Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Nostalgic and heartfelt read that is To Kill A Mockingbird

When I read that our summer assignment was going to be a reading project about To Kill A Mockingbird (and of course the poster project) I immediately recalled the many comments given to the book during school and especially during my English period. “It was a sad book that I almost cried during some of it.” commented a student. Even my teacher said it was a wonderful book that those who were bound to read it were going to enjoy it. I took their word for it and straightaway, after purchasing, opened to the first page and began to read. I underestimated Harper Lee’s work. I was baffled by the vocabulary words used in the book because they were on such a high level and it was somewhat difficult to understand the situations the character was going through. Then I began to think, “I don‘t think I‘ll make it through this book.” The beginning paragraphs also were slow and unexciting that it created a mindset in thinking that the entire book would be the same as the first paragraphs. Of course, I was wrong.

When I realized I was finally on the second chapter things started to get interesting. I started questioning about the adventures the children would have next. What really did lie inside the Radley house? What would happen to the children when they find out? All the questions I had usually circulated between the kids, Scout, Jem and Dill, and the Radley house. I found it adorable when the children played their games that were fixated on the Radley. It was charming and lovable that it took me back to the years of playing house and making forts out of sofa cushions.
“ “Let’s try to make him come out,” said Dill. “I’d like to see what he looks like.”
Jem said if Dill wanted to get himself killed, all he had to do was go up and knock on the front door. ” (2.16)

" "Lemme think a minute...it's sort of like making a turtle come out..."
"How's that?" asked Dill.
"Strike a match under him."
I told Jem if he set fire to the Radley house I was goingto tell Atticus on him." (2.17)

The light comedy that the author had put in was surprising but since the narration was in an intelligent child’s perspective it was to be expected.

By the time the drama of the book began to kick in I was all ready hooked to it like it was a song that wouldn’t get old. The intensity during the times of walking past the Radley house to and from school, when Scout found herself on the Radley house’s frontyard when being rolled down a hill from within a tire, the knot-hole that had gift’s inside it, Atticus’s court battle, and especially the night of Halloween kept me from putting the book down and because of that I lost some sleep time (Even though I don't sleep a lot anyways). What more can this book do than have the reader dwell in the emotions a young girl, her family and community go through as these events continue to unfold. For me it unleashed different feelings that it caused me to stop reading, look up at the ceiling and think to myself; what would happen if this happened? What else could they do? What if I were in their position? All I can say is that this really is an interesting read. I’m glad I didn’t stop reading it.


(Wow, it's all ready 12? I thought I'd be able to make it in time, but oh well.)

1 comment:

  1. I felt this book was not going to be very interesting. I just looked at the cover and thought "Oh no". Now I realize how much I "judged the book by its cover". This book has helped me think deeper into the situations. The writer does not tell the reader directly how characters feel. This gives me a chance to think and wonder how I would of reacted in the same situations. I am glad I'm reading this book, and I can't wait to get to the trial everyone had been talking about.

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