The first time I read this book I was a college student who grew up in CA & was at that time in Washington State. Now the second time reading this I live in Alabama. When Joe Wheeler was mentioned I knew that name because I visited the historic house he and his family lived in. What a long, unexpected journey between these two readings.
I LOVED, LOVED this discussion! This is the FIRST time I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird! Tim’s drawing out the Southern novel was so helpful. With family roots in small town, farming Massachusetts, being raised in New Hampshire, and now raising my family in Vermont, I’m a true YANKEE!😅 But TKAM has been such a nostalgic read for me! The setting and culture are very foreign, but the oldness and the simultaneous smallness and bigness of the place are so familiar! The TKAM world transports me to my grandmother’s rural home town and the generations of families that wove her town together. I’ve been so surprised and intrigued by this because New England is sooo different from the South culturally, and there is so much about the South that I don’t understand. And yet, I’m feeling a real nostalgia and a real familiarity. It’s delightfully perplexing.
I haven’t read this book in a very long time, but immediately upon reading it I began to fall in love. I grew up in Amarillo, so I definitely agree with the “southern” feeling of the novel. Reading this book gives my heart such a nostalgic twist - I remember running barefoot through the neighborhood and knowing which of the older ladies was okay with us eating the grapes off her back yard vines.
Jun 23Liked by Heidi White, Sean Johnson, David Kern
This is one of my heart books, and I am absolutely loving and agreeing everything you all have said so far.
Except the comment about Florida being the north. I agree that most of it is. But as someone who grew up in a tiny hick town in northern Florida, north of Gainesville and east of Tallahassee is very much the south ❤️😊 I think probably why I relate so strongly to this book. The town I grew up in is very much like Maycomb.
Anyway, so glad you’re doing this book! As is my best friend, who is tired of all the videos I’ve been sending her about my thoughts on it.
One of my questions since I just read ahead into the next section is why/how is Atticus immune from the racist attitudes of the rest of the town? Might be a Go Set a Watchman tie in, since I remember hearing his character was much different on that score (didn’t read it myself). Family history of slave ownership, a Confederate veteran uncle, etc. Why is he different? His brother Jack seems in agreement with him.
I think it’s because he’s a reader and educated. Even though his life hasn’t taken him far from where he grew up, his reading has allowed him to experience different experiences.
I have read that Lee modeled Atticus on her own father based on a similar circumstance. I think its exposure of the ugliness of racism is what makes this book great, but it would be a mistake to limit racism to the American South. The cause and effect nature of history may result in wide and blind acceptance of racist attitudes and acts in particular places, but that is due to human nature. Racism exists in every time and place and has only got worse. I think stories like TKAM are one of the most powerful ways of fighting against it.
Would Samuel from East of Eden be a character like Atticus? It’s been two decades since I last read TKAM and maybe 3yrs since East of Eden, and I may be way off. But it was the first character that came to mind when the question was asked. 🤷♀️
Tim, it’s so fun that you recorded at St. Simon’s Island. My first birthday was spent on that island. We had just moved to Georgia and our rental was on the island. We moved to Brunswick shortly after that, but we visited the beach often during my early childhood. My mom says I hated sand as a baby, but I don’t let it get in the way now. When I was in Kindergarten, of a similar age to Scout, it snowed for the first time in 100 years. It was the first time I can remember snow, but before living in Georgia we were in Northern Virginia and we had a sled. It was the only sled on the street. I think I wore every coat I had and bags over my shoes. It was probably a couple inches, but it shut everything down and my memories of it are pure magic.
Sand is literally millions of tiny impediments. What is the beach compared to rocks and mountains?
If you hafta discuss GSAW in front of Sean, just say, “Red-Sean, life-in-death, get off the road, don’t suck my breath.” Also one of my favorite lines.
Heidi, go watch the movie (and tell us what you think :). I also can’t read the book without thinking of it.
I definitely thought about free indirect discourse while reading, so I was glad y’all discussed it.
I am SO excited you're reading TKAM for the podcast! I read it every year, I love it that much. I heard a podcast a while ago claim that Atticus is a terrible father (because he's too aloof, he doesn't play with his children, he doesn't sit with them and worship with them in church) and I'd love to hear you argue your point. I strongly rebuked the innocent iPhone I was listening to when I heard them say it, but I'd love to hear your opinions.
It sounds like that person was imposing, a 21st century concept of parenting onto a single dad from the 1930s who was a truly wonderful father, even if he was a little aloof
Heart book! I’ve read this 1 million times but I have not seen the movie. I saw the play written by Erin Sorkin a few weeks ago.. it made me very angry, but I am very curious about others reactions to the play if you have seen it?
I’m so glad you. Rough up the play. I kind of wanted to see it, but I decided not to. It seems that so much of theater lately tries so hard to be “relevant” that it loses the main idea of the original work. What was your take on it?
My youngest daughter is named Harper, and my oldest daughter is named Hadley. I wanted to name Hadley "Radley," but my husband thought I was taking my love for TKAM too far.
I used to be a middle school English teacher, and taught the book for several years. The line about the importance of making sure students felt the story, or experienced the story rather than pointing out things like dramatic irony or what have you resonated with me (and the resulting push for best strategies, "I can" statements, benchmarks and standards is one of the reasons I left teaching).
One year, I had my students compare and contrast Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell. The students thought I was crazy to even hint at the idea that there might be a comparison. But after giving it a try, we found that both men lost their wives. A shadow of empathy came over my classroom that day. I had the students write in Bob Ewell's voice, and I think every student would agree with you - the teacher is the true villain; not Bob Ewell (though he's pretty terrifying for sure).
Here is an essay I wrote for Relief Journal a few years ago about the book:
Callie, these are superb! I'm inspired by your teaching approaches and your wise character that can draw out these gems from the book in the first place.
The first time I read this book I was a college student who grew up in CA & was at that time in Washington State. Now the second time reading this I live in Alabama. When Joe Wheeler was mentioned I knew that name because I visited the historic house he and his family lived in. What a long, unexpected journey between these two readings.
I LOVED, LOVED this discussion! This is the FIRST time I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird! Tim’s drawing out the Southern novel was so helpful. With family roots in small town, farming Massachusetts, being raised in New Hampshire, and now raising my family in Vermont, I’m a true YANKEE!😅 But TKAM has been such a nostalgic read for me! The setting and culture are very foreign, but the oldness and the simultaneous smallness and bigness of the place are so familiar! The TKAM world transports me to my grandmother’s rural home town and the generations of families that wove her town together. I’ve been so surprised and intrigued by this because New England is sooo different from the South culturally, and there is so much about the South that I don’t understand. And yet, I’m feeling a real nostalgia and a real familiarity. It’s delightfully perplexing.
I haven’t read this book in a very long time, but immediately upon reading it I began to fall in love. I grew up in Amarillo, so I definitely agree with the “southern” feeling of the novel. Reading this book gives my heart such a nostalgic twist - I remember running barefoot through the neighborhood and knowing which of the older ladies was okay with us eating the grapes off her back yard vines.
This is one of my heart books, and I am absolutely loving and agreeing everything you all have said so far.
Except the comment about Florida being the north. I agree that most of it is. But as someone who grew up in a tiny hick town in northern Florida, north of Gainesville and east of Tallahassee is very much the south ❤️😊 I think probably why I relate so strongly to this book. The town I grew up in is very much like Maycomb.
Anyway, so glad you’re doing this book! As is my best friend, who is tired of all the videos I’ve been sending her about my thoughts on it.
One of my questions since I just read ahead into the next section is why/how is Atticus immune from the racist attitudes of the rest of the town? Might be a Go Set a Watchman tie in, since I remember hearing his character was much different on that score (didn’t read it myself). Family history of slave ownership, a Confederate veteran uncle, etc. Why is he different? His brother Jack seems in agreement with him.
I think it’s because he’s a reader and educated. Even though his life hasn’t taken him far from where he grew up, his reading has allowed him to experience different experiences.
I have read that Lee modeled Atticus on her own father based on a similar circumstance. I think its exposure of the ugliness of racism is what makes this book great, but it would be a mistake to limit racism to the American South. The cause and effect nature of history may result in wide and blind acceptance of racist attitudes and acts in particular places, but that is due to human nature. Racism exists in every time and place and has only got worse. I think stories like TKAM are one of the most powerful ways of fighting against it.
