Harper Lee`s - To Kill A Mockingbird

Genre : Fiction
Rating : 5.0/5

One year! Complete one year this book laid in my self unheeded. I know, I shouldn't have ill-treated this timeless classic but the small print and old yellow pages always kept me from picking it. Finally when there was nothing else to read I picked it and yes, I liked it. It made me laugh, made me sad, made me think!

It is the story about childhood incident of two siblings - 12 yrs old Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) and 8 yrs old Jean Luoise Finch (Scout). Their father Atticus Finch is a very reknowned and respected lawyer in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. Jem, Scout and their summer-friend Dill are intrigued by their neighbor Boo Radley, of whom they have only heard of and never seen. Boo is depicted as a suspecious character who is believed to come out of his house only at nights. Because of skeptical personality all these kids are always scared of him. They imagine him as a spooky person and are frightened even to pass Boo's property and yet they try some funny things to get a glance of him.

One day kids find some small insignificant gifts as chewing gum hidden in the hole of the tree trunk. Kids love getting those surprises. Later Atticus gets a sensational case to defend a black man, Tom Robinson who is convicted of raping a daughter of a white man, Bob Ewell. This case is the talk of the town and Atticus is refered to as nigger-lover by some cynical people for accepting to defend a black person. Jem, Scout and Dill stealthily witness this case in court and are totally unsatisfied with the jury's descision. Throughout the case Atticus provides strong evidences to prove that Bob Ewell and his daughter, Mayella are lying and even when it is crystal clear that Mayella enticed Tom, jury of white people decides to accuse Tom guilty. Though Bob wins the case, Atticus is successful in breaching Bob's reputation. Bob threatens Atticus that one day he will take the revenge for all the damage Atticus has caused. While in prison Tom tries to escape and is killed by the shots fired to stop him.

One night when Jem and Scout are returning from their school pageant Bob attacks them breaking Jem's hand and later Bob is found stabbed. Jem is carried home by mysterious Boo Radley. From what Scout narrates Atticus believes that Jem has accidently stabbed Bob. But the sheriff insists that Bob stripped on the roots of the trees, falling on his knife and killing himself... whereas the truth is Boo Radley intervens and saves children from being killed. Instead of giving publicity to Boo for protecting kids, sheriff decides to tweak the story. Scout understands that Boo has meant well of the kids and did nothing to harm them so to punish him would be like - To kill a mockingbird - a bird who only sings and does nothing harm to the mankind!

I liked the way this story unfolds, though at time I felt at some places lenghty explanations could have cut short. The character of Atticus Finch is very strong. Caring least for the consequences, he tries to stick to his principles. This warm hearted, intelligent lawyer is sure to win your respect. I liked the tomboyish, innocent character of Scout. She is criticized by other middle-aged ladies of the town for her unlady-like manners and the narration of those incidents is really funny. Jem on the other hand is too protective of his younger sister and is shown to mature as the story flows.

Though the story is about the racism in the early nineteenth century, the childhood innocence makes it a wonderful read. The story, backdrop of the town, language used reminded me of the another classic Gone with the Wind. Though there are lots of characters in this story Harper Lee has sketched them so well that even after you have finished reading the book you can remember each and every one very distinctly. I would say To Kill a Mockingbird really has a touching theme.