My thoughts on To Kill a Mockingbird

I'm running the risk of sounding like a broken record, but I don't know how else to phrase this: how on earth did I miss all of these wonderful books when I was in school? I was in honors classes in high school. I have to admit to not liking those classes because I never understood the focus on "symbolism" and "what the author REALLY means". But what books did we actually read anyway? And why didn't we read some of these classics? Oh well, since I home educate my children I will make certain that they are exposed to these wonderful books! :)

I thoroughly enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird. The beginning was slow for me as I struggled to figure out what on earth was going on and who was narrating. It was funny as the picture in my mind (that's how books work for me - it's like a movie running in my head) started out so fuzzy and then it started to clear up as I was getting a grip on who the book included! The funniest part was when it dawned on me that Scout was, in fact, a girl! ;)

The language was hard to read, the "n" word especially. It may have been a bit easier if I had been able to picture more clearly the time period. It wasn't until the end of the book where it's made clear that this was 1935, though looking back I saw references to the depression. While I was reading, I wasn't sure if this was the 50s and it was just a poor area in the rural southern part of Alabama. But that's what makes books interesting, I guess, when the reader isn't given all of the information! That's something I'd like to try to do as I begin working on my next novel for NaNoWriMo in November!

I knew I was going to love this book when I hit chapter 2 and Scout went to school and the teacher told her to tell her father to stop teaching her how to read. And Jem explained that it was in "the colleges" (the flashing words on cards at them). And then Atticus making the deal with Scout to continue on in school and he would continue on reading to them at night, as long as she promised not to tell anyone about it! :)

The story overall took a much different direction than I was expecting, which is always exciting. I was certain that Boo Radley was going to come out and hurt one of the kids. Then when the trial took over, I sort of forgot about Boo Radley and was worried about all of the angry people in the town. I was really afraid Jem was going to be killed, or maybe Dill, since I figured Scout was safe as narrator. When the kids were coming home that night and they heard the noise, I was absolutely terrified and full of dread. And then Boo Radley saved them! Kind of proves my belief that you never know what's going on in other people's homes... things may seem to look bad on the outside, but you just never know.

Of course, after having finished the book, it makes the beginning of the first chapter finally make some sense! And I actually did get a little of the "symbolism" if you will about the title "To Kill a Mockingbird" when Atticus tells Jem it's a sin to kill a mockingbird with his air gun. And then "they" end up killing Tom Robinson, who was gentle and unable to really defend himself. I was pretty proud of myself for getting that! :)

Well, it's time to get supper on the table so I can head out to the IRL version of Bella's Bookshelf so we can discuss this wonderful book! Would love to read your thoughts, too!

To Kill a Mockingbird: A Summary

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
published 1960

Scout and Jem Fitch live in Maycomb, Alabama in 1935. They are being raised by their father, Atticus, a lawyer, with the help of Calpurnia, an African-American lady. One summer, Atticus is assigned to defend Tom Robinson, an African-American man, against charges that he raped and beat Mayella Ewell, a young caucasian woman. The children find themselves dealing with the prejudiced attitudes of friends and family, but Atticus requires them to turn the other cheek. Despite the lack of anything but circumstantial evidence and the words of 3 caucasian witnesses, the jury finds Tom guilty and sentence him to death. That doesn't mean the end of the trouble for the Fitch family, as Mr. Ewell is determined to "get back" at Atticus. He nearly accomplishes his goal, but the children find assistance from a most unexpected source.

(OK, I've been working on this summary all morning and just cannot come close to expressing how wonderful this book is... I guess I'll have to save that for the "my thoughts" post.)

Please note: there is bad language and adult situations in this book. If you're younger than high school age, please check with your parents before reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I plan to have my daughter read it when she's studying the early 1900s time period in high school.

The Twilight Saga and Jane Eyre

I added Jane Eyre to the list of Bella's Bookshelf when I read the following quote from Stephenie Meyer:

''I read it when I was nine,'' says Meyer, ''and I've reread it literally hundreds of times. I do think that there are elements of Edward in Edward Rochester and elements of Bella in Jane. Jane was someone I was close to as a child — we were good friends! I think in some ways she was more real to me than any other fictional heroine.'' (Entertainment Weekly)

I'm so glad I did. As to the elements of Edward and Jane in Edward and Bella, that was a little trickier for me, except for one glaring exception: neither of the individuals seems to see themselves in a true light. They all seem to be very self-deprecating.

One other thing that did strike me was the similarity, in my opinion, between a section of Jane Eyre and a section of New Moon. I have quoted both below:

'I can do what he wants me to do I am forced to see and acknowledge that,' I meditated - '... In leaving England, I should leave a loved but empty land - Mr. Rochester is not there; and if he were, what is, what can that ever be to me? My business is to live without him now: nothing so absurd, so weak as to drag on from day to day, as if I were waiting some impossible change in circumstances, which might reunite him to me. (Jane Eyre, Chapter 34)

I stared back at him. He was not my Jacob, but he could be. His face was familiar and beloved. In so many real ways, I did love him. He was my comfort, my safe harbor. Riht now, I could choose to have him belong to me. Alice was back for the moment, but that changed nothing. True love was forever lost. The prince was never coming back to kiss me awake from my enchaged sleep. I was not a princess, after all. So what was the fairy-tale protocol for other kisses? The mundane kind that didn't break spells? Maybe it would be easy - like holding his hand or having his arms around me. Maybe it would feel nice. Maybe it wouldn't feel like a betrayal. Besides who was I betraying anyway? Just myself. (New Moon, Chapter 18, p. 411)

The glaring difference is that I do not believe there was ANY feeling of love by Jane for St. John. Well, that's not exactly true, she did state she felt brotherly love for him, which is similar to how Bella felt about Jacob at the beginning. But in those passages, both of Jane and Bella were trying to decide if they should forget true love. Forget the hopes of true love. And just do something to move forward in life.

And both Jane and Bella were interrupted as they were making their decisions: Bella by the phone ringing, and Jane by hearing her name being called. That was so cool, it gave me goosebumps!

I'll have to ponder on the other similarities, and would be interesting in reading other people's ideas on that topic!

My thoughts on Jane Eyre

I thoroughly enjoyed this month's selection for Bella's Bookshelf! My enthusiasm waned while reading The Prince and the Pauper last month, and to be honest, I never even finished it. And while I loved Little Women the month before, that really touched my heart as a mother more than as a woman and a reader. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, as Little Women will always stick with me, but it was sometimes quite convicting to read the way Marmee handled herself with her daughters and in her situations compared to the way I handle those things.

Jane Eyre was a completely different experience! I had a hard time getting into the story at first. I see this to be a trend, and I'm not sure if that's a personality issue with me, or whether it's a reflection on the differences in the way books were written in years past compared to now. I think now, in general, a book has to grab the reader quickly to maintain his or her attention! There are so many things competing with books that are much faster-paced and that can be much more exciting. Or maybe it's a function of classical literature as a whole? I will have to pay attention during next month's selection, which was published in 1960 - relatively modern compared to our readings to this point!

I was afraid when I started reading Jane Eyre that we were in for another Oliver Twist: one bad thing happening after another. And I couldn't comprehend why the aunt and cousins were so mean to Jane. Once Jane left for school and made friends with Helen, I was quite intrigued. Once she decided to advertise for a governess position, accepted the one at Thornfield and moved there, and then met Adele, I was hooked!

I absolutely loved the way Charlotte Bronte wrote this novel, in the first person narrative but almost something more... it was as if Jane invited us into the room and while the action was going on, she would stop for a moment and do some additional explaining. Here is my favorite example:

"He spread the pictures before him, and again surveyed them alternately. While he is so occupied, I will tell you, reader, what they are: and first I must premise that they are nothing wonderful." (Chapter 13)

I thought this was great and served to draw me even deeper into the story! (I think I'm going to have to devote an entire post to my favorite quotations from this book! There are so many wonderful ones!!)

I was as confused as Jane, I believe, when Mr. Rochester told her that it was she who wanted to marry, and right away! And I was devastated along with her upon learning of the existence of Bertha Rochester. And then my heart completely broke when Jane left Thornfield. I truly cried and cried.

How I love a happy ending, though! And how I love a mysterious situation like the one where Jane hears Edward's voice calling to her, then we learn later that he had indeed called to her, and he heard her voice answering back! That was right up my alley!

I know there is more I want to discuss, but it's escaping me at the moment! I guess I'll come back to it when I remember!

In my next post, I will share the ways Jane Eyre reminded me of the Twilight series, specifically New Moon.

Jane Eyre - A Summary

Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte
first published in 1847

Jane Eyre was rendered an orphan following the death of her parents. She was left in the care of her uncle and his family and, upon his death, was horribly mistreated by her aunt and cousins. At the age of 10, her aunt sent her to live at a charity boarding school for orphans. There the mistreatment took on a new style in the form of poor living conditions. However, Jane made friends and found a mentor. Soon word got out about the conditions at the school and improvements were made. Jane continued to live there and eventually taught at the school for a couple of years.

When her mentor left to get married, Jane decided to expand her horizons. Unknown to anyone else, she placed an advertisement desiring the position of governess. One reply came and Jane accepted the position. She traveled to Thornfield, where she is to teach Adele, the french-born charge of the master of the house, Mr. Rochester. According to the caretaker of the house, Mr. Rochester is infrequently home.

During a chance meeting, Jane meets and helps Mr. Rochester after he has fallen from his horse, though she does not learn it is him until she returns home. She is intrigued by him, and his personality. He frequently calls her down to talk with him, even including her when he is entertaining guests. Jane learns he is intending to marry one of the young ladies in the party. She will leave her position as governess before Mrs. Rochester moves into Thornfield. This is tragic for Jane, as she has fallen in love with her master!

Jane is called away because of the impending death of her aunt. She is told by the aunt that her mother's uncle had written searching for her, wanting to adopt her and leave his estate to Jane upon his death. The aunt wrote back to the uncle that Jane had died. Jane returns to Thornfield after her aunt's death, expecting not to stay long due to the impending wedding. However, in a strange twist of events, Jane learns that Mr. Rochester wishes to marry her, and not Miss Ingram.

Plans move forward for the wedding, but the happiness is interrupted during the ceremony. Jane learns that Mr. Rochester is already - and still - married! The crazy laughs Jane has heard, the attempt on the life of Mr. Rochester (and on Mr. Mason during his visit), and the strange "nightmare" Jane had before the wedding - they are all the result of Mr. Rochester's insane wife, who is kept hidden at Thornfield.

Upon learning this news, Jane flees Thornfield with no money and no way to take care of herself. She is desolate, starving, and on the verge of death when she is taken in by St. John Rivers, and his sisters Diana and Mary. They nurse her back to health and St. John, a pastor, gives her the job of instructor at a school for the area's poorest girls. Jane delights in her time with the Rivers sisters, and she even comes to enjoy teaching at the school.

In yet another twist, Jane discovers through St. John that they are indeed cousins. Her uncle, who had desired to adopt her and leave his estate to her has died, and did leave the estate to Jane alone. He gave a little to St. John, Diana, and Mary due to a dispute he had had with their father long ago. Jane is thrilled at the prospect of having a real family! She intends to divide the estate among the four of them. St. John, who has felt the call to missions work in India, asks Jane to go with him - as his wife. She agrees to go - as his sister - but he refuses. She struggles with this decision, and as she struggles, she hears a voice call her name - Edward's voice (Mr. Rochester).

Jane decides she must go to find out what happened to Mr. Rochester. Her letters have gone unanswered. She arrives at Thornfield to find it burned to the ground. She learns that Mr. Rochester's wife had set the place on fire, then committed suicide. Mr. Rochester, in an attempt to get everyone out of the house safely, including his wife, was seriously hurt - losing a hand, one eye, and the sight in his remaining eye. He is living at Ferndean.

Jane went to Mr. Rochester at Ferndean and at first he did not believe it was her. He told her he had called out for her, the very same night she heard his voice calling her name. Edward repented of his life's misdeeds, and he and Jane married quickly in a quiet ceremony. He regains the sight in his eye, and they have a son together, and are happy!

(OK, so that was sort of a long summary -and I'm not sure I got the details correct! LOL - but what can I say! I LOVED this book!! I'll post my thoughts in the coming days!)

Jane Eyre - coming soon!

I'm still here - or rather, I'm back!!!


Discussion for Jane Eyre will begin next Monday, September 14th!

My thoughts on Brave New World

I found Brave New World to be a very difficult book to read, not in terms of complexity of the vocabulary or sentence structure, but rather in the way it affected me. I was so disturbed in places that I had to put the book down and pick it up the next day.

It wasn't only the overt sexual behavior among children that was described in detail that bothered me, though that was certainly a major factor. It was also disturbing to read about a society that is based on consumption, pleasure, and entertainment and realize that our own society is headed in that direction already - and fast!

I kept having to stop and remember that this book was written in the 1930s! How on earth did Huxley think of these things? Like the babies in the jars... and the different castes were constructed by the addition or withholding of different substances at different phases of the development of the fetus. Was this information well-known back then? And the conditioning through subliminal messages in their sleep? Just creepy!!

If this book was to serve as a warning, we have not heeded it. Our society is based in consumption. Our leaders are taking more and more control over the private parts of our lives (and we are handing it over without a fight!). I could go on and on, but that might take this blog into the realm of politics!! LOL

I found this book on various reading lists for high school literature classes, some as young as 9th grade. I would not feel comfortable with a 14 year old reading this book. Perhaps a 17-18 year old senior, but certainly not much younger than that.