Would Samuel from East of Eden be a character like Atticus? It’s been two decades since I last read TKAM and maybe 3yrs since East of Eden, and I may be way off. But it was the first character that came to mind when the question was asked. 🤷♀️
The return of a Tim story, and it was so amazingly southern 😂 I have no problem imagining that scenario.
Loved the discussion about Jem!
Tim, it’s so fun that you recorded at St. Simon’s Island. My first birthday was spent on that island. We had just moved to Georgia and our rental was on the island. We moved to Brunswick shortly after that, but we visited the beach often during my early childhood. My mom says I hated sand as a baby, but I don’t let it get in the way now. When I was in Kindergarten, of a similar age to Scout, it snowed for the first time in 100 years. It was the first time I can remember snow, but before living in Georgia we were in Northern Virginia and we had a sled. It was the only sled on the street. I think I wore every coat I had and bags over my shoes. It was probably a couple inches, but it shut everything down and my memories of it are pure magic.
Sand is literally millions of tiny impediments. What is the beach compared to rocks and mountains?
If you hafta discuss GSAW in front of Sean, just say, “Red-Sean, life-in-death, get off the road, don’t suck my breath.” Also one of my favorite lines.
Heidi, go watch the movie (and tell us what you think :). I also can’t read the book without thinking of it.
I definitely thought about free indirect discourse while reading, so I was glad y’all discussed it.
The ULTIMATE understatement: “it’s a good book.”
I am SO excited you're reading TKAM for the podcast! I read it every year, I love it that much. I heard a podcast a while ago claim that Atticus is a terrible father (because he's too aloof, he doesn't play with his children, he doesn't sit with them and worship with them in church) and I'd love to hear you argue your point. I strongly rebuked the innocent iPhone I was listening to when I heard them say it, but I'd love to hear your opinions.
His children are the proof of what a good father he was. They love, respect, and talk affectionately about him. That podcaster was not close-reading!
It sounds like that person was imposing, a 21st century concept of parenting onto a single dad from the 1930s who was a truly wonderful father, even if he was a little aloof
Heart book! I’ve read this 1 million times but I have not seen the movie. I saw the play written by Erin Sorkin a few weeks ago.. it made me very angry, but I am very curious about others reactions to the play if you have seen it?
I’m so glad you. Rough up the play. I kind of wanted to see it, but I decided not to. It seems that so much of theater lately tries so hard to be “relevant” that it loses the main idea of the original work. What was your take on it?
Wow, you’ll have to watch the movie and let us know what you think! I hated Sorkin’s play so much, ugh.
My youngest daughter is named Harper, and my oldest daughter is named Hadley. I wanted to name Hadley "Radley," but my husband thought I was taking my love for TKAM too far.
I used to be a middle school English teacher, and taught the book for several years. The line about the importance of making sure students felt the story, or experienced the story rather than pointing out things like dramatic irony or what have you resonated with me (and the resulting push for best strategies, "I can" statements, benchmarks and standards is one of the reasons I left teaching).
One year, I had my students compare and contrast Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell. The students thought I was crazy to even hint at the idea that there might be a comparison. But after giving it a try, we found that both men lost their wives. A shadow of empathy came over my classroom that day. I had the students write in Bob Ewell's voice, and I think every student would agree with you - the teacher is the true villain; not Bob Ewell (though he's pretty terrifying for sure).
Here is an essay I wrote for Relief Journal a few years ago about the book:
https://www.reliefjournal.com/blogposting/2014/12/17/different-roads-kill-mockingbird-part-1?rq=Callie%20Feyen
https://www.reliefjournal.com/blogposting/2014/12/18/different-roads-kill-mockingbird-part-2?rq=Callie%20Feyen
https://www.reliefjournal.com/blogposting/2014/12/18/different-roads-kill-mockingbird-part-2?rq=Callie%20Feyen
Callie, these are superb! I'm inspired by your teaching approaches and your wise character that can draw out these gems from the book in the first place.
Callie, I loved these. Thank you for sharing.
Greetings- May i make a mild criticism: Please cut the 'inside ball talk' and get to the point. The book! Thanks! -bill