I'm reading To Kill A Mockingbird (again).....

[southerngirlwriter]

.....and I miss my Grandma. She died 7 years ago. This was her favorite book. She gave it to me when I was 8 years old (I was a good reader and very bright). I read it at least once a year until she died, and we always discussed it. She lived in South Alabama during the time period in the book, and she said it was shockingly accurate and well-done -- the details were impressive.

My Grandma was a fierce, fighting Yellow Dog Democrat. During the last year of her life, after a stroke destroyed much of her ability to think and speak coherently, she would still tell anyone who said he was a Republican that he was "a damn fool! You're a damn fool, is whachoo are!!" :D

Her last election was the fall of 1996. She was unable to mark her ballot, because her good hand shook so badly, and her other hand was useless, but she yelled at the poll worker that "my baby will vote fer me!"** (It was her last election; my first.) I voted a straight Dem ticket and then marked hers, too. Straight Dem. We got our "I Voted" stickers and left with heads held high.

It was a great day. One of my best memories.

I miss you, Grandma. :cry: :cry: :cry:

**(In case anybody's wondering, that was perfectly legal in Alabama. We have a voter assistance law. If you're a registered voter, you can designate anybody you want to go into the booth with you and fill out your ballot for you.)

[Dookus]

1. My favorite novel...

always worth a re-read.

[madmax]

2. That's a beautiful memory, sgwriter

All four of my grandparents died before I was born :cry: I don't have any memories of them. You're a lucky gal.

I hope to create good memories for my grandaughter. She calls me a 'senior hippie'. :hippie:

[Room101]

3. Funny

Just two minutes ago, I found that very book while I was cleaning upstairs and now its right in front of me. Even people who don't like to read say they love this book.

Are some unknown forces at work here? I have already committed myself to three other books. I will read, "To kill" this year. I'm reading gore Vidals novel "creation" I love it.


Weird :crazy:

[Zomby Woof]

4. what a great story

Harper Lee's, and yours.

Atticus Finch is one of the greatest characters in American literature - his morality is to be absorbed and emulated. Scout is wonderfully endearing and precocious in the best way.

I urge anyone who has not read "Mockingbird" to do so now. It's a gem with no discernible flaws.

[southerngirlwriter]

6. As always, you are right, ZombyWoof!

I'll assume we've all read it here, and so if this is a tiny bit of a spoiler, I'm sorry.

Here's my favorite passage:

p. 243

"Is he all right?" Aunty asked, indicating Jem.

"He'll be so presently," said Atticus. "It was a little too strong for him." Our father sighed. "I'm going to bed," he said. "If I don't wake up in the morning, don't call me."

"I didn't think it wise in the first place to let them--"

"This is their home, sister," said Atticus. "We've made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it."

"But they don't have to go to the courthouse and wallow in it--"

"It's just as much Maycomb County as missionary teas."

"Atticus--" Aunt Alexandra's eyes were anxious. "You are the last person I thought would turn bitter over this."

"I'm not bitter, just tired. I'm going to bed."

"Atticus--" said Jem bleakly.

He turned in the doorway. "What, son?"

"How could they do it, how could they?"

"I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it -- seems that only children weep. Good night."

I get goose bumps. The writing is astounding, but Atticus is so human there -- honest and angry and vulnerable and merciful and somehow idealistic and realistic all at once.

DAMN.

[mitchum]

13. You're right, it is flawless...

and it has so many elements which often go so wrong in others' hands:
-precocious child protagonist
-small town southern setting
-a social message
Any of these are often recipes for literary disaster, but Lee's genius pulls it off.
I also first read it at the age of 8, and have continued to read it once every year. 34 times. Yes, it is a wonderful novel

[Zomby Woof]

16. don't forget it is also a courtroom drama

Which has become the stuff of hoary cliché these days, but is a cornerstone of the story, and handled just as brilliantly as all of the other conventions which crumble in lesser hands.

[flamingyouth]

5. My favorite book

My mom had me read it when I was between 4th and 5th grades. I had "required" summer reading at our house. My mom always picked pretty heavy stuff - like Mockingbird, or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I'm glad she did; she instilled a lifetime love of reading in me!

RIP for your Grandma. I'm sorry I never got to meet her. :hug:

[southerngirlwriter]

7. I SWEAR TO GOD this is the truth...

The night before * choked on a pretzel, I dreamed that my grandma had taken a job as the White House cook.

When he choked on the pretzel, I laughed for five or six days non-stop. People stared.

I didn't care. :D

[flamingyouth]

8. HA HA!

That is too funny. I love hearing stories like that! :7

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. That is my favorite book...

And my favorite movie. That story is just so well written and acted. There is no one like Gregory Peck, and every time I read the book, I see him as Atticus. Here's some nice stories about the cast and crew of the movie: http://mockingbird.chebucto.org/cast.html
If you take off the last of that URL, the site talks a bit about Harper Lee.
:hug: SGW. I always miss my grandma when the Wizard of Oz was on. We'd watch it every time it came on together. And I always cry when I watch it for that very reason, so I can empathize.
Duckie

[MrScorpio]

10. In honor of your Book I name the post Boo Radley

That is all

[southerngirlwriter]

12. Tuscaloosa, AL had a bar for YEARS

that was called "Boo Radley's." :D

[VelmaD]

11. Greatest. Book. Ever.

Seems like so many of us, like Opus from Bloom County, re-read Mockingbird every year. It's good to hear all the stories of parents and grandparents not only getting y'all to read teh book but discussing it with you too. It's an important book and it changes your life when you read it and now I can't wait for my nephew to get old enough. And I think it's WAY past time for my niece to get a copy.

[MidwestMomma]

14. Thanks for the sweet story

She sounds like a great lady. Happy memories and thanks for the reminder about a great book.

[thelocalkgb]

15. To Kill a Mockingbird

Is one of the few books that has had a profound impact on my life. It's strange to me that so many people are like me, and about once a year I have to pull it out and re-read it. I think this world would be a better place if everyone was required to read this wonderful novel.