To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Part of BBC’s “100 Stories that shaped the World” list, I thought it would be fun to keep track of all the works I have read that are listed.
I feel a bit of excitement beginning to bubble in my chest as I remember my time reading this story. I almost feel like celebrating, since this was the first book I read in English…ever. I moved halfway across the world, finishing my high school years in an English-speaking school system at the tender age of 15 and only with the English education I had received in Germany. I was nervous and very insecure and hoped my teacher wouldn’t asked me to read a paragraph out loud during class. I was out of luck and had to read the part of the stenographer in one of the court scenes. One can only imagine my delight.
In retrospect, my teacher was a passionate and easy-going educator, who loved literature and I’m glad she was the one, who made me speak in class for the very first time, thick German accent and all.
When thinking back on my high school years, especially that early summer month, almost 20 years ago which I spent reading To Kill a Mockingbird, I have to say it is one of my fondest memories from high school, which I grew to hate the closer I got to my graduation (I actually counted down the days to my final set of exams).
I am not quite sure what to say about the story itself. It is a commentary on human behaviour, social norms and how they shape our perceptions and opinions. It has a powerful message that stuck with me ever since and kindled my love of literature.
