"Defending Scout's Honor"

I'm just saying I think Lee Harper's Scout is the greatest female voice in American literature. Period. I love her. I love her righteous indignation. And her flaws. How she'll stand up for a person of color. But calmly explain the rationale behind clearly defined class distinctions. I love her bravery and her loyalty. And her sass. Man, has she got sass. And how about her vocabulary?

There's been a lot of talk about Scout and the other characters this year as it is the 50th anniversary of the publication of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Here are links to a couple of interesting columns. One is by Anna Quindlen, a famous author in her own right. The other talks about criticism of the book by contemporary standards. Both are worth reading. But more importantly, so it the book.

Some of the most memorable scenes I've ever read come from To Kill A Mockingbird. A rabid dog in the neighborhood. A terrifying walk home from a school pageant. A neighbors home burning down. Treats in a tree.

It's one of those books everyone should read. If you read it in school, you almost have to read it again as an adult. Like a lot of classics, it means so much more when you've lived a while. Experienced a thing or two. Maybe actually encountered a few people who aren't just like you are. You know what I'm saying.

I just read a book called, the Queen of Palmyra. It was set in the racially divided south and told through the voice of a young girl. It's been compared to To Kill A Mockingbird. It was good but it was no classic. I don't think I'll be remembering scenes from it for years to come. And there's only one Scout.