Should have read classics discussion

This is the group read for September.

This will be a reread for me. I read this in high school and hated it, but have now come to realize that I need to give it another chance, so here it goes!

I wonder where I put my copy?

Got my copy...ready to go!!!

I picked mine up as well! Can't wait!

I got a copy from the library so I have 3 weeks to read it. I am trying very hard to wait until September 1 to start reading. I can finish Agatha Christie.

I'm beginning to think that I'm going to have to eat crow on this one. I started it last night and I have really enjoyed it so far!
One of my favorite passages so far "As for me, I knew nothing except what I gathered from TIME magazine and reading everything I could lay my hands on at home, but as I inched sluggishly along the treadmill of the Maycomb County school system, I could not help receiving the impression that I was being cheated out of something. Out of what I knew not,yet I did not believe that twelve years of unrelieved boredom was exactly what the state had in mind for me." That Scout is quite a spitfire! I loved the tire rolling incident which just made me laugh!

This is one of my favorite books ever! Loved it in HS, and I still love it 12 years later.

I'll be listening to the audiobook

Amy wrote: "This is one of my favorite books ever! Loved it in HS, and I still love it 12 years later.

I'll be listening to the audiobook"

Ahhh, I like that idea!

Chapter 1 started on page 3, On page 5 I was laughting so hard I could not drink my coffee. The mental picture of the description of the Haverfords made me laugh.

I am totally enjoying the audiobook version with Sissy Spacek as the narrator. Much better than when I read this in high school. I love Scout's spunk!

Wow! Chapter 5 I am already seeing the theme...or at least an overarching idea.

I just read the chapter about Christmas day. Very humorous! Beginning to see where this is going. I'm pretty sure that I got this book confused with another one that I read in high school. The one I was thinking about was the one about evolution and the resulting court case. Can't think of the name right now.

Must have been one about the Scopes Trial.

One of my favorite lines in the story was when Atticus told his children "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

I couldn't believe the teacher told Scout to stop reading. You'd think she'd be delighted that one student already knew how to read.

I know, the whole thing with Scout and 1st grade was a bit disturbing to me.

The one I was thinking about was the one about evolution and the resulting court case. Can't think of the name right now.

That's Inherit the Wind!

Laura wrote: "The one I was thinking about was the one about evolution and the resulting court case. Can't think of the name right now.

That's Inherit the Wind!"

Of course! For some reason I got them mixed up! Thanks Laura!

Last night we listened to #3 CD and it was about the snowman and the fire. It went from funny to shockingly sad. What a book!

I am reading this book for the first time, but I have seen the movie.

I am getting a new perspective on Atticus. I don't agree with the way he handled the problem with Mrs. DuBose. He told Jem after the fact the lesson he was trying to teach him. That situation could have gone so wrong. A person coming off hard drugs is unpredictable. It is not a place for children. I also don't agree that if a person is old and sick, they have the right to be verbally abusive, especially to children. Maybe it's just that the attitudes of the time period were different than today.

Another thing bothered me - the fact that Atticus was "gifted" with the ability to shoot well. He never even told his children about it. He could have taught them that shooting doesn't make a man a man and still let them know he could do it well.

I'm glad we are reading The Yearling at the same time. Both books are set in the south. The books show two different perspectives on uneducated, country people. They are the "bad" guys in To Kill A Mockingbird, and in The Yearling the reader can see how resourceful and independent they are because of their "practical" country education. I suppose it's the difference in the authors' experiences.

Just finished reading this today. LOVED it! I recall enjoying it when I read it in high school, but not this much.

Suzanne wrote: "Just finished reading this today. LOVED it! I recall enjoying it when I read it in high school, but not this much."
I haven't quite finished it yet but am also loving this book. Scout's spunk is enjoyable and some of the conversations and statements made throughout this book are hilarious. I remember liking the book in high school but this is definitely one that I am enjoying so much more the second time around.

I finished the book and enjoyed it very much. Scout was just being a kid, knowing she was loved.
Having lived in the south, I understood some of the things they did.

I just finished reading it too, and I like Scout's comment "Folks are just folks." Also, when she stood on Boo Radley's porch and could see the neighborhood from his perspective....she was so mature for her age.

While I was reading the part about Calpurnia and how she took the children to her church on Sunday, I was struck by memories of The Help. I read this last year and starting comparing the two books in my head. Has anyone else read the two books?
I also don't get Dill. Where does he really live?
I liked Scout's spunk during the showdown at the jail and how she diffuses the situation. I enjoy the Aunt although she would drive me crazy to live with! Her classifications of everyone in town is very humorous.
I noticed that the book was published in 1960 right around the time that the Civil Rights Era was beginning and I was wondering if Harper Lee was involved with the CR movement later on? Does anyone know?

From researching a bit about Harper Lee it appears as if Mockingbird is quite autobiographical. She is from Alabama, her father was a lawyer, Dill is based on her childhood friend and neighbor, Truman Capote. Quite interesting...especially intriguing is as to why she never completed another novel.

That is interesting. Dill as Truman Capote? Huh..
I'm almost to the end and I almost cried when Atticus and Scout discovered all of the food that people had brought to the house after the trial. What a touching moment and also so very truthful. People generally are very caring and appreciative of good works. They will give what they can. Very touching!

I finished the story last night and really enjoyed it. I could not get the picture of Scout dressed up like a ham out of my head. Too funny! What a poignant book. I will gladly eat my crow and humble pie and admit that this book was a great book.

This is exactly why I joined this group, I knew I was bound to discover some treasures I was unaware of! I loved this book, thanks group! A discovery like that is priceless, I've already convinced my other half to read it and am gonna be giving a copy to my Dad. I love sharing a great novel!

I am almost finished and my mom just read it this week on my suggestion and she loved it too. The character development is great...I love Miss Maudie. I think it is a shame that this novel was wasted on me as a high school student. I mean I liked it but I remember trying to get my reading assignments done each night after a long day and then quizzes every morning. I couldn't really savor this book like I am now since I was more concerned about getting a good grade on my quiz. I think I would do much better on the quizzes now that I have had time to chew on and digest this novel. Definitely a "Should've Reread Classic"!

I'm glad that you enjoyed it Vicky! Kerri, way to go on the reread! We should start a bookshelf for books that we all reread and REALLY enjoy! Hey, that might be a good idea for a new thread-hmmmm.

A really good book I will have to read again now that "Go Set a Watchman" is out.

I recently reread it and think it is a great book.

This is a sweet story with a powerful message I'm glad I read in middle school so we could discuss it as a class.