|
|
Post by katiejane on Aug 5, 2014 14:41:53 GMT
The books a read in my English lit class I really enjoyed. The plays we read gave me a love of theatre. I must have been lucky. I loved the way we looked deeper into the texts. (To kill a mockingbird, jane eyre, wuthering heights, macbeth, a taste of honey.
|
|
lambchop
Junior Member
Posts: 83 
|
Post by lambchop on Aug 5, 2014 14:44:39 GMT
Love this book and the movie too!
|
|
|
|
Post by lumo on Aug 5, 2014 14:45:33 GMT
My first reaction to your thread title was "I'm sorry". I hated that book, though it could be that we were forced to read it in school and with the exception of one book, I have hated all forced reads of books. I suppose I should read it again, but I just hate the book so much that I can't even fathom the thought of that. BUT... I do think it's hilarious that it keeps getting stolen by your kids. I actually tried to read it last week, it was a free download for Kindle. I couldn't get passed the first few pages, I just hated it. Curious, what made you have such a strong negative response? |
|
|
|
Post by delila on Aug 5, 2014 14:46:08 GMT
My favourite book ever. I loved it so much that I named my kids after the book...have a girl named Harper Rose & a boy Atticus Finch. One is a Rottweiler & the other a Doberman!! Hahaha.
delila
|
|
grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
|
Post by grinningcat on Aug 5, 2014 14:58:19 GMT
My first reaction to your thread title was "I'm sorry". I hated that book, though it could be that we were forced to read it in school and with the exception of one book, I have hated all forced reads of books. I suppose I should read it again, but I just hate the book so much that I can't even fathom the thought of that. BUT... I do think it's hilarious that it keeps getting stolen by your kids. I actually tried to read it last week, it was a free download for Kindle. I couldn't get passed the first few pages, I just hated it. Curious, what made you have such a strong negative response? From what I remember, I didn't like the writing and I didn't like the story itself. I think I found the story preachy and boring. But as I said, it's been a while. |
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,300
|
Post by Mystie on Aug 5, 2014 14:58:53 GMT
I read it first as a teen (not for school, just on my own) and have re-read it several times since then. The last time I read it was on a long car ride with my DH, who had never ever read the book (!) and I read it out loud to him as we traveled. What surprised me was how much we laughed--I never thought of it as a particularly funny book, but we both got such a chuckle out of those kids and all their plots and plans. And yet I wept at the end when Boo Radley came to rescue "his" boy and girl.
The wonderful thing about a classic like TKAM--and the reason I think re-reading is a good thing to do--is that you get different things from it depending on where you are in your life each time you encounter it.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetshabbyroses on Aug 5, 2014 15:04:29 GMT
I'm right now reading "Mockingbird a Portrait of Harper Lee" and loving it. It is an unauthorized biography or perhaps you could call it a narrative of Nelle/Harper Lee........her friendship with Truman Capote and where she was living when she wrote the book (New York). It's a very good read!
|
|
|
|
Post by *christine* on Aug 5, 2014 15:07:37 GMT
I don't remember liking it when it was assigned in high school. I never read any of the books assigned. We (or our older siblings) would have those yellow cliff notes books.
It's on DS's book list for this summer as one of the options and I suggested it to him. I should try to read it again.
|
|
mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,074
|
Post by mimima on Aug 5, 2014 15:11:39 GMT
Love your story, OP. Enjoy the discovery.
One of my favorites, although I don't re-read with the frequency as others, it has definititely been re-read.
I need to confirm my youngest has read it - I know my oldest has.
|
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Aug 5, 2014 15:16:35 GMT
I love that book. And the movie is great too.
|
|
gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,817
|
Post by gottapeanow on Aug 5, 2014 15:21:30 GMT
I didn't read it in school. And I am kinda old.  I just read it for the first time a few months ago. DS - 9th grade - had to read it for English. I was madly in love with the book after I read it. Madly. Sigh. I still need to see the movie. There are quite a few classics that I, sadly, missed. I am trying to go back and play catch up. Reading East of Eden right now. This one is a bit of a struggle, and I am not liking it too much. Lisa |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 22:25:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 15:42:30 GMT
My first reaction to your thread title was "I'm sorry". I hated that book, though it could be that we were forced to read it in school and with the exception of one book, I have hated all forced reads of books. I suppose I should read it again, but I just hate the book so much that I can't even fathom the thought of that. BUT... I do think it's hilarious that it keeps getting stolen by your kids. I actually tried to read it last week, it was a free download for Kindle. I couldn't get passed the first few pages, I just hated it. Curious, what made you have such a strong negative response? The writing style just wasn't for me. |
|
|
|
Post by gracieplusthree on Aug 5, 2014 15:45:52 GMT
I haven't ever read it either and Im almost 41. but I do have a copy we bought at a used book sale, so I will get it read
|
|
The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,986
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 5, 2014 15:55:02 GMT
The few students I've had who "hated" the book usually haven't read the book.
It's one if my favorites.
|
|
MaryMary
Pearl Clutcher
Lazy
Posts: 2,975
|
Post by MaryMary on Aug 5, 2014 16:28:13 GMT
I love this book.
|
|
J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
|
Post by J u l e e on Aug 5, 2014 17:26:38 GMT
I never had to read it in high school, but I read it a few years ago after a 2Peas thread where it was mentioned again and again and again. I knew it was a classic, I just never managed to read it until then. I loved it. Not the same love love love that other people have for it, but it's a great story with lots of wisdom and truth.
|
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Aug 5, 2014 17:32:37 GMT
One of my favorites. I read it for the first time when I was about 11 but never read it in high school. When DD was in middle school it was required reading and she hated it. I think the forced march through otherwise interesting literature ruins it for a lot of us. I couldn't believe all the "symbolism" and other literary crap the teacher threw at the kids in an effort to ruin a wonderful book. "What does the rabid dog symbolize?" It symbolizes that there was not rabies vaccine in rural depression-era Alabama and that's why you don't pet stray dogs. Wrong. Argh. A great book. Go read it if you haven't. This is *exactly* why I've never liked English classes. Poetry especially can be bad for this. I remember in college someone asked the professor how we know that whatever-it-was symbolized whatever. He replied that "scholars agree..." or something. But if the author is dead then you have no way of really knowing unless he/she actually wrote about the symbolism. Yeah, I never liked picking apart any book, I just wanted to read it. |
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Aug 5, 2014 17:38:57 GMT
Another Mockingbird fan. I think anyone who hated it the first time out should give it another try, especially if it's been many years. GrinningCat, I'm talking to you. |
|
|
|
Post by peasful1 on Aug 5, 2014 17:54:23 GMT
I couldn't believe all the "symbolism" and other literary crap the teacher threw at the kids in an effort to ruin a wonderful book. "What does the rabid dog symbolize?" It symbolizes that there was not rabies vaccine in rural depression-era Alabama and that's why you don't pet stray dogs. LMAO! |
|
|
|
Post by littlefish on Aug 5, 2014 18:13:04 GMT
I haven't read it either. I've read a children's book called Also Known as Harper to my class (4th/5th grade) the last few years, where the main character's name is Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird is her (and her mom's) favorite book.
In my own defense, he little brother is named Hemingway, who I did read in high school.
|
|
|
|
Post by gillyp on Aug 5, 2014 20:36:28 GMT
One of my favorites. I read it for the first time when I was about 11 but never read it in high school. When DD was in middle school it was required reading and she hated it. I think the forced march through otherwise interesting literature ruins it for a lot of us. I couldn't believe all the "symbolism" and other literary crap the teacher threw at the kids in an effort to ruin a wonderful book. "What does the rabid dog symbolize?" It symbolizes that there was not rabies vaccine in rural depression-era Alabama and that's why you don't pet stray dogs. Wrong. Argh. A great book. Go read it if you haven't. This is *exactly* why I've never liked English classes. Poetry especially can be bad for this. I remember in college someone asked the professor how we know that whatever-it-was symbolized whatever. He replied that "scholars agree..." or something. But if the author is dead then you have no way of really knowing unless he/she actually wrote about the symbolism. Yeah, I never liked picking apart any book, I just wanted to read it. Totally my sentiments! I feel quite a philistine for hating the English classics and poetry leaves me cold. I read for escapism, not dissection! Thanks for the heads up that TKAM is on Kindle, Lainey . I've been looking for it for months and could only find study notes on UK Amazon but it's there now.  |
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on Aug 5, 2014 20:41:18 GMT
Okay will admit to never reading it... or don't even have a clue to what it is about.. killing a bird? lol...
|
|
Jennifer
Shy Member
Posts: 38
|
Post by Jennifer on Aug 5, 2014 20:59:48 GMT
Loved the book, loved the movie as well. I read this in an accelerated class in junior high. The "standard" English classes weren't allowed to read it, and we had to have written permission from our parents to buy it from the school bookstore.  |
|
tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
|
Post by tiffanytwisted on Aug 6, 2014 4:43:01 GMT
A few summers ago, I decided to read 'classics' I hadn't read or re-read books I read in high school that I couldn't remember or didn't like then. To Kill a Mockingbird was first on my list. It was actually better than I remember, which prompted me to keep going. I managed to get thru Catcher in the Rye & Inherit the Wind before I got off track. I really need to pick that up again.
|
|
|
|
Post by dulcemama on Aug 6, 2014 4:59:05 GMT
.
I like Steinbeck but found East of Eden a bit of a struggle too
Anyway, I love To Kill a Mockingbird too. Not just the story but the way it's written, the use of language, what is said an what is left unsaid. Such a great book. *sigh*
|
|
The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,986
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 6, 2014 5:08:43 GMT
In defense of literature teachers everywhere...thank you John Green.
|
|
huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,265
|
Post by huskergal on Aug 6, 2014 5:12:28 GMT
I didn't read it until I student taught. I was so happy I got to teach it when I was an English teacher. I loved re-reading it every year. The movie is exceptional.
|
|
|
|
Post by magenta on Aug 6, 2014 6:01:08 GMT
We had to read it in school and it became one of my favorite books. You would have thought I'd never want to touch it again after 8th grade. We had to analyze it, pick it apart, perform skits based on it, tested and quizzed on it, essays on it and endless discussions. My teacher was a stickler for details.
|
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Aug 6, 2014 6:11:59 GMT
My sister says she went to law school because of To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm sure she isn't the only one.
|
|
grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
|
Post by grinningcat on Aug 6, 2014 11:44:10 GMT
Another Mockingbird fan. I think anyone who hated it the first time out should give it another try, especially if it's been many years. GrinningCat, I'm talking to you. Hahahaha. Subtle. I'll add it to the bottom of my list. My very long reading list. |
|
