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katewhite77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Told over two years through the eyes of three children who are part of a close-knit neighbourhood in Alabama in the early 1930s.
The novel opens by introducing a bit of neighbourhood legend, which helps set the scene and how socially conservative the community really is.
Aticus Finch, single Dad to Gem and Scout, two of the aforementioned children, is a progressive parent and lawyer, which becomes more and more important as we move the novel.
The absolute genius of this novel ìs that it is told through the eyes of three ìnocet children as it drives home to the reader quite how ridiculous the adult world can be sometimes.
It's funny as I was pretty sure I had read this book as a teenager and I remembered the beginning but there was a large swathe of the plot I had completely forgotten, so much so that I assumed I must not have finished the book but then I remembered the end, so I must have completed it.
I can imagine teenage me not really appreciating the more nuanced aspects of the plot, particularly when it came to Atticus' willingness not to follow the conversations of the time. So, I am really glad I read it again as an adult.
I think this really deserves its classic status.
Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Colonisation, Grief, Classism, Physical abuse, Addiction, Terminal illness, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence
annapox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Animal death, Addiction, Terminal illness, Death, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Grief, Gun violence, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Slavery, Death of parent, Colonisation, Cursing, Violence, Bullying, Antisemitism, War, and Medical content
sassmistress's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite fictional father so far! Just wow. And the slow unfolding of events as understood by a child overhearing things and not fully grasping the implications of situations is just perfection.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Classism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Racism, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Incest, Animal death, Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Ableism, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Slavery, Stalking, and Terminal illness
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Suicide, and War
This book is for adults. It centers around a rape trial in which a black man is (falsely) accused of assaulting a white woman in a heavily segregated Alabama town.It's deeply immersive, in a culture where racism is woven into the culture and impossible to avoid. The KKK and the "War Between the States" are part of recent cultural memory. Black defendants are always convicted no matter what. Lynching and mob violence are a very near threat.
Expectedly, the n-word abounds, among other racial slurs. Other language is not infrequent, including he**, g-d-, b****, wh*re, d**n, sl*t, etc. Lord's name in vain quite a few times.
Lots of death--not gory, but as close as it gets without actually witnessing it. Old age, and talk of the body being carried out of the home. Death penalty discussed often. A man dies:
Domestic violence:
Morphine addiction is discussed and withdrawals are shown.
Both respectable and "unrespectable" poverty are shown.
Schoolyard bullying and fights, neighborhood verbal abuse and gossip about many culturally relevant "deficiencies" like unladylikeness, mental illness, intellectual disability, not being sufficiently racist, etc.
Lots of portrayals of Christianity. Some are good, including the nearest relationships to the MC, but many are not. A neighbor reports that a different sort of baptist told her she was going to hell, MC loses "confidence in pulpit gospel" when thinking on what a good person the neighbor is. "Foot-washers think women are a sin by definition. They take the Bible literally, you know." The ladies' missionary society talks about global cultures with pity and exaggeration, often conflating spiritual issues with cultural differences. A white employer tells her black housekeeper she's not being a good Christian when she is visibly affected by a serious injustice in the local community and nearly fired her for it. Etc, many more.
Other spiritual content: Kids spook each other with talk of spirits on dirt roads. "Dill was a villain's villain: he could get into any character part assigned him, and appear tall if height was part of the devilry required. "
Besides the rape trial and moderately explicit testimony, which includes brief mention of domestic SA, there's other, more minor sexual content. Incest in local families is mentioned very specifically a few times. There's a quick joke about infidelity. Kids lie and say they were playing strip poker, which gets them into trouble (less because they played with matches instead of cards). There's a "swift" kid kiss, and a boy climbs into bed with a girl he keeps promising to marry some day, but it's platonic.
"I'll tan you" and many other such comments, severe corporal punishment for children being an expected part of the culture. Kids laugh when the teacher gives "quick little pats" on the hand when they realize it was meant to be a "whipping".
joshmacaroni's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Grief, Racism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Death, Violence, and Classism
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Bullying, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
modrinkscoffee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Death, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Hate crime
Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, and Sexism
emeh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Hate crime, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Drug abuse, Violence, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
A much beloved classic throughout generations, To Kill a Mockingbird enraptured me just as it has to readers of all ages. I don’t think I can say much more that hasn’t already been said but I was pleasantly surprised at the extent of which I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the sequel
Graphic: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Racism, Death, Rape, Racial slurs, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Slavery, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Incest
amyhamilton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Hate crime, Death, and Death of parent
beca_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism