To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

[Kim Deister]

To Kill a Mockingbird This is a book that I have read and reread several times. My mother, who recently passed away, taught this book for years as a high school English teacher and it was her favorite novel. So when the publishers sponsored a read-along of the novel, I took part with a close friend who was also a former student of my mother's.
 
There is no question that this novel is the epitome of the "Great American Novel," beloved by so many. The social issues contained within its pages are important. They were important during the time of the novel's story, and they are important today. Yet, while I appreciate all of the things about this novel that have given it the prominence it has within American literature, it has never been one of my favorites.
 
In part, this is because of the characters. One one hand, I enjoy that the characters, although many are rather disagreeable, are representative of people we all know. They were developed as real people, flaws and all. But on the other hand, I feel like many of the characters are rather flat. Calpurnia was the black maid who accepts that her race dictates her place in life. Tom is the innocent black man accused of wrongdoing. Jem is the boy caught between childhood and adulthood. Scout is the precocious little girl. Boo is the mysterious eccentric who turns out to be kindly. Attitcus is the good father who fights for justice. There are the prerequisite racists. All of these are surface characterizations and there just didn't seem to much depth beyond fitting the characters into almost archetypal roles. But this is a matter of personal taste, I think. I simply enjoy more character-driven stories.
 
My Recommendation
 
My issues aside, this is still a piece that should be read by everyone! I gave it 3.5 mugs.