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mjthomas43's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
ketreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
4.0
So... I thought this was a fantastic follow up to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird but after reading up to find like-minded individuals, apparently this was terribly received by many.
While I understand this book was originally written but not published before To Kill a Mockingbird, which to some makes this less of a sequel than a draft for one, I found it took the original concept and managed to develop it even further. This may be because I read the original book in adulthood, and so don't have a big emotional attachment to the original cast.
I really loved the character of Scout in this. Going from a naïve young girl to a competent, forward-thinking woman. Having her return to her home town of Maycomb with the reader was a fantastic set up. The life she's become used to in the city, both societally and politically, is immediately challenged upon her return. We get a deeper look at Maycomb and it's inhabitants, such as how we one day are able to see our parents without rose-tinted glasses, and are able to now recognise the nuances we may have missed as children. I really loved the topic of fallibility in those you look up to, especially as it seems to relevant to todays political climate. Realising those you love and have always loved, may not be the people you thought them to be is a powerful topic.
I think this was a great sequel, though didn't hit as hard as the first due to pacing and other minor grievances.
While I understand this book was originally written but not published before To Kill a Mockingbird, which to some makes this less of a sequel than a draft for one, I found it took the original concept and managed to develop it even further. This may be because I read the original book in adulthood, and so don't have a big emotional attachment to the original cast.
I really loved the character of Scout in this. Going from a naïve young girl to a competent, forward-thinking woman. Having her return to her home town of Maycomb with the reader was a fantastic set up. The life she's become used to in the city, both societally and politically, is immediately challenged upon her return. We get a deeper look at Maycomb and it's inhabitants, such as how we one day are able to see our parents without rose-tinted glasses, and are able to now recognise the nuances we may have missed as children. I really loved the topic of fallibility in those you look up to, especially as it seems to relevant to todays political climate. Realising those you love and have always loved, may not be the people you thought them to be is a powerful topic.
I think this was a great sequel, though didn't hit as hard as the first due to pacing and other minor grievances.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Slavery
nahal3's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
mbrogs2024's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism and Death of parent
bradburylogic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
pbraue13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
jcv9999's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great story for expressing what many liberal minded kids experience when they realize they disagree with their parents on things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
_cecilie_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Contrary to popular opinion and my own expectations, I liked this novel a lot and thought it very well done. Yes sure, the childhood memory vignettes are mosaic and Scout is a little thick at times, seeming quite a bit younger than 26 but in my experience many people are prone to idealizing and idolizing well past their childhood.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
tanjas_way_out's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, and War
honestrabbit's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Slavery