Mary McDonagh Murphy

Quick read that consists of a series of interviews by famous authors and personalities about To Kill a Mockingbird. (Um, the authors and personalities aren't about to kill a mockingbird, they are merely going to discuss the book of that name. This is why I am not a great writer.) There were several points that different people brought up that I hadn't considered. I loved the book, that's why I have felt compelled to read everything about this book. And maybe I'm burning out. I also got the documentary to watch that goes with this book and maybe that's overkill. (Overkill of a mockingbird?)

At any rate, this book was good. No one was interviewed who DIDN'T like Harper Lee's book. Of course.… (mais)

Bought this book mostly because it was on sale and I've always loved the film, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. But, as I was perusing this rather uneven collection of interviews with a couple dozen readers, some famous (Oprah, James Patterson, Rick Bragg, James McBride, Rosanne Cash, Richard Russo, Tom Brokaw, