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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
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
_moonbread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment
zara89'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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Genocide
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
aliciapiron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
nayeliv's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
resiii_05'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual harassment
elspethmigliore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
there’s so many layers to this story and so much to unpack, so i’ll just say that i genuinely enjoyed it. i know it’s controversial, but i really did like it. i laughed and cried and i think it was very reflective in many ways. the character development was incredible, but also i guess that’s the point of the story. the way scout reflects on her story at the end from a different perspective gave me a very strong sense of completeness. i’m sad after reading this, but also i feel ready to go into my english class tomorrow and reflect on it.
definitely a reread ✅
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment
aryaa_05's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism