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bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Classism
aniagajecka's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
bethanwx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
However, it falls short at times. There are microaggressions, an attitude of making nice with racists and a misshandling of how rape should be prosecuted (Atticus believes that there should be two witnesses) which keeps this novel firmly in its era and prevents it from being progressive. For what it is, this is novel has its merits and the courtroom scenes are incredibly gripping.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Death of parent
rat_t0oth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence
wvelociraptor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Slavery, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
balfies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What struck me about it now as an adult was its beautiful blend of subtlety and didacticism, it really speaks the same story at different levels so deftly.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Incest and Suicide
beaniebabyidiot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
Minor: Antisemitism
taulkstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I've always heard of this book as a 'classic' and a 'must-read', so I (as one would) assumed that it was one of those books that had to be read to truly understand the black experience during the 1930s. Much to my surprise, the author is a white woman; maybe this was the reason that it took me so long to get around to read it.
Not only this, but the choice to write a story regarding the mistreatment of black people through the perspective of a young white girl, one that is so naive to all the happenings of her society, was an odd one. It feels like a convenient mechanism to make the audience forget that Scout's family, hence white poeple, would undoubtedly benefit from their environment at the time, and even now. The story reeks of white saviour complex - are we supposed to be proud of Atticus for standing up for the right of black people? It is his job as a lawyer, but also a person to instill those morals into his children. Expecting a commendation for such a basic moral code (being the best out of a bad (incredibly racist) bunch) seems odd, so I feel unjust in rating this book anything higher than I have.
Subject matter aside, I found the book to be quite dull in general. I felt like it dragged through the first half in the name of character building. It took me a long time to get through the book because of the writing, and I was listening to it in audiobook (let's not even talk about the language and how uncomfortable it made me to listen to a white narrator say slurs over and over again).
That is not to say that this book doesn't have any positives. I can appreciate that it is a classic and highly revered within the education system. It does bring into question why this, out of all the others books on racism, is the classic. There are so many beautiful(-lly depressing) books about the experiences of black people during this era, written by black people themselves. Perhaps we should be highlighting those experiences and reading books by them to have a more accurate view of history.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Violence and Murder
shelbywhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Suicide attempt
gloria_zeee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Classism