How Far Have We Come?

Last night I finished To Kill A Mockingbird. At the close of the book, I quickly remembered why we were told Heart of Darkness, Huck Finn, and To Kill a Mockingbird could just about answer any prompt on our AP English test. The book is truly inspiring, heart-breaking, and thought provoking.

After a eight year break from this classic story, I am both encouraged and sadden. We have come a long way in the 50-plus years since this story was published. Women and people of all races have served on juries, been elected to positions of power, and ran major corporations. I am still not convinced that all people are treated equal and are truly given equal opportunities.


As Scout and Jem notice in the book, there is a sharp difference in class, wealth and later opportunities in life. This cycle has been around for as long as anyone can remember. While great strides have been made in women and race equality the idea of stopping the cycle of poverty has not come as far. To Kill A Mocking Bird is based in the Great Depression when poverty was at its worse, but people survived. As time continued their have been heros in the fight on poverty, but has enough really changed in the US? (Global Poverty is an entire other issue that may be addressed later).

The Cunnighhams and Ewells in the story come from a line of families scraping by in the 1930s. They mob and some of their children do not stay in school. They stay home to work the fields and do not gain an education; they have no way to move up in Maycomb County. While a situation like this may not occur in present time, it is not uncommon to hear of a child dropping out of high school to work to support his/her family. Their chance of an equal opportunity to grow is not their because of the life cycle of poverty intrench in the family.  I do not have the answer for this except that I firmilarly believe most of the answer can be found in all forms of education.

While this is a little more political than I intended the post to be, I encourage you all to read the book and reflect on the side and subtle issues in the book that are not as direct or as commonly addressed. To Kill A Mockingbird is widely known for its moral approach to race issues in the Deep South in the early twentieth century. Social class, women's rights, education, and moral values are just a few important issues that shape this book into a Pulitzer Prize winning novel.


Have you read the book? Share your thoughts here or on Goodreads.


Happy Reading!

(PS: Starting Harry Potter this week!)

The Tiger and the Bird- Week 1 Books

Like many avid readers, I do not like to read books after they become movies. There are a few exceptions to this rule that I am sure will be discussed as this adventure continues. However, the first two books on my list were both savored before the silver screen took over their portrayal.

The Life of Pi  by Yann Martel started this reading adventure. The book which is a great adventure of its own carries Pi Patel across the Pacific ocean on a lifeboat with an assorted "crew" after his ship was wrecked. I encourage everyone to read this book of preservation and pure moral and life saving courage. As with many books, be patient as the characters and story develop in part one.
(A separate post will highlight each book in more of a review fashion)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was pulled off the shelf and started this week. The first time I read this book I was sixteen in my tenth grade Honors English class in Tennessee. Now as a young adult in Baltimore, I know my thoughts, feelings and perspectives on the world and this book have changed. For those of you unfamiliar with this book, Scout Finch tells the story of the Summers her brother, Jem,  and friend, Dill, investigating the wonders of the town's reclusive Boo Radley.  Scout's father provides the moral compass on how to navigate tough issues of the day especially race and poverty. This book is a classic that everyone should read in their life. There is much to be discovered in these 300 pages.

Both of these books have been changed into a movie. I have yet to see Life of Pi, but To Kill a Mockingbird is another classic movie now. I encourage you to read the book first and create your own movie in your head; then if you are interested you can see what the screenwriters, directors and producers had in mind!