Reviews with content warning for Violence - To Kill a Mockingbird

I found it very interesting, though a slower read. Probably didn’t help that I read it a little at a time over several months as I was busy. However, it is impactful and seen through the eyes of the young Scout really conveys how ridiculous prejudice is and how we often make mountains out of molehills.

Content Warnings

miekss's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

5.0

The first time I read this was to study and write essays about for school, which tainted my appreciation of this classic. Wanted to re-read this to fully appreciate the art that is the writing and story of this book and it held strong.

Content Warnings

emilyjamison14's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective sad slow-paced

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

I thought this was a great book, but I definitely had to manage my expectations and take it at face value: a story about a girl growing up, and losing some naïveté as she realizes the state of the world, that was also written over 60 years ago.

I was aware of the white savior dialogue prior to reading this, and while I don’t disagree, some of the veneration of Atticus Finch really stems from the POV character being his very young, impressionable daughter. There is a very strong message of integrity and doing what is right regardless of the circumstances, that is so important. It’s important to remember that this is the not the end all be all book on racism, and my personal take is that everyone should read books from diverse perspectives and authors.

I found the pacing of the story strange at times,

the timing of Tom’s death was especially jarring (which is maybe the point). Lee also really rushes into the Halloween segment and the book ends really fast. This is pretty appropriate for the tone of the book however, as a long exposition wouldn’t make sense, as the largest problem faced in the novel (prejudice) will not resolve itself entirely anyway.

Ultimately, I do know I will be thinking about this book regularly for a long time and would recommend it.

Content Warnings

bbethcasas's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Believe it or not, to my memory, this is my first time to read this American classic! Such a beautifully written book! I simply loved each character and the love that was clearly portrayed within this family. I’m so glad I took the time to go back and read this book. I would have shortchanged myself if I hadn’t.

Content Warnings

balfies's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

All marked up and ready to teach to my Year 9s - haven't read it since I was in Year 9! Truly what a joyous, brilliant thing to read on Music Camp. Did you know that works of classic literature are good.
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.

Content Warnings

jerseynoonatic's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

katewhite77's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Why Is It Such A Sin To Kill A Mockingbird?

Told over two years through the eyes of three children who are part of a close-knit neighbourhood in Alabama in the early 1930s.

The novel opens by introducing a bit of neighbourhood legend, which helps set the scene and how socially conservative the community really is.

Aticus Finch, single Dad to Gem and Scout, two of the aforementioned children, is a progressive parent and lawyer, which becomes more and more important as we move the novel.

The absolute genius of this novel ìs that it is told through the eyes of three ìnocet children as it drives home to the reader quite how ridiculous the adult world can be sometimes.

It's funny as I was pretty sure I had read this book as a teenager and I remembered the beginning but there was a large swathe of the plot I had completely forgotten, so much so that I assumed I must not have finished the book but then I remembered the end, so I must have completed it.

I can imagine teenage me not really appreciating the more nuanced aspects of the plot, particularly when it came to Atticus' willingness not to follow the conversations of the time. So, I am really glad I read it again as an adult.

I think this really deserves its classic status.

Content Warnings

pianokeys's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

More...