I have to admit that I did not anticipate this timeless classic being one of my favorites of all time. When I added To Kill A Mockingbird to my TBR a long time ago, I was completely unaware of the book’s existence until this year’s banned books challenge.
Filled with tales about patriotism, children’s innocence, adult crimes, and prejudice in small-town communities around Southern America during the Great Depression, It begins as a coming-of-age story for Jem and Scout, two siblings who drowned in their childish innocence. Jem, the elder sibling, and Scout, the tomboy who refuses to be ladylike no matter how much the adults expect of her. Atticus Finch, their lawyer father, raised children alone with the assistance of Calpurnia, the black housekeeper.
The children’s games revolve around the enigmatic Boo Radley’s house. The mystery surrounding this house and its occupants created the impression that the story’s climax is going to be about Boo Radley, the enigmatic man who lives there. However, the book’s major incident occurs later in the novel, when a trial case involving a black man raping a girl begins, and Scout’s father becomes the black guy’s defense attorney.
Additionally, this book stresses the value of standing up for what is right and being righteous. Unsurprisingly, the narrative of To Kill A Mockingbird is referred to as timeless. Reading it today reminded me how relevant the story is, living in a world where racism has been buried beneath the ashes.
The audiobook narrator Sissy Spacek did a fantastic job reading the audiobook. Sissy Spacek’s Texas accent enhanced the listening experience tenfold as the story sets in Alabama.