Welcome to the latest entry in my ongoing series titled Books of Great Impact. As I have stated previously, these are not traditional, clinical book reviews. They follow no specific format or template but instead cover my impressions and reactions. Today I will write about my observations of a book that will undoubtedly be, when all is said and done, the most widely known and read of this series. And for good reason. Well over 45 million copies have been sold in over 40 languages and according to most sources still sells over a million copies a year. Most of you have probably read this Pulitzer Prize winning novel (along with countless other literary awards) and no doubt a fair number of you have reread it, many of you have seen the 1962 movie adaptation as well, nominated for eight Oscars and winning three. In addition, much of what I could write here about this absolute iconic classical masterpiece has already been said.
So, why do this? The answer is that there is no possible justification for me not to feature To Kill A Mockingbird and it would be a travesty not to include it in this series. I’ve chosen to do something a little different this time. In brief and purposely random thoughts below, I am going to make notes and spotlight certain points of interest for me, my own interpretations, and symbolic takeaways I had. Again, despite every effort not to I’ll assuredly be repeating some things you already know, but please humor me and read on. Special mentions of the movie and author notes will be included, largely and simply because I want to supplement the story surrounding this fantastic novel.
~ The book was published in 1960 and unlike some slow starting but eventual bestsellers, it did not suffer from low sales at the beginning. It came bursting out of the starting gate like a triple crown winner and to this date almost 65 years later, has never once been out of print, to the best of my knowledge. Think about that a moment.
~ The novel and even the title is literally chock full of deep symbolism, numerous themes, subtle messaging, and hard lessons learned. A short list would include the loss of innocence, the values of integrity, honor and courage being balanced on the other end of the scale with the tragedy of racial injustice, prejudiced hatred and violence, false judgments, and the all too common tendency for humans to have a lack of compassion for each other.
~ The narrative storytelling style was obviously pleasing and compelling to a great number of readers, including this writer. It was a story told from a child’s experience and young voice, that mesmerized and held you, from beginning to end. At times humor was used and it was weaved into the story fluidly with expertise and not at all out of place. The story progressed evenly, moving, pausing and then moving again with a wonderful pace. I felt as if someone were telling me a story while sitting around a campfire and the tale being told so well seemed familiar, but I didn’t care.
~ Harper Lee herself is really a story within the story. Born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama she grew up with and was a neighbor of Truman Persons. He was just some goofy kid then but someday Truman Persons would remarkably become known as Truman Capote. Monroeville would also turn out to be the birthplace of Novelist Mark Childress and amazingly yet another Pulitzer Prize winner, Cynthia Tucker. I wish I could drink some of that Monroeville water, because there must be something special in it. Let’s top that off with the astounding fact that To Kill A Mockingbird was essentially Lee’s only published novel, ever, excluding several different drafts of virtually the same story titled Go Set A Watchman.
~ The novel is consistently described as a loosely written autobiography of Harper Lee’s life. From the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama to the characters she created, to the events that take place. A closer look though illustrates the similarities between the novel and her life were anything but loosely connected. Like Atticus Finch, the father of Scout, Lee’s real-life father Amasa Coleman Lee was an attorney who once represented two black men, accused and then convicted of murder. The maiden name of her mother was Finch. Her fictional friend Dill was inspired by Capote’s talkative personality, Lee’s older brother was the model for Scout’s older brother Jem. Another neighbor of Lee’s, isolated and sequestered by his own family, provided the backstory that helped create the character of Boo Radley and that household. It’s clear that she wrote what she knew, as the advice so often goes.
~ Often overlooked in my opinion was the masterful use of the courtroom as one of the main locations for dramatic and tense scenes to play out. A familiar and popular setting to be sure but one that can also be, at least in written form, very difficult in terms of achieving the elevated drama level desired. The novel, in my opinion, was very successful in meeting that challenge. Once upon a time, I served as the foreman on a Federal Grand Jury for a six-month term, meeting once a week and reviewing many cases. This was not a traditional courtroom setting with juries, attorneys, and a judge – as a grand jury our job was not to determine guilt or innocence but to determine if the evidence was sufficient to proceed to trial. However, we heard live witnesses, saw, and heard graphic evidence on some heinous stuff. I can remember the feel of that room. The drama and tension was at times very high. Writing that particular type of feeling is not easy to convey but I feel that Lee certainly met that challenge.
~ Gregory Peck, as the old saying goes never made a bad movie. He was the absolute perfect choice to play the part of Atticus Finch. Prior to filming, he actually went and met with Harper Lee’s father to better understand the person and role he was getting ready to undertake. After Lee’s father died, she gave Peck her father’s pocket watch in appreciation of his performance in the movie. Gregory Peck had that watch in his pocket on the night he won the best actor award for his role in To Kill A Mockingbird.
~ In addition to the acting prowess of Peck, the movie was blessed with a talented mix of veteran character actors that always seem to deliver and superb performances by newcomers. A very young Robert Duvall played Boo Radley, unknown Mary Badham was marvelous as Scout Finch as were Phillip Alford as Jem and John Megna as Dill. Frank Overton, Brock Peters, William Windom, Estelle Evans, Collin Wilcox and James Anderson were all exceptional in their support roles.
~ I was given this book of treasure in the form of a Christmas gift years ago. I’m embarrassed to say that it sat unread for months until I picked it up and finally decided to start reading it. I found out quickly how foolish I had been in delaying this read. Lesson learned. I have reread books that I deemed ‘special’ to me before but it’s certainly not a common habit of mine and I had never read a book three times, until two months ago when I pulled the old hardcover edition out of the bookcase one more time. Granted this was over a long period of time, but three times is three times. It still holds that distinction. Now, if you have never read this book, please do me and yourself a favor. Everyone needs to read this book at least once.
~ Harper Lee purposely avoided fame or publicity and started turning down interviews in 1964, citing monotonous, oft repeated questions and unwanted attention that she likened to celebrity treatment, which she abhorred. I will close with a telling quote from the brilliant but uniquely unassuming Harper Lee, “I never expected any sort of success with 'Mockingbird.' I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers but, at the same time, I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways, this was about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I'd expected.”
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And with that folks, I will wrap this latest addition to my series Books of Impact. I hope you enjoyed it. I truly appreciate all who have read this and if you should happen to pass it along or comment, I give you my heartfelt thanks in advance. Until next time, take care.
Excellent choice, I can’t read the book or watch the movie without tears. Even the theme song deeply moves me.
Good choice, Jim. I wrote an article about this important message of integrity, justice and hope. A novel that explores the importance of sympathy, understanding and most of all the effects of racial descrimination.