(Image from Barnes & Noble)
I rarely re-read books. Almost never. With so many great new stories out there just waiting to be cracked open, why waste time going back to one I've already experienced? That's my usual philosophy, but sometimes, I get a hankering to re-enjoy an old favorite. Like Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird. It's been a long time (high school?) since I first read and loved it, so a re-reading was long, long overdue. And, you guys, I'm so glad I took the opportunity! I swear, everything about this book touches some part of my soul. It's just a beautiful, inspiring, charming story—one that will never get old, no matter how many times I read it.
I'm not even going to attempt any deep literary analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird. That's been done many, many times, and by people much more knowledgeable than I. So, let me just encourage you to read this one, whether for the first time or the twentieth. It's an incredible novel, the kind that should be studied in schools and revered worldwide (oh wait, it already is ...).
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Time to Kill by John Grisham)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, racial epitaphs and references to rape
(Incidentally, the classic 1962 movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird is Not Rated.)
To the FTC, with love: I bought To Kill a Mockingbird from Amazon using a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
I'm the same way, it's so hard for me to reread books. But there's a couple that I've reread a few times because they just don't get old.
ReplyDeleteThis book has been on my re-read list for awhile, but I think you've inspired me to make it a priority in 2014! I enjoyed your review! :)
ReplyDeleteI NEVER re-read books either -- but, yes, this deserves to be read again -- it's been over 11 years since I last read it -- you've inspired me!
ReplyDeleteI read it as required reading in school but didn't appreciate it nearly enough until I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sissy Spacek this year. fantastic and I never reread books either but I would reread TKAM and The Book Thief!
ReplyDeleteFunny enough, I re-read THE BOOK THIEF this year as well. I didn't want to see the movie until I had!
DeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird is such a wonderful book. I haven't read it in years. I think it is time for a reread.
ReplyDeleteTo many readers there is always that one book, or in some instances those books that are held very closely to them. I know people who absolutely wont re-read a book, but then again I know people, including myself who has read certain books 3+ times. Those are the kind of books that authors dream of creating.
ReplyDeleteThats a great book to re-read!
ReplyDeleteI re-read books a lot, but mostly that's because they inspire me in my own writing. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great one to re-read.
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