There are a select few books which trigger this obscure sensory memory for me: crisp winter mornings and hot chocolate, late night chats, driving at night. I had felt, recently, that it had been so long since I had found a book to wrap me up in a blanket like this that I would most likely never find one again, but To Kill a Mockingbird is such a book. I'm not sure why it does what it does. It could be simple but perfectly descriptive prose, the expertly drawn characters with their own distinct voices, or a setting far enough away to not be my own, but close enough to be relatable.
To Kill a Mockingbird has all of these things (I could write for hours about how beautifully realised Maycomb's inhabitants are, but I'll spare you.) but I think it is far simpler than that. I think the true charm of the book is its sense of hope. "No," it seems to say, "life may not always be great, but just look at all the things you do have. Look at your family, your friends, your freedom. Re-evaluate their importance." Scout nor Atticus ever posit that every person is good, but they do remind you to look for their reasons for being how they are. They tell the value of empathy, deep thought, and kindness without want for reward.
If you wanted, it could become a secular Bible.
Chances are that you have read To Kill a Mockingbird, but perhaps it was a long time ago, or school crushed all the enjoyment out of it, or you never did at all. Just do it. Go and find somewhere comfortable to sit, and read at least the first two chapters before you move again. Don't just read it- absorb it. It's worth it.
YOU ARE READING
Book Reviews
Non-FictionCarried over from my Tumblr, this is a personal project tracking what I read through time, largely because of my awful memory. These aren't long reviews, but the books are varied, and the opinions are honest, so I hope you enjoy.
