Harper Lee Turns 80

[ducklite]

Last fall, the Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia was putting on "Mockingbird"...the local school board cancelled a proposed trip by one of the grade 12 classes to see the play because of it's "objectionable language and themes".

Unbelievable. "Mockingbird" was my favourite High School book, and a great movie to boot.

That's just so wrong on so many levels. Would they rather history be rewritten? That story actually handles some adult themes wil an amazing level of sensitivity and compassion.

When my son was nine, we read the book together. A few months later, a local university with an excellent drama department put on a production of it, and we went. He was captivated by it. One of his teachers was appalled that I had taken him. The rest of them were excited that he had such a love for a fantastic novel and understanding of the concepts of protagonist, antagonist, and the symbolism in the novel.

I remember when Schindlers List first came out and many high schools planned trips to special showings at theatres. There was on outcry from some parents for the same reason. Hiding your kids heads in the sand won't protect them from the evils of the world. It could cause them to not see the evil coming again until it's too late.

Anne

 

[tar heel]

No way did Capote write that book. He may have been close to Lee, but he wouldn't have let HER win a Pulitzer when he didn't have one.

We have a friend who is from Monroeville, and she owns an autographed copy of Mockingbird. She is a journalist and has known Harper Lee all her life but hasn't actually interviewed her.

 

[Evil Queen]

That's just so wrong on so many levels. Would they rather history be rewritten? That story actually handles some adult themes wil an amazing level of sensitivity and compassion.

When my son was nine, we read the book together. A few months later, a local university with an excellent drama department put on a production of it, and we went. He was captivated by it. One of his teachers was appalled that I had taken him. The rest of them were excited that he had such a love for a fantastic novel and understanding of the concepts of protagonist, antagonist, and the symbolism in the novel.

I remember when Schindlers List first came out and many high schools planned trips to special showings at theatres. There was on outcry from some parents for the same reason. Hiding your kids heads in the sand won't protect them from the evils of the world. It could cause them to not see the evil coming again until it's too late.

Anne

It is.

I remember reading these two articles within 2 weeks of each other:

Tennesee

Florida

 

[sodaseller]

There was a recent magazine article on Harper/Monroeville (it was either in Smithsonian or Nat Geo). Harper's a tough person to get info on. Not only does she refuse to talk to the press, the townspeople of Monroeville are also tight lipped about her. She's been known to shun friends and others in the small town who talk to the press about her. She's certainly an interesting character, that's for sure.

Thanks. The difference being that Lee's neighbors may appreciate her literature and protect her, while MKR used literature to lampoon the neighbors she had spats with, making them easily recognizable characters that were easy to dislike