To Kill A Mockingbird

When I found out what book we were reading this summer I was so excited! I have heard so many good things about it. Only a few people have told me that the beginning was slow. As I read it, I disagree. The way this book is written is phenomenal! I absolutely love it! The way Harper Lee describes the setting and the charactors is great! He really sets a scene. I can picture the whole town of Maycomb, the Radley place and all the charactors. I also love how he has some similies and metaphors here and there, such as, "Ladies bathed bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting of sweat and sweet talcum." With such a description how can you not picture it, and how living there would be?

Scout is so far my favorite. She is just like me when I was a kid, like a tomboy. She fun, sassy, adventurous, and yet cautious. She wants to please her brother and not get him in trouble. Her brother Jem is just like my older sisters. He includes her but once he's with a friend, he's like go away or don't say a word. :)

I love how I get into this book! The whole mystery with the Radley Place. It just makes me want to keep reading! The sense of community in this book also keeps me interested. When Miss Maudies house caught on fire and everyone in town came to help, it's heartwarming. You don't really see that these days. Neighbors don't really talk and nobody really knows what other people are doing. Yet this town everyone knows everyone. It sort of reminds me of my old neighborhood. We knew alot of whats going on and the kids play with eachother. This book really gives you a look into the days when that happened.

This book is also very interesting history wise. It shows how it was when African Americans were treated unfairly. The vocabulary towards them is proof enough that they weren't treated the same. Racism was a big part of life back then. Yet it proves that some were treated with some respect. Calpurnia is somewhat outspoken, but I really believe that she cares about the kids.

There was one line that stuck out to me and i don't know why. It just one of those lines that sticks out. When Scout is in class and Miss Caroline tell her not to read with Atticus anymore, she starts thinking how she learned to read. She says it just came to her. Scout says, "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." I really don't know why it sticks out to me. Maybe becuase it seems so wise for a person so young. But I don't believe it was fair for Miss Caroline to tell her not to read.

I can't wait to keep reading this book. Harper Lee truly writes well.