I started reading this book last year on my way to Madras. However, I must have read just about 40 pages because a lot of time was spent chatting with Ankur and sleeping. Back in Calcutta, I forgot all about it.
Last week, as soon as my exams ended, I got hold of this book again and to be very precise I found it simply awesome and it can easily go down as one of the best books I have ever read.
Narrated by a girl who is describing her life between the age of 8 to 10, the story blends the trivialities of childhood with the enormities of societal evils and prejudices. It is a picture of the real world seen through the innocent eyes of a child. As one reads this book, one realizes that the laws of children are universal … all of us have been through this phase and have much the same psychology. Imagination runs wild and reality is given a backseat when the choice is between what is true and what the child wants to be true.
I remember very well that when Ankur was about 12-13 years old, he suddenly began to change, which provoked Shreya and me to boycott him for sometime because he did not enjoy the kiddish stuff we did. In this story too, Scout found Jem’s change in behavior quite unacceptable when he reached this age and she often quarreled with him for acting ‘too big’.
However, this book is not just about childhood. It is actually centers around a trial of a rape case, which throws light on the prejudices that exist in our society, in this case against the Negroes. The accused, Tom, a negroe is convicted, even though Atticus, Scout’s father, and Tom’s lawyer had produced enough evidence to prove that Tom was absolutely innocent and in fact the said rape had not taken place at all. His conviction and later on his death, did not affect the general people at all. For them it was just “one nigger less”.
Atticus, was not just the father of Scout. He was her ideal and hero. His words - “ before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. One thing that does not abide the majority’s rule is a person’s conscience.” - clearly shows the strength of his character.
The book moved me like none before. It made me laugh when Jem climbed up the tree house and induced tears when Tom was convicted. It brought me back the beautiful days of childhood along with the harsh realization that things are far from the perfection we then perceived.
Last week, as soon as my exams ended, I got hold of this book again and to be very precise I found it simply awesome and it can easily go down as one of the best books I have ever read.
Narrated by a girl who is describing her life between the age of 8 to 10, the story blends the trivialities of childhood with the enormities of societal evils and prejudices. It is a picture of the real world seen through the innocent eyes of a child. As one reads this book, one realizes that the laws of children are universal … all of us have been through this phase and have much the same psychology. Imagination runs wild and reality is given a backseat when the choice is between what is true and what the child wants to be true.
I remember very well that when Ankur was about 12-13 years old, he suddenly began to change, which provoked Shreya and me to boycott him for sometime because he did not enjoy the kiddish stuff we did. In this story too, Scout found Jem’s change in behavior quite unacceptable when he reached this age and she often quarreled with him for acting ‘too big’.
However, this book is not just about childhood. It is actually centers around a trial of a rape case, which throws light on the prejudices that exist in our society, in this case against the Negroes. The accused, Tom, a negroe is convicted, even though Atticus, Scout’s father, and Tom’s lawyer had produced enough evidence to prove that Tom was absolutely innocent and in fact the said rape had not taken place at all. His conviction and later on his death, did not affect the general people at all. For them it was just “one nigger less”.
Atticus, was not just the father of Scout. He was her ideal and hero. His words - “ before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. One thing that does not abide the majority’s rule is a person’s conscience.” - clearly shows the strength of his character.
The book moved me like none before. It made me laugh when Jem climbed up the tree house and induced tears when Tom was convicted. It brought me back the beautiful days of childhood along with the harsh realization that things are far from the perfection we then perceived.
2 comments:
There are some books that we like and enjoy, but there are some that change the way we live and think. "To kill a Mockingbird" falls in the 2nd category for me. Atticus Finch is my all-time favourite literary character and if at the age of 40, I am a person like him, I will consider my life to be successful.
As you said, what makes this book really enchanting is that it is narrated throug the eyes (words?) of a 6 year old kid. It is indeed commendable that a grown up writer was able to create this illusion so well !!
Also this is one book, where the movie version did full justice to the movie. Highly recommended to all readers of this blog
i totally agree with ankur...
the really amazing thing about the book is the simplicity in a childs mind....without all the prejudice and stuff like that, the child is able to come to the correct decision while a whole village errs. And also, does it not remind us of our childhood days.....
if you liked this book, and if you still have not read catcher in the rye, please do so
and yes try to watch the movie to kill........gregory peck and the girl who played scout are brilliant ( the little girl won an oscar nomination for it!!)
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