To Kill a Mockingbird - and now Jane Eyre

[Deb in IA]

Wow, what a powerful book! I can't believe I never read this when I was young. I highly recommend it to anyone who has not had the pleasure of reading this wonderful book.

It's a wonderful, classic movie, too. Gregory Peck is awesome as Atticus, the child actors are great and Robert Duvall makes his film debut as Boo Radley.

I totally agree.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best novels ever written.

And the part in the movie when Atticus leaves the courtroom, and the people in the balcony tell Scout, "Stan' up Scout. Your daddy's passin'" gets me choked up every time.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I loved the book and the movie when I was growing up.

Now its required reading for my ds when they were in 9th grade. (Their teacher was one of the disney teachers of the year).

The teacher does a whole project unit themed on it.

 

[Briarmom]

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it first in 8th grade and have read it at least every other year since.

A classic I read as an adult was The Grapes of Wrath...talk about a book that had profound impact. I got physically ill toward the end of it from the emotions it evoked...and I'm not sure if I can re-read it.

I agree entirely. The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden...I couldn't put down either one. I love Steinbeck.

Jane Eyre is good, Auntie. You'll love it.

 

[NMAmy]

When Scout stood on Boo's porch at the end of the book I cried.

Friends have recommended Jane Eyre, I think that will be my next classic.

Those are my top two books. I love Jane Eyre--Jane is one of the few heroines from that time period that took care of herself and stood up for herself. She rocks.

After you read Jane Eyre, you should read The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Totally different kind of book--a science fiction type of book in which literary detectives can jump into books and mingle with the characters. Mr Rochester is great in this version.

 

[tower_of_terror_luvr]

I am in high school and read it last year and loved it. It is my favorite book

 

[clutter]

I wanted my dd13 to read it for her summer book this year. But she said her 7th grade teacher told the class it was 'too mature' for them. Huh? I think they do read it in 9th grade, so I'll just have to hold my horses.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I read an interesting article recently in Southern Living--http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-central/to-kill-a-mockingbird-00417000067956/ If that link doesn't work, just go to the Southern Living website.

 

[luvflorida]

To Kill A Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time! I've read it numerous times over the years. I also love the movie and highly recommend the two-disc DVD boxed set that came out a few years ago. It has quite a few bonus features and a few interviews with cast members, although I was hoping for even more.

Another excellent book, for anyone interested in learning more about Harper Lee, is Mockingbird, A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields. It is a fascinating read!

All three of my kids grew up with a love of the book and the movie. My youngest daughter, at the age of ten, had the wonderful experience of playing Scout in a local production of To Kill A Mockingbird. In a "best of" edition of a local newspaper, the show won "Best Theatrical Production of the Year".

Here are few pictures from the show. They are pictures taken from a video, so the quality isn't the best.

Scout having a serious discussion with Atticus.

Scout meeting Boo Radley for the first time, right before he asks her to walk him home.

I'm happy to say that To Kill A Mockingbird became one of my daughter's favorite books of all time, too!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I love the classics especially when I re-read them as an adult. Grapes of Wrath, Tale of two Cities

I also have a different appreciation for the classics now that I'm older. I never read A Tale of Two Cities in high school and DD was assigned this book as summer reading coming up on 9th grade. I agreed it would read it as well, so she would have someone to discuss it with. I have to admit, I really don't like it. I guess I've just become a lazy reader in my old age.

As for another classic, Catcher in the Rye, I HATE THAT BOOK. I despise that book. I can't believe it's ever become a classic. I joke with friends that I understand why every psycho nut who is out to kill someone always is caught with a copy of this book. I brought out such emotion in me. I hated the main character and was hoping he'd get killed in the end. Such a whiny brat. I don't normally have such a profound reaction to a story, but that one really got under my skin.

I loved to Kill a Mockingbird and hope that's something that DD will get to read.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I totally agree.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best novels ever written.

And the part in the movie when Atticus leaves the courtroom, and the people in the balcony tell Scout, "Stan' up Scout. Your daddy's passin'" gets me choked up every time.

That part always gets me, too.

 

[Muushka]

The movie To Kill a Mockingbird is among my favorites.
And I am a huge "the book is always better" type of person.
Well last year I picked up a copy of the book. I tried to read it, I really did. But I missed the movie so much (love each and every character in that movie) that I couldn't read the book.
I will try again this year.

PS I loved The Catcher in the Rye! Sicko that I am .

 

[PrincessKsMom]

The movie To Kill a Mockingbird is among my favorites.
And I am a huge "the book is always better" type of person.
Well last year I picked up a copy of the book. I tried to read it, I really did. But I missed the movie so much (love each and every character in that movie) that I couldn't read the book.
I will try again this year.

PS I loved The Catcher in the Rye! Sicko that I am .

Now if you haven't been out trying to assassinate anyone, you know I didn't mean you. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I was a teen when I read it, but reading it as an adult, I think it just struck me an entirely different way. I also believe it probably was "cutting edge" when it was first published, but it just lost some of it's luster in the 2000's, sort of like cutting edge special effects in the 70's versus cutting edge special effects now.

 

[Muushka]

Now if you haven't been out trying to assassinate anyone, you know I didn't mean you. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I was a teen when I read it, but reading it as an adult, I think it just struck me an entirely different way. I also believe it probably was "cutting edge" when it was first published, but it just lost some of it's luster in the 2000's, sort of like cutting edge special effects in the 70's versus cutting edge special effects now.

No, not me! Yes, I think I was 17 when I read it. I don't know why I loved it so much, but being a 17 year old in the early 70's may have had something to do with it. A different generation, a different time. But Mockingbird is a classic, timeless.

 

[Feralpeg]

It is one of my favorites. Actually, Harper Lee did not write it as a book to begin with. It was a series of short stories...almost like a blog. The publisher would only publish it if she put it together as a novel.

She became very reclusive in her later years.

 

[snapppyd]

I just finished Jane Eyre: Oh my, I loved it!