Sunday, March 23, 2008

My Favorite, Ever.

March 23, 2008

The Sunday Salon.com

"Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s
gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.
That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."


I can't really write much this evening because I need to go read a few more chapters in my favorite book, ever. That would be To Kill a Mockingbird, and I have the supreme pleasure of getting to introduce this most marvelous novel to my students tomorrow, and talk about it for two whole hours. And two hours the next week, and two hours the next week. Bliss.

It’s hard for me to explain what happens each time I begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I actually get shivers of excitement. I can say with assurance that this happens with no other novel. I have read this novel at least a half-dozen times, and this weekend I’ve begun reading it yet again and also preparing discussion questions.
This quote by Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva explains this feeling well: "There are books so alive that you're always afraid that while you weren't reading, the book has gone and changed, has shifted like a river; while you went on living, it went on living too, and like a river moved on and moved away. No one has stepped twice into the same river. But did anyone ever step twice into the same book?"

I’m not alone in my feelings for To Kill a Mockingbird. In 1991 the Library of Congress conducted a survey of book readers. Readers were asked to cite books that had made a difference in their lives. One of the books most often cited was Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The only book ranked higher by readers was the Bible.


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Comments

Sunday, March 23, 2008 - sister ...

Posted by onfire (206.132.50.252)

totally with you on this one.

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Monday, March 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (98.223.206.70)

Yup. It is second to the Bible to me! :) Can't wait for the day my kids are ready to read it!!

Back in the day when we got our first VCR, I asked for To Kill a Mockingbird on VHS and my brother got Top Gun. :)
Cindy
www.stillhisgirl.blogspot.com

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Monday, March 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (81.156.95.127)

I've never read this buy based on your post have just added it to my wish list.

clareswindlehurst.com/bookreviews

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Monday, March 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Ann (Table Talk) (86.145.116.96)

I've just been discussing 'Cry the Beloved Country' with Jennifer in the same way. I absolutely love it and introduce it to as many student groups as I possible can. It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it?

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Monday, March 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.49.48.73)

I'm going to make an admission...

I've NEVER read To Kill a Mockingbird. And I have a freakin' MA in literature. Sad, I know. However, it is on my shelf, ready to go, and it's post like yours that get me really excited to read it.

Love your blog! Happy Sunday Salon.

Andi
http://estellasrevenge.blogspot.com

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Monday, March 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Margaret (68.42.29.163)

Aw, you're making me feel like I need to go read it again! Agree with you completely.

Margaret
http://2kidschoolhouse.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - hey

Posted by Beckyg (68.59.209.123)

thanks for stopping by!
i love love love To Kill A Mockingbird! I have not read the book, but the movie is my favorite! My daughter's middle name is Harper .... it was my great-grandmother's maiden name, but Harper Lee did have a bit of influence too!

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Friday, March 28, 2008 - Tell me more

Posted by HomeForHim (74.130.206.113)

Hey Sarah,
I just spent the last hour reading through your reviews and adding to my TBR list. Gosh, I can't believe I've never read To Kill a Mockingbird....what a little world I live in. LOL Tell me more about the class you are teaching....I am interested.

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