tiny book reviews.2025.n6 -- To Kill a Mockingbird

 

Here's at least one argument for reading as much as possible when you're young: One of life's great pleasures is to re-read a book decades on and reflect on how it hits differently. Because it always does. Hit differently. You've remembered portions incorrectly. You've completely forgotten other parts, important parts, parts that you wouldn't have thought you'd forget. You understand the characters differently. You understand the context differently. And, ultimately, I think, you begin to understand yourself a little differently.

Before the semester started, I took a quick solo trip to Alabama to...idk, do something. I rode bikes, camped, explored a half dozen crappy little Alabama towns, and--critically--rejoiced in the sunshine and exposed bare knees in the wind. I also re-read To Kill a Mockingbird (which is, of course, set in Alabama).

I don't know what to say... Y'all already know this is such a great book. It still is. 

And Atticus Finch remains my personal paragon of manhood.

I guess I don't have much more to say, but want to remind you of this delightful description of how Scout felt in her dress when spiffied up by Calpurnia before taken to Black Church:

"...the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary."

:-)

5 of 5 stars.