Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

(Continued from To Kill A Mockingbird part 1)

Structure

The structure of the book is incredible. It is almost mathematical in how later events are set up by the former pages. Tim Johnson -> Mrs. DuBois -> the trial. These were such important events in the developments of Jem and Atticus.

Family Codes

All the families presented in the story had their own tenants of life.

• Ewells (everyone else is at fault)
• Cunninghams (take nothing from nobody)
• Radleys (religious strictness, isolation)
• Finches (morality, honor)

Some are judged better and some are judged worse, but in all the families, it can be argued that the children all suffer (enclose “suffer” in quotes if you’d like) because of their parents’ codes.

Jem had to stay with Mrs. DuBois beyond the original agreement without reason. More seriously, he also would have had to stand trial if not for Heck Tate’s intervention.

Aunt Alexandra

I used to think that Alexandra inserted herself into the family because she was afraid of the embarrassment that was coming and how Atticus would damage the family’s reputation. I didn’t like her. Now I see that she was doing her part as well.

While Atticus toiled to placate the men’s world. Alexandra offered just one more reason for the town’s resentment and anger to stay away. She wooed the women, who would have influenced the men. If she could convince the town of the dignity and gentility of the Finches, than that nobility would reflect on Atticus, his words, and what he was trying to accomplish.

Did she believe everything? No, but she did her part.

Audiobook Challenge status: seven completed, five to go.

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My book club did To Kill a Mockingbird two months ago. Since I had just reread this book last year, I decided to give it a listen this time around.

Luckily, Sissy Spacek did the reading and really added to the experience. The only negative I can mention is that I found her voice for Atticus to not be fitting of the character.

She slowed her delivery to achieve the deeper voice. I think this made Atticus sound a bit like a dullard. Some of the things that Atticus says, if presented out of context, are super hokey. Spacek’s intonation for him didn’t help avoid this.

Even though I said it in my last post, I didn’t expect how much more I got out of this book with another reading. The listening experience really helped me notice certain things because my brain was free to think as the story continued.

Live and Let Live

It constantly struck me how quickly our governmental organizations would have stepped in to the various situations of the families in the books. The Cunninghams came off as tough, proud, and honorable people. DCFS would have taken those kids away in a heartbeat though. Would we have left the Radleys alone?

Narrative Voice

This whole thing is told in the past tense. How did I miss this all these years? Harper Lee’s writing is so visual and immediate. I just saw everything happening right in front of me.

(Continued in part 2)

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This is a fun and speedy read from the author of Persepolis. I won’t spoil the surprising additional meaning of the title that’s revealed in the book, but once you start, you’ll want to keep going through the pages.

The graphic novel depicts an afternoon of social chit-chat from a group of Iranian women. I mention Iranian even though the conversation is not culturally unique except for the point that we in the United States have little to no idea about what life is like inside Iran.

The women share stories and opinions about sex, relationships, and men in this condensed and compiled afternoon. The art and the dialogue are filled with humor and offer different insights into Iranian life.

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