To Kill A Mockingbird

As you might know, I am trying to start reading more important books. The first book I chose from my list was "To Kill A Mockingbird", by Harper Lee.

For me I found the beginning of the book rather slow. Once the plot began to develop more, say by mid book, I was hooked. The language was very believable and evocative of the south. The character I liked the most was Adolphus Raymond, who was not a really an important character and therefore underdeveloped. It wasn't really a plot driven narrative, but it has a certain rhythm and beauty in its pacing. It is always interesting to me to see "simple" small town life (which is never as simple as it might seem on the surface), seen through children's eyes — or how adults remember seeing it through children's eyes.

I'm glad I read it. The book was beautiful in its language, painting both the complexities and the absurd contradictions of life in the genteel — yet painfully prejudiced south.