Monday, May 30, 2011

Teaser Tuesday 87: To Kill a Mockingbird

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


I am rereading To Kill a Mockingbird this week, which is a group read for one of the groups at GoodReads this month. This is from early on in the novel, and is a conversation between Scout and her father, Atticus, about why he is defending a Negro.



"If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?"

"For a number of reasons," Atticus said. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again."
(pg 75)





ABOUT THE BOOK (from GoodReads)
To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee
Genre: Classic

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel; a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice; but the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

One of the best-loved classics of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It has won the Pulitzer Prize, been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. It was also named the best novel of the twentieth century by librarians across the country (Library Journal).



16 comments:

Jenny Q said...

I really need to re-read this book. I picked up a beautiful illustrated copy at a library sale last year. Great teaser! Thanks for visiting mine :)

Heather said...

Jenny: I'd been thinking of rereading this one for some time. It being chosen for a group read was just the impetus needed, and I have enjoyed my return to Maycomb.

Shirley said...

This is such a good book!! I read it for the first time a few years ago but I am thinking a re-visit is in the near future, especially after reading this tease.

Teaser Tuesdays at My Bookshelf

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

That's a great teaser...and that was a wonderful teaching moment between Atticus and his kids.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Crystal (I totally paused!) said...

I really need to reread this, I remember loving it when I read it the first time.

My teaser is from A Creed in Stone Creek.

Heather said...

Shirley: I hope you enjoy your reread as much as I have!

Laurel-Rain: Yes, definitely a great teaching moment in this book--one of many.

Crystal: I loved it the first time I read it, too, and am so glad I decided to reread it.

kayerj said...

he's such a good father--loved this book. thanks for stopping by today.

Gigi Ann said...

I just recently read this book for the first time. I really enjoyed it. Happy Reading.

Sonia said...

This book never showed up in my english classes, but it sounds good. Like his reasons for doing what he's doing.

Alice Audrey said...

Sometimes you've got to stand up for what's right, regardless of how you feel about the person.

Sally said...

I love this book but I haven't read it recently will have to plan a re-read soon.
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday-21.html

Heather said...

Kaye: Yes, he is. I like that he doesn't talk down to his children, the way some adults do.

Gigi Ann: I'm glad you enjoyed your first reading of this book, and hope it won't be the last. Thanks for visiting!

Heather said...

Sonia: It amazes me how many people have never read this book. I hope you will feel inspired to pick it up soon!

Alice: So very true! And, you have to do it no matter what other people might think of you.

Heather said...

Sally: I hope you enjoy your reread as much as I have!

Angela's Anxious Life said...

Great Book!!

Angie

XOXO Angela's Anxious Life

Sandy Nachlinger said...

Thanks for posting a teaser from a classic book. It's time for me to reread it too.
Here's my teaser: Sandy's Teaser
PS: Sorry to be commenting so late. Busy, busy day.