We’re taking a look at To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper lee (RIP)
#theguywiththebookreview
Either you have a talent to write well or you have a grWe’re taking a look at To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper lee (RIP)
#theguywiththebookreview
Either you have a talent to write well or you have a great story to tell.
Some people, have both.
Every sentence in this book seems to be perfected and softly kept in place weaving its way and providing a unique perspective on a very important topic: Racism.
In the mid 20th Century racism was almost as easily seen as a person buying a loaf of bread. And if we look around, even today, it is present, either in a very subtle way or maybe a more direct manner.
A larger than life Character in the form of Attorney Atticus Finch is used as a tool by the author to convey, I presume to the reader back in the day how every life matters, how every breath we take is a blessing and well, how we are all equal. How every time we tolerate something, something good is bound to happen.
Through Boo Radley, she manages to keep us guessing and second guessing ourselves as to who he is and if he exists or not throughout the book, even mid way when he is not mentioned for a long time.
You feel amazed at the audacity (If I may) of Harper Lee to use a 6 year old child through her own adult self to paint a pretty as well as disturbing picture of a small town and its challenges. Scout will remain in my mind for years to come.
I always used to think how someone could attain legendary status in the literature world through just 1* book.
Now I know.
*Not counting Go Set a Watchman since it was released 55 years after TKAM ...more
I have always been impressed and awed by writers mainly because of the research and effort they put in to write the perfect tale and their imaginationI have always been impressed and awed by writers mainly because of the research and effort they put in to write the perfect tale and their imagination in bringing together characters and the details that govern each characters features...
Vikram Seth has to be applauded for his effort (which seems to be such a petty word) when we talk about this Herculean book!
**Extremely Mild Spoilers**
The Basic plot is about Mrs. Rupa Mehra wanting to find a Suitable Boy for her youngest daughter, Lata but the story dwells into a lot lot more...Politics, Religion, intolerance, Shoe Making, Farming, Teaching...its like he has described what India literally would have felt like through the eyes of Mothers, daughters, ministers, Royals (Nawabs), Religious people, Actors, Musicians...You name it and VS has given you at least a hint on their insights to India.
At its heart it really is about India, and how India deals with suddenly having to take care of itself instead of being told how to 'take care' of itself by the British....
The way minute details are dealt with is exemplary and the vocabulary used is very easy to comprehend although some words were totally new to me.
The way he understood Islamic laws for example prove the detailed manner in which he must have spoken to religious scholars. And how he describes the shoe making process starting from the sacrifice of the animal...to the finished product...
The chapters are long (80 pages approx) and they swing between Brahmpur/Calcutta/Delhi/Kanpur.
The court scenes really bored me and more so because i reached the first one on a weekend where i excitedly woke up at 6 to read.
I've never really appreciated poetry because of the cheesiness but i loved some of the poetry included in the book (and VS being a poet couldn't refrain from including dozens) , And i was glad!
Some of the characters you long for while reading and VS made sure you cant get enough of so many of them.
One Character i was so excited about was Zainab but she doesn't really show up later in the book.
My favorites were and you will know why when you read the book - Maan, Zainab's Cameo, Dipankar, Saeeda Begum, Dr. Durrani, Rasheed.
But my absolute favorite hands down was Mrs Rupa Mehra. I have used so many tags to mark pages of hers...! The way i could picture so many of my aunts acting like Rupa Mehra was hilarious....!
That is one fictional Character i could literally relate someone to :)
I don't want to get into too much details and spoil a mammoth book for anyone of you who might be interested in giving away at least a month of your reading time...But i really wish people would read such books to give them not just a great reading experience but a lifetime experience about how life has always been complicated, not just for us but our parents and theirs......more
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