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bethanystone13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death
taulkstoomuch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I don't know how to feel about this book to be completely honest.
I've always heard of this book as a 'classic' and a 'must-read', so I (as one would) assumed that it was one of those books that had to be read to truly understand the black experience during the 1930s. Much to my surprise, the author is a white woman; maybe this was the reason that it took me so long to get around to read it.
Not only this, but the choice to write a story regarding the mistreatment of black people through the perspective of a young white girl, one that is so naive to all the happenings of her society, was an odd one. It feels like a convenient mechanism to make the audience forget that Scout's family, hence white poeple, would undoubtedly benefit from their environment at the time, and even now. The story reeks of white saviour complex - are we supposed to be proud of Atticus for standing up for the right of black people? It is his job as a lawyer, but also a person to instill those morals into his children. Expecting a commendation for such a basic moral code (being the best out of a bad (incredibly racist) bunch) seems odd, so I feel unjust in rating this book anything higher than I have.
Subject matter aside, I found the book to be quite dull in general. I felt like it dragged through the first half in the name of character building. It took me a long time to get through the book because of the writing, and I was listening to it in audiobook (let's not even talk about the language and how uncomfortable it made me to listen to a white narrator say slurs over and over again).
That is not to say that this book doesn't have any positives. I can appreciate that it is a classic and highly revered within the education system. It does bring into question why this, out of all the others books on racism, is the classic. There are so many beautiful(-lly depressing) books about the experiences of black people during this era, written by black people themselves. Perhaps we should be highlighting those experiences and reading books by them to have a more accurate view of history.
I've always heard of this book as a 'classic' and a 'must-read', so I (as one would) assumed that it was one of those books that had to be read to truly understand the black experience during the 1930s. Much to my surprise, the author is a white woman; maybe this was the reason that it took me so long to get around to read it.
Not only this, but the choice to write a story regarding the mistreatment of black people through the perspective of a young white girl, one that is so naive to all the happenings of her society, was an odd one. It feels like a convenient mechanism to make the audience forget that Scout's family, hence white poeple, would undoubtedly benefit from their environment at the time, and even now. The story reeks of white saviour complex - are we supposed to be proud of Atticus for standing up for the right of black people? It is his job as a lawyer, but also a person to instill those morals into his children. Expecting a commendation for such a basic moral code (being the best out of a bad (incredibly racist) bunch) seems odd, so I feel unjust in rating this book anything higher than I have.
Subject matter aside, I found the book to be quite dull in general. I felt like it dragged through the first half in the name of character building. It took me a long time to get through the book because of the writing, and I was listening to it in audiobook (let's not even talk about the language and how uncomfortable it made me to listen to a white narrator say slurs over and over again).
That is not to say that this book doesn't have any positives. I can appreciate that it is a classic and highly revered within the education system. It does bring into question why this, out of all the others books on racism, is the classic. There are so many beautiful(-lly depressing) books about the experiences of black people during this era, written by black people themselves. Perhaps we should be highlighting those experiences and reading books by them to have a more accurate view of history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Murder and Violence
eedle_cacleberry's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Ableism, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, and Child abuse
ponk_33's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Bullying, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Violence
havenhill's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Incest
erinsu's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape
rehssingh's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, and Violence
lhodgson26's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Told from Scouts perspective we see a girl trying to grow up in a world full of racial inequality as all she wants to do is play with her brother Jem and her friend Dill but over the course of the book we watch her start to understand all the things wrong the world. I loved Aticus' character as whilst he could be more loving to his children there are so many layers to unpack with him and the way he defended Tom and proceeded to have his back even when it threatened the safety of himself and his family. The actual trial and the sad death of Tom is actually only quite a small part of the book so that could have been longer and the ending too seemed quite abrupt with the questions over how Bob died and who killed him. This is sadly a timeless classic and there is still such a long way to go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
matthewsglenn's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
emel_wiss15's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Character building was amazing, the pov we get through Scout is really captivating and moving at times. I felt it took a while to get to points in the book that i was interested in but in saying that, not once in the book did i feel like the writing was a waste of time. Every chapter had a meaning or idea it was trying to convey. Overall great book. Wasnt so good to be four stars but i feel everyone should read this book at least once. I dont think the characters jn this book will ever leave my mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs