying to do."
Also, does anyone know what Atticus was trying to do at the end of chapter 13?

I'm now at chapter 16!

I am currently on chapter 20. It's so suspenseful!

I was also wondering what she meant at the end of chapter 13 but I couldn't think of a good explanation.

question for you all. in chapter 12 after they were singing the hymn; 'I looked at Jem, who was looking at Zeebo from the corners of his eyes. I didn't believe it either, but we had both heard it.' What do you think this refers to? i am thinking it is refering to the Reverend getting specific on his 'prayer' requests, which actually is more gossip than prayer requests. But it seemed that excerpt was just kind of thrown in there.

At the end of chapter 13, I think Scout is thinking that Atticus was making an attempt at trying to raise his children in a manner acceptable to Aunt Alexandra. But realizes he doesn't have, nor want, such 'high' or rather "high and mighty' standards for his kids. There are other more important things to impress on your kids. I think he thought better of trying to change his kids. just my 2 cents. :-)

Dianne I agree with that, someone that Scout wanted to play with and thought well of, her aunt called trash. That certainly is not a good role model.

I thought that was referring to how they were singing without hymn books. Scout later asks or talks to Cal about it.
I think you're right about chapter 13 Dianne. That makes sense.

It's super late (or early depending on how you look at it) right now so I'm going to sleep soon but when I wake up I plan to finish the book! Or at least a big majority of it.

They were talking about how the one person would read the line and then everyone would sing the line and that's how they sang hymns at that church. They found that odd and didn't understand why there were not enough hymn books for everyone.

I finished. It's one of those books I wish I had read when I was younger. I just never warmed up to Scout. There were times I thought she was nothing but a little brat. But that might be age talking, not that I'm old but I am closer to Atticus's age than hers. And Atticus... I fell in love with this character. He is the morality, the good, in this story. Speaking of the story - it was more racist than I expected it to be. The irony is, that the racial themes are just as relevant today, but I'm not sure that this book would get published if it was written today.

I'm glad I finally read it.

Spoiler over end -

(view spoiler)[ I found myself disappointed in Atticus at the end, though. First, even though he knew tensions were high, he let his children walk to the play alone. Actually, he was an absent father throughout. He was a good man. He did his best for his children. He taught them right from wrong. There is no doubt that he is a good man, but I'm not sure he was a good father.

But what really disappointed me, was the whole Boo Radley thing. Yes. Morally it was the right decision. But Atticus stood for the law, and the truth. I felt that, in deciding to help hide what Boo had done, Atticus gave up everything he believed in. He gave up on the law. Even up to that moment, he had been ready to turn in his own son. That was the sort of man he was. And I feel that something changed within him at the trial. He lost his moral compass.

(hide spoiler)]

The South is racist. My father was in the air force and when we went to spend the summer with him in Alabama he warned us that some may call us the "N" word and to just ignore them (he said it's just a word, it's not who or what you are). Sure enough some guy did call me the "N" word. I remember thinking, wow they really do call you than in the South. I did as my father said and ignored him, so he did it again a few times and then he finally stopped because I didn't cry, or leave and I wasn't bothered by it because as my father said it is not who or what I am.
Having said all of this at least in the South you KNOW what you are up against and to this day sadly to expect.

Arlene wrote: "The South is racist. My father was in the air force and when we went to spend the summer with him in Alabama he warned us that some may call us the "N" word and to just ignore them (he said it's ju..."

Arlene, PLEASE, I beg you, don't base your view of the South totally on one stupid bigot's words. That is not all of southern people. I'm a southerner and would never even think that, much less say it. I believe we all have our own experiences and are all different in our own ways, no matter skin color. Character of a person is what matters.

Teresa, don't worry I don't, as I said it never bothered me. My brother lives in Georgia and he tells me that it happens often, but it happens everywhere not just in the south. Some people (no matter race etc.,) are always trying to hurt people with words etc., which I find very sad.

Regarding the book, the South in 1935 was a very difficult place for black people to live in.

I read this book over the last weekend and was duly astonished, again. What a great book.

Denise, I agree I thought it was one of the best books I have read!

I believe that this book is as relevant today as it was in its time. Sadly. I was just surprised by how... truthful it was... I guess. It's a very brutally honest book.

I'm going to try to rent the movie this weekend. Or maybe just buy it. I've never seen it and I really want to see how they adapted it. I imagine it wasn't an easy book to adapt for screen. Plus, I love Gregory Peck.

Nienna, I think the truthfulness (is that a word) of the book is what helps make it such a great book. I have never watched the movie, for some reason I get the impression that the focus is more on the trial, but I could be very wrong. I too LOVE Gregory Peck!

I finished reading the book earlier today and I really liked it!
Maybe I will watch the movie as well. :)

I just finished and love this book. I hate the ugliness of the racism, but the wisdom and gentleness of Atticus and his teachings to his children are beautiful and we can learn so much from him.
I agree with those of you who have said this book is very relevant today. After all, humans are humans no matter the place they live or the year they live.

Very well said, I totally agree with you!

It wasn't required at my school either. But, we did a lot of reading out loud and I'm wondering if the N word being used so much makes teachers nervous to teach it. I know it's a hot topic for schools. In my opinion, the message in the book is too important to be 'banned' in any form. But I can understand that there would be an issue with it too.

That's why I'm curious how the movie handled the overall racism of the book.

Has anyone in our buddy read watched the movie and if so how does it compare to the book?

I just finished reading the book and oh gosh, I don't even know what to think. I stayed up to finish and it's been a while since I've done that. I'm really glad I never read this book for class as I'm sure that would have lessened my enjoyment immensely.
I really like how the book not only touched on issues of racism but gender roles as well. It kind of reminded me of The Crucible during the trial scene, where it was blatantly obvious what the verdict should be but everyone went against it. It seriously made me angry.

Now to some questions. Why do you think the book was titled in this way? Are any of the characters a "mockingbird?"

I read this book for the first time ever this summer, and I was amazed. I'm also glad that I didn't read this in school. This became one of my favorite books of all time.

I love the characters of Atticus and his children, and also Boo when he finally appeared in the story. The story was written in a way that would pull the reader in and cause them to feel emotions that the characters felt.

I also find it amazing that Harper Lee wrote only one novel, and it turned out to be one of the greatest novels in American history circa the 20th century.

I believe that it could be said that Atticus and his children, Boo, and Tom Robinson could all be considered mockingbirds.

I agree with the above. But- the Mockingbird is definitely Tom. And Boo.

I also think in a sense the Mockingbird could be truth and/or justice.

Is the Mockingbird saved or not at the end?

(view spoiler)[ As I argued before, I would say that by lying to protect Boo, Atticus's belief's are sacrificed. (hide spoiler)]

I had this on my Facebook timeline today and thought it was appropriate to share:

http://www.vulture.com/m/2014/07/decl...