The recent announcement of the release of a new book by Harper Lee has created a stir among the reading public. Lee’s first, and up to this point, only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published in 1960, and it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. And the power of the book has never receded because in 1999, it was voted Best Novel of the Century in a poll by the Library Journal. In 1962 it was adapted into a well-received movie starring Gregory Peck.
On hearing this news, I couldn’t help but think back to when I was a little boy and reflect upon one of the greatest gifts my mom ever gave me, the love of the written word. A while back, I shared the tale here of her taking me to the public library when I was 6-years old and getting me a library card. After that, it was a done deal: not a day since then have I not had my nose in a book, if only for a few minutes a day. But it’s the release of this sequel of To Kill a Mockingbird that prompts me to reflect back on mom because when I was 10, she bought me a paperback copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, put it in my hand and told me to read, and read carefully because there would be a test.
Ironically, after I finished the book, I asked mom more questions than she had for me, which was most likely her purpose to begin with. But it truly was a landmark moment in my reading history. I fell in love with the book and to this day it’s still on my top-ten list of all-time favorites, as well as the movie.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist/heroine is a 6-year-old little girl Jean Louise Finch, nicknamed ‘Scout’. Her and her brother Jeremy, known as Jem, and their friend Dill share many childhood adventures growing up in a small, depression-era town in the deep-south state of Alabama.
Their story encompasses the gamut of human emotions: love and hate; friendship and prejudice; happiness and sorrow; and of most importance, the need of a strong family. It’s a deep moral tale that also focuses on other facets of the time such as life in the south, the racial injustice of the era, and class and gender. In following these kids through their experiences one comes to see what the term “loss of innocence” means.
Gregory Peck won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem’s father. Harper Lee was so taken by Peck’s performance, she gave him her father’s pocketwatch, and on the evening he won the Oscar, he had the watch with him. Her and Peck stayed friends after the movie was made and Peck’s grandson was given the name “Harper” paying respect to her.
Though Lee claims the book isn’t autobiographical, there are certainly similarities to her life portrayed. For those who have not read the book or seen the movie, I’ll tell no spoilers, but like Peck’s Atticus Finch, Lee’s father Amasa Coleman Lee, was an attorney. In the movie, Atticus defends a black man accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Lee’s father, just like Peck, defended two black men accused of murder. After they were convicted, hung and mutilated, Lee’s father never took on another criminal case. Just like Scout, Lee has an older brother, and they had a black housekeeper just as in the novel.
An interesting fact is that the character Dill in the book was based upon a real friend and neighbor Lee had whose name was Truman Persons, later to be known as the author Truman Capote, whose works include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood and his first novel, 1948’s Other Voices, Other Rooms, in which one of the characters is a tomboy, just like Scout, based upon Harper Lee and his remembrances of her. Apparently, Lee paid back the favor by including her memory of Capote in childhood in To Kill a Mockingbird, published twelve years after Other Voices, Other Rooms. In Cold Blood was based upon the murder of a Kansas farm family, considered to be a true crime novel which Capote termed a ‘nonfiction’ novel. After reading about the murder, Capote and Harper Lee both traveled to Kansas and began research on the book and she was instrumental in helping him write the book. Ironically, Capote developed a close relationship with one of the murderers after his apprehension.
Go Set a Watchman is the new book by Harper Lee and it was actually written before To Kill a Mockingbird. From it came the basis for To Kill a Mockingbird, taking flashbacks from Go Set a Watchman to use in the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird. In the new release, Scout is twenty years older and returns to her hometown from New York City, which in a way is autobiographical because Lee spent much of her life between the two cities, though when she wrote Go Set a Watchman she didn’t know that would be the course of her life. But I anxiously await the release of this novel. Will be interesting to compare it to To Kill a Mockingbird.
It was only in later years that I realized mom’s ulterior motive in having me read To Kill a Mockingbird. In our question-and-answer session after I finished it, and in many later conversations, she used many scenes and events in the story to instill in me the fact that all people deserve respect and know that I should always get to know someone and judge them for who they are, not what they are. It being the late ’50’s in the south, mom and dad both were way ahead of the curve in such matters, and they made sure that both of their sons learned this lesson. That’s just another one of the great gifts given to me by my parents, along with the library card mom got me. So once again, thanks, mom for the library card. What a difference it made in my life.
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books. I had to read it in high school, and I just fell in love with it. I can’t wait to read the new one.
I was born in 1950 so I remember exactly what you were saying up there. I lived in NY so it wasn’t as bad but my parents made sure I learned the same lessons your parents taught you. I know I must have read To Kill a Mockingbird but think I’d better read it again along with her new book!
Harper Lee is such a great author, and To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the greatest works of literature out there, in my opinion. I can’t wait to read the new book!
I totally agree with you! I cannot wait to read the new book, and then read it to my kids!
Your mom was a very wise woman to choose that book. I’ve been curious every since I heard about Harper Lee’s book last week. I will for sure, be reading it!
How awesome! Such a good book. How exciting a new book is coming, i’m intrigued!
I know this is usually like a highschool book that was required to be read. But we never did!
I’m excited for her new book! To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorites!
That is one of my favorite books of all time. It never gets old and I am excited for the new one.
I have never read this book. I would like to read it if given a chance.
Since I love To Kill a Mockingbird, I’m looking forward to this new one. I can’t wait to see how she wrote it!
I am an awful person! I have a B.A. in English and I have a confession: I hate To Kill A Mockingbird 🙁 I have read it several times for various school projects and it just never really affected me, but I respect books! I respect authors and classics! I’m happy this is in print again 🙂
Oh well now you’ve made me want to read the book – I so enjoyed the background about Harper Lee and Truman Capote
Wow, what a memory; I haven’t read the book in such a long time. How to Kill a Mockingbird is such a classic!
I have never read the book, but I watched the movie. I understand that it is a classic, but I found it quite offensive because of the derogatory language that was used. It also reminded me of the stories that my mom told me that she and her brothers went through during that time period because of their race.
I will have to give this book another read. I have not read it since high school. I remember it was a great book.
i have never heard about this book. but reading this post i think am gonna get a copy. Is this possibile to find a copy in italian u think ?
I really like that book. I have the movie and haven’t watched it yet… I may this weekend now that I’ve thought of it.
I read that book a long time ago, I don’t really remember it too much.
This was such exciting news when the story broke! Because of it, the hubs is actually going to read To Kill A Mockingbird before the sequel comes out.
This book has so many emotions in it, I remember that. But, it has been a long time since I read this. I don’t recall all of it.
I think I read this book while I was in school years ago. If I remember right it was a really good book.
We had to read this book in school too. It’s been sooooo long but still remember it. It was certainly a classic. Thank you for sharing.
I am hoping this is a good book. We had to read the book and watch the movie for school.
The book is one of my favourites and it’s beautifully written- so is this post, however, and I love that you can stand back and look at things from an outsider’s point of view.|You summed it up perfectly. W’ere do not make good judges.
I’m torn on whether or not to buy/read the book. There is so much controversy right now about how Harper Lee has been treated. She is deaf and blind and stories of abuse by her caretakers are rampant.
I remember the first time I read To Kill a Mockingbird. I was so moved by it. I to this day I could not believe the racial tension written through out the novel.
I find this book interesting, Maybe I can open this up with my friend. The Harper Lee’s book might worth a read. Thank you for the review.
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books too. I’m excited to see her new book.