Audio Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Publisher: Caedmon
Release Date: Aug 22, 2006
Rating: 4.5/5

Cover Impressions: Meh.  Boring imagery - doesn't do the book justice.

Review: What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said?  I was never forced to read it while in school (or university), but it has remained on my list of classics to read.  To be honest, I knew very little about it prior to starting, but I can now see why it has become a staple in so many classrooms.  The writing style is fluid and prose beautiful, without being inaccessible for today's students.  The historic setting transports the reader to a slower time that is often looked upon with nostalgia and longing.  However, the subject matter soon turns and reveals the dark underbelly of this society.

The part about this novel that I truly loved was its characters.  Scout has an incredible voice and she interjects a wonderful sense of humor to a plot that would otherwise have gotten far too serious for young readers.  The author managed to write a child that is precocious, innocent and most importantly - believable.  The adult characters are also wonderfully drawn, with strengths and flaws

The audio version of this book was fantastic for my traffic-ridden commute.  The pace was slower than many of the other books I have listened to and the prose flowed like smooth chocolate - which worked very well to keep me calm, I must admit.  Sissy Spacek was an great choice as narrator and she did a wonderful job of embodying the voice of Scout.

I truly enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird, and it has inspired me to seek out other classic YA in audiobook format.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 15 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: None
Violence: Gunplay, Knifeplay, Discussion of Rape
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: None

Classics Reading Challenge

When it comes to my reading recipe I usually start with a big heap of YA, add a spoonful of Urban Fantasy and one of Magical Realism with just a dash of Historical Fiction.  I have always lamented that I didn't read more classics, I mean, I'm an English teacher, I should have read ALL of them right?

This year, as a New Year's Resolution, I decided to do something about that.  I intend to read one classic novel a month.  To help me feel a little more accountable, I started a Goodreads group for people who might want to join me.  You can find it HERE

So far, we have read Pride and Prejudice (left me wishing for death), The House of Seven Gables (left me screaming for death) and are currently reading Frankenstein (maybe reading about death will end this slump).  If you are ready to spend a few hours questioning the motives of whomever decided the book that makes you want to scream obscenities at the world in general should be read by every high school student from here to eternity - come and join us!