Why didn’t I read it?
This was on my list from ages.
This March, I purchased the ebook. But it stayed on the shelves. Reading it whenever I got a chance.
Then I downloaded the audiobook from my library and things changed.
From the past few days, this book was playing on my phone during workouts. Yay, I eventually completed it.
The story is slow in the beginning. Downright boring a few times. You might want to drop it altogether.
But if you keep at it. It picks up the pace somewhere in the middle. And becomes engaging.
The novel highlights in a humorous way a child’s innocence and curiosity. Scout, a curious and brave girl, is my favorite. She never stops herself from asking questions. Knowing her, I remembered my curiosity filled childhood.
Those random thoughts and silly questions popping inside my head. Taking the courage to ask them. It makes me wonder why I stopped that?
One part that resonates with me is when these kids play pretend games. This brings back the old times when we played those games, pretending to be mother or father or doctor or engineer.
Also, There comes this reclusive neighbor about whom they heard a lot of stories. They want to meet him. Their innovative attempts to have at least one conversation is hilarious and comical.
The story…..
The novel narrates the story of three kids Jim, Scout, and Dill of Maycomb, Alabama.
At first, the author inundates you with detailed description of lives these kids lead. Afterward, you get a general picture of the town, its people, their routines, and their thinking.
Everyone, at present, is gossiping about a heinous crime : A teenage white girl raped by a black man.
Atticus Finch (Jim and Scout’s father), a prominent lawyer, has the case of defending the black man in court.
The result of the trial is pre-determined. The black man would get sentenced to jail or death, just because he is black. No one believes in his innocence. The trial, a farce, is a formality. Everyone expects Atticus to offer a minimal defense.
Atticus, on the contrary, builds a strong defense. His actions anger the general populace. Even Jim and Scout aren’t spared from the backlash this generates.
From here on, the story revolves around this trial and its effect on the lives of our characters.
I like this book a lot and will recommend it. From me, it gets 4.5/5 stars.
Have you read this one? What are your thoughts? Do share them..
