5 star book. (To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee)

Member Name: ktbainbridge

Product:	To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Date:	29/09/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Intriguing storyline.

Disadvantages: None.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is not the usual sort of book I would read. I am normally into mindless trashy books and this is certainly not one of these, nor does it come across as one. I awas asked to read it whilst studying for my GCSEs at school in English class and I was really pleased I did, otherwise I may have missed out on this literary masterpiece. Harper Lee has never since wrote another book, and little is known about the author. It is hard to imagine, after writing something so sincere and moving, never to go on and write something else.

To Kill a Mocking Bird is set in the 1920s in America. The story revolves around a small town called Maycombe and the poorer version of the middle class families which live in it. The main family in the book, the Finch family consist of the father who is a lawyer, bringing up the children himself with the help of a house keeper, and the two young children a girl called Jem and a boy called Scout. The children are typical children, innocent and naive by mind and have a lot of adventures, involving rough and tumble and crazy imaginations.

The town is an old cotton picking town where racism is rife. The town are not fans of black people. The thoughts and judgements of the Finch family are called to account when Mr Finch defends a black criminal from a crime at the local courts. The whole town gets involved and the sensationalism takes over the town, events get dark and scary and you question people racist mind sets.

The theory behind the book (well one of them, there are far more moral tales to be told) is that children are born innocent, as Scount and Jem do not understand the racist beliefs, and then become racist after being conditioned by society. It is an interesting concept one which people will agree or disagree on all over the world. It is a contrast to the opinions in Lord of the Flies whereby children are supposedly born free and potentially evil and are then reigned in by society.

I would really recommend this book. There is good reason why it has sold over 30million copies worldwide, it draws you in, makes you question your beliefs, and for the time reading it you will believe you are in Maycombe.

Summary: Makes you think...