Catcher in the Rye and TKMockingbird out of American Schools

[Animavore]

I don't think she was in need of a sex change. I just think she was a lesbian.

[FBM]

Obligatory.

[hadespussercats]

To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional book. Everyone should read it to their dog.

[hadespussercats]

I can understand how TK Mockingbird would resonate with people from Britain and America, two countries dripping with white guilt, but as an Irish person, whose people never harmed anyone except the odd occupational force, I'm not sure it would have the same resonance.

Well, maybe I might feel a special empathy with the black guy to a degree you lot may fully understand.

Hm. You think feeling guilty about slavery is necessary to consider TKAM a compelling read?

I don't.

[Pappa]

To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional book. Everyone should read it to their dog.

What's your take on it hades?

I found the device of telling the story not only from the girl's perspective, but mindset too, to be really interesting. It's not something I've seen done well before or since. Plus, I liked how completely I picture the scenes in the book... so well I can still see them now, probably 8 years or more since the last time I read it.

[hadespussercats]

To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional book. Everyone should read it to their dog.

What's your take on it hades?

I found the device of telling the story not only from the girl's perspective, but mindset too, to be really interesting. It's not something I've seen done well before or since. Plus, I liked how completely I picture the scenes in the book... so well I can still see them now, probably 8 years or more since the last time I read it.

It's in my all time top... fifteen.

In high school, when I just hadn't read as many really good books, it was my #1.

I really identify with Scout-- little fag haggy genderqueer tomboy girl reminds me of little me. So there's that.

Plus the story is that perfect 'fable' balance of simple, but with layers and layers you can examine-- which is why it works well for both children and adults.

It's about important things-- and that's not just the issue of race. There are ideas of family, having a broken family or a mother who isn't your biological mother, and how we shape our images of ourselves through our ideas of who our fathers are.

Those kids thought their father was just a bookworm. Maybe even a coward. Then they find out that he was the best shot in the county (in a time when everyone knew how to shoot-- so that really meant something.) Plus, you find out that he was so quick, so good with a gun, that he chose to put it away-- because he could be deadly with it before he even had a chance to think. There's an analogy here to conscientious objection.

Incidentally, this is why the film, even though it's excellent and Gregory Peck was the perfect Atticus, pisses me off-- in the scene where he shoots the rabid dog, he struggles with his glasses. Atticus in the book would never have done that. Just picked up the gun, aimed, fired. A pivotal moment, ruined.

To continue on that conscientious objector bit-- consider Boo Radley. Don't you think he got weird because he was shellshocked? He didn't use to be a shut-in. All those gifts he left for the children-- he used to go out in the sun. And if he had that war experience, it would explain how he was able to dispatch the threat to the children so readily.

Anyway.

Now that I know more about the relationship between Harper Lee and Truman Capote (have you read and seen In Cold Blood? In both cases, you really should. They are both excellent) I get a kick seeing Scout and Dill as little Harper and Truman.

Yeah. I think it's an excellent book, and I think it's kind of a crime our HS students won't be reading it. Mine will, I can tell you that. I'll make sure of it.

I just wasn't sure what you meant about reading it to your dog-- I though that might have been a dis.

[tattuchu]

I really ought to read To Kill a Mockingbird. It's one of many books I really ought to read.

I loved Catcher In The Rye. Well, I didn't care much for it when I was required to read it in school. But that's because I was required to read it. But then, later, when I read it on my own for enjoyment, I found I really, um, well, enjoyed it. It spoke to me in a big way. I was surprised it was required reading, though. It seems a little subversive. Also, I don't consider it Great Literaturetm or A Classictm. I just really liked it as all. I think those that are disappointed in it may be going into it with unrealistic expectations or certain preconceived notions. You need to toss those out and just appreciate the book for what it is, not what you expect it to be or think it should be. It's a small, modest little book, in my opinion. And that's precisely why I like it, actually.


Anyhow, I think Good Omens should be required reading in every school

[Svartalf]

Really, everything one needs to know is in Enid Blyton.

Has Georgina had a sex change yet? That's the burning question.

That would be a shame, I have a thing for tomboys.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I just checked and there appears to be no ebook version of TKAM!!1!! WTF!!1!!??/??

[Pappa]

I just wasn't sure what you meant about reading it to your dog-- I though that might have been a dis.

Oh that was supposed to be a joke. You know, "Everyone and their dog should....". Dogs can't read, so you should read it to them.

[Bella Fortuna]

I just wasn't sure what you meant about reading it to your dog-- I though that might have been a dis.

Oh that was supposed to be a joke. You know, "Everyone and their dog should....". Dogs can't read, so you should read it to them.

And inside of a dog it's too dark to read...

[Animavore]

I can understand how TK Mockingbird would resonate with people from Britain and America, two countries dripping with white guilt, but as an Irish person, whose people never harmed anyone except the odd occupational force, I'm not sure it would have the same resonance.

Well, maybe I might feel a special empathy with the black guy to a degree you lot may fully understand.

Hm. You think feeling guilty about slavery is necessary to consider TKAM a compelling read?

I don't.

To an extent, yes. The whole book was aimed at enlightening whitey over racial issues in America at the time. It's a culture Americans are steeped in. Racial tension is deep-rooted. The likes of the KKK have philosophy, religion and dodgy science on that shit. We have no equivalent in Ireland. I'll always just be reading it as a tourist.

That's not to say I won't find it good. It would be like you reading Joyce. Sure you may enjoy it but you won't have the intimacy with Dublin to fully appreciate. Maybe if you lived there a few years.

[Animavore]

I just checked and there appears to be no ebook version of TKAM!!1!! WTF!!1!!??/??

ORLY?

http://www.torrenthound.com/hash/413ff1 ... 895c/files

Pulitzer Prize winners 1918 - 2011.

[Tyrannical]

To Kill a Mockingbird was one big proof by example fallacy to enflame white guilt and imply blacks were often unfairly charged for crimes they didn't commit.

[aspire1670]

To Kill a Mockingbird was one big proof by example fallacy to enflame white guilt and imply blacks were often unfairly charged for crimes they didn't commit.

LOL at the troll fail. You need a new one trick pony.