Mockingbird Discussion

To Kill a MockingbirdReader's Guide - Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Harper Lee chose as her novel's epigraph this quote from Charles Lamb: "Lawyers, I suppose, were children once"?
2. Why does the adult Scout begin her narrative with Jem's broken arm and a brief family history?
3. How does Boo Radley 's past history of violence foreshadow his method of protecting Jem and Scout? Does this aggression make him more, or less, of a sympathetic character?
4. How does the town of Maycomb function as a character with its own personality, rather than merely as a backdrop for the novel's events?
5. Atticus teaches Scout that compromise is not bending the law, but "an agreement reached by mutual consent." Does Scout apply or reject this definition of compromise? What are examples of her obedience to and defiance of this principle?
6. The novel takes place during the Great Depression. How do class divisions and family quarrels highlight racial tensions in Maycomb?
7. Atticus believes that to understand life from someone else's perspective, we must "walk in his or her shoes." From what other perspectives does Scout see her fellow townspeople?
8. How does Atticus quietly protest Jim Crow laws even before Tom Robinson's trial?
9. What does Jem learn when Atticus forces him to read to Mrs. Dubose as a punishment? Why does the lawyer regard this woman as the "bravest person" he ever knew?
10. Since their mother is dead, several women-Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Aunt Alexandra- function as mother figures to Scout and Jem. Discuss the ways these three women influence Scout's growing understanding of what it means to be a Southern "lady."
11. Why does Atticus Finch risk his reputation, his friendships, and his career to take Tom Robinson's case? Do you think he risks too much by putting his children in harm's way?
12. What elements of this novel did you find funny, memorable, or inspiring? Are there any characters whose beliefs or actions impressed or surprised you? Did any events lead you to revisit childhood memories or see them in a new light?
13. Adult readers may focus so much on the novel's politics that they may neglect the coming-of-age story. What does Scout learn, and how does she change in the course of her narrative? 

Comment below to start a discussion!

Mockingbird Wrap-Up

So by this time, most of us should have finished at least one of the three books on our summer list. For me, it's To Kill a Mockingbird, which I found inspirational beyond words. Just to sort of keep things live on this here blog, I've put together a few goodies:

Firstly, a quiz. Not for wussies.

Secondly, a pinboard:

It's a little small for now, but might get bigger. Pinterest is a horrible addiction for those of us brave enough to start it.

And lastly, I'm going to create a discussion board (or at least attempt to) so that we may have a forum to discuss Mockingbird while it's still fresh in our brilliant minds.

Loves,
Jessica

Summer Break

Everyone truly enjoyed Big Stone Gap; the quirky characters and rural dialect left the book feeling very familiar and nostalgic for just about every member of our little club. Trigiani’s mention  of Sanka and use of words like “feriner” (meaning “foreigner” in mountain-Virginian) left everyone laughing. The plot, however, had a few holes that could stand to be filled. Not all of the legality of the story made perfect sense – but then, it doesn’t necessarily have to. Big Stone Gap was exactly what it was supposed to be: a charming, small-town romance with a taste for adventure.

In the coming months, the Ladysmith Book Club will be taking a summer holiday. We will not meet again until September 14^th, when everyone’s busy schedules allow more time for things like book club meetings. This blog, however, will be active and I hope everyone takes a little time this summer to let us all know how they’re doing, in regards to all things life and literature.

This summer, to fill the rare empty hours that need filling, we will be reading three books: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, 1984 (or Nineteen Eighty-Four, depending on the bookseller) by George Orwell, and Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. None of these books are particularly long, but all fall under the category “I should have read this decades ago”. Just for my own ease and sanity, I’ll be reading the books one at a time and in the order listed above, but feel free to read in any order. We’ll discuss all three at September’s meeting.

Have a wonderful summer, everyone!

Drumroll please....

This month, Heidi selected the book Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. Trigiani, herself a native of Virginia, writes about small-town life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As members of a small community, we should have a lot to relate to when it comes to the eccentricities of rural life. The Goodreads synopsis reads, "Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime—a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever." Trigiani has received an abundance of praise for her books and the club is excited to become a part of her fanbase.

Our next meeting will be on 8 June 2013 from 1-3 PM in the Ladysmith branch meeting room.

Divergent

For the most part, club members agreed that Kill Me if You Can was a little too “adult”, with scenes of sexuality and incest that made this particular book an uncomfortable read.

The good news is that we read two books for May, and the second title, Divergent, was absolutely fantastic. Everyone loved Divergent and a few members have already started reading the second installment, Insurgent. **Warning: here be spoilers** Even with all of the enthusiasm, Divergent still only earned about 4 out of 5 stars; there were some moments when Beatrice (or Tris) acted a little dense. At times, it was obvious to the reader that her love interest, Four, was trying to protect her. Tris had a hard time seeing the “big picture” politically-speaking, that to be Divergent and have enough brain power to manipulate simulations is a dangerous notion to a government that wants to turn the Dauntless into mindless drones. Pride kept Tris striving to be at the head of the pack, when common sense dictates that she ought to feign a bit more weakness and compliance. Still, Divergent proved great discussion-fodder, bringing out the conspiracy-theorist in all of us. The romance was also just right, enough to relieve the tension but not so much as to make anyone uncomfortable, always ending with some fiery kisses and imaginings about a shirtless Four on the part of the reader. **Spoilers over**

After the third of Roth’s books, Allegiant, is released, it might be worth dedicating another meeting to discussing the completed trilogy. And if you haven’t already, take the Faction quiz on the official Divergent facebook page. It’s fun to have something to really get into again, rather like The Hunger Games.