Saturday 9 January 2010

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird is a bit of a let down compared to the last three books that I've read.

The book is set in a place called Alabama in America in the 1930's. The main character in the book is Scout whose real name is Jean Louise Finch and her elder brother Jem. Scout, Jem and their friend Dill try to encourage Boo Radley, who has stayed inside his house for years and years, to come out.

Meanwhile their father - Atticus - is trying to defend a coloured man - Tom Robinson - who is believed to attacked a white girl. Because this book is set around the 30's when most people were racist, most people hate Tom Robinson. Personally I think that racism is bad but at the time the book was set it was acceptable. The author has the same opinion as me and agrees that racism is bad.

I didn't really enjoy this book that much because it was complicated and harder to get in to - but I know it is a classic. I would give this book a 5 out of 10.

5/10

11 comments:

  1. Now this is what I mean about you being better-read than me :o( I've never read this and I should have. I also haven't read Little Women (how many times have you read this now? About 4?) and how old are you again???

    Can you please stop showing me up as a thicko. I used to be quite intelligent before you came along!

    MUMMY!!!! ok, so you refuse to call me that now, Mx

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  2. Welcome to blogland Ms. Dottie! How fun to have a blog about books -- a fabulous subject. And Oh My! you've certainly read a lot since Christmas. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird and I think I almost loved the old movie even better. Can you get it over there? You might enjoy it, although you must remember it was filmed many years ago, so it will seem a bit primitive now.

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  3. This was one of my favourite reads when I was a bit older than you. The film is definitely worth watching too. Welcome to blogland and I look forward to reading your reviews, it will be very helpful for me as I have nieces who love to read and I never know what books to buy them!

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  4. I'm so pleased about your blog Dottie - I work in a bookshop and am always on the lookout for good things to recommend to our customers. And you evidently have excellent taste, because we sell heaps of copies of Holes.

    But though it is harder to get into, I bet 'To Kill a Mockingbird' stays with you for a long time. I was a bit older than you when I read it first and I loved the character of Scout. She is so feisty.

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  5. Miss Dottie ... "To Kill a Mockingbird" is my all time favourite book!!! Only 5 - 10???!!! Oh dear. I read it when I was just starting high school. Maybe you could give it another go in a few years time .... you never know you might like it more then.
    I love that you read so much, yay for you .... !!!
    Hugs,
    Joy :o)

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  6. I had to read this for O level(a very long time ago) - couldn't get into it at all and went into the exam having read half of it and the notes. (And thinking that Scout was a boy for a while....)

    Now however I think it is one of the best books around and regularly pick it up to re-read. The gentle themes of a changing society are wonderful, for example the understanding shown by Calpurnia and Miss Maudie of the people around them is so refreshing. I love too the growth of Scout.

    Please read it again after a time to see if you view it differently?

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  7. I agree with some of the comments. You should read it again in a few years time.
    Even at my great age I find I like books better than when I first read them. I heard a reading from 'Travels with a donkey' by Robert Louis Stevenson on the radio the other day and really liked it. Then I remembered how it was the set book one year when I was at High School and I hated it..couldn't see why anyone would bother to read it. That was over 40 years ago and I intend to read it even now.
    Great blogging. Keep it up.

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  8. I had to read this book for school about 40 years ago, and I didn't like it any better than you did. I also had to read "The Scarlet Letter" which I disliked even more. (I know, I know, it's a classic, yada yada yada) I have to say I am glad to find someone else who doesn't like it!

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  9. Welcome to blogland Miss Dottie - I hope you have fun here.

    I absolutely love 'To Kill A Mockingbird', and think you might like it more when you're older. Please, please don't ignore it forever because you didn't like it now.

    Take care. x

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  10. Welcome to blogland. This book is one of my all time favourites but I read it when I was older than you, I am sure you will enjoy it more if you read it again in a few years
    Love Jane

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  11. Dottie, this is one of my favourite books ever BUT when I first read it like you I found it pretty heavy going. However, I've reread it again and again as I've got older and enjoyed it more. Little Women is another matter entirely though (referring back to your Mums comment) I've read that a zillion times, I read it for the first time when I was 11 and have loved it ever since, top book !! I'll stop getting too excited now and go and have some cocoa :)
    Happy reading
    Twiggy x

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