To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
Ashlea Shaw

Genre: Literature/Classic.

Age Group: This book is suited for all ages from 12 and up.

Stars: Book - 5 stars
Movie - 3 stars


Book Review

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the very reason why people read. It is loosely based on real events that happened to Lee’s neighbours when she was a little girl. This is such a great book! I’ve read it a few times and each time I read it I love it a little bit more. It is such a sad story, and Lee has no trouble addressing the racism that unfolds and is still the case today over 50 years later. Harper Lee has sufficiently set the scene for the story and also shows us what life is like through her sense of imagery and descriptions, of Maycomb County and the people that live there. Her portrayal of one, Atticus Finch, and a rape trial so full of emotion and horror it brought me to tears. The characters in this story are brilliantly defined and well thought out; the storyline is relatable and heart-warming; and the setting is realistic. She was a very courageous person to address it at the time that she did, and had to put up with a lot of criticism surrounding her only novel. She had a voice that she wanted to be heard, and a message she wanted to be sent out and she has done both things perfectly in this story. Her style is straight-forward and to the point – she writes simply, however, she manages to do it elegantly and effectively. The prose is beautiful and light-hearted coming from the eyes of a young girl named Scout, yet, she has managed to capture a moment that is so serious and mingle the two together effortlessly.

Movie Review

In this black and white film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird starring Gregory Peck, the storyline has been kept fairly close to the book of the same name. Yes, it’s an old movie and the special effects aren’t in the same league as they are today, but the story itself is what sets this movie apart from others. The music is typical of a film made in that era – in other words when something bad is about to happen, that awful music reminiscent of the Jaws movies (I know Jaws was made long after this, but you catch my drift!). Gregory Peck is the perfect choice for Atticus Finch and his ability to play the ever solemn lawyer/ father/philanthropist all mixed in to one, is no mean feat. The movie is still packed full of the same action that can be read in the book. The young actress who plays Scout Finch (the narrator of the book) is one of those children who is both exceptionally obnoxious but exceptionally loveable at the same time and I loved watching her get in to mischief with her big brother Jem. I would’ve liked to have seen more of Boo Radley in the film since he was such a vital part of the book, but he is only seen towards the very end of the film. I think this was a mistake on behalf of whoever wrote the script because it detracts from the movie for those that have read the book first. The town itself is just like what I’d imagined it to be – quiet, sleepy and everyone knows each other’s business. I would love to see a remake of the film in colour simply because I think it would add to the overall picture of the town.

Comparison

Once again, the book is far superior to the movie. In this instance though, the movie was going to have to be one of the best ever made to beat out the book. Lee’s written word is just too good to be topped and it’s a shame that she chose never to write another novel again. Overall I would recommend both the book and the movie to anyone wanting to read a book that will stay with them and touch them as much as it touched me. So whether you choose to read the book or watch the movie, this story by Harper Lee will resonate in your minds forever and you will find yourself wanting to go back to it over and over again.