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jniemeier's review
4.0
Better than I thought. Could have benefitted from some editing to clarify style but the story was solid.
chapita4's review
3.0
I can't stop thinking about this book and would bump up my rating and recommend it. My initial reaction was that it was hard to believe this book was written by the same author as To Kill a Mockingbird...but the more I think about it and talk about it...I actually think that it's even more brilliant that way. By far Mockingbird is a better book..that being said....I think that Atticus can be both personas and that the flawed portrayal of him in this book took courage. The greater story in this novel is the process of growing up and realizing that parents are not perfect and that your belief system and values may end up being quite different from theirs.
ratcousin's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ladybaela's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to this as an audiobook.
Vastly preferred Mockingbird
Vastly preferred Mockingbird
katypicken's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mossfroggies's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.25
Could not get into this. Boring and slow.
_cecilie_'s review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Contrary to popular opinion and my own expectations, I liked this novel a lot and thought it very well done. Yes sure, the childhood memory vignettes are mosaic and Scout is a little thick at times, seeming quite a bit younger than 26 but in my experience many people are prone to idealizing and idolizing well past their childhood.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs