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thefool124's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
To be honest, I only picked up this book as an aspiring law student looking to put something on my university application; also, my friend told me that it was one of the most boring books he has ever read. But I learnt a very important lesson: decide things for yourself. Because 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was a damn good novel.
The PoV character Scout, in particular, was a masterclass in writing a clearly clever child but a child nonetheless. A lot of authors fall down the trap of making the "clever child" act and act like an adult but Scout, despite having a remarkably inquisitive nature and booksmarts, still had blind spots when it came to societal knowledge and, especially at the start of the novel, was prone to immaturity and anger.
The novel also has one of my favourite depictions of parenting. Atticus (more on the man later) never forced ideas upon his children and instead, he acted as a role model and allowed certain habits to form organically in his Jem and Scout. For example, Atticus always reads in the evenings and so the children, impressionable, develop a voracious reading habit. And Atticus never had a fixed ideal of what his children were meant to be. When Jem makes a snowman, Atticus marvels at his talent, saying he could become an artist. But, admittedly, it was a strange parenting dynamic in that the kids called Atticus "Sir" and there was a certain distance between them at the start. But when matters escalated, Atticus never abandoned his children emotionally and always comforted them, allowing the stoic walls to fall. And really, that is what mattered.
There is great underlying message of moral resilience. In this class-steeped, traditional town of Maycomb, those who stand up for equality and what is right, like Atticus, are spat upon and those only maintain this grand racial delusion are only rewarded. For example,
Graphic: Racism and Rape
charlotte_kuckuck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Murder
kilonshele'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism and Rape
saturnsreads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
madisonkane321's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Murder
isabelle_mary'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
shelbywhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Suicide attempt
cameron_cassidy's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism and Rape
debbiet2023's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape
themadbloodstone'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, and Rape
Minor: Incest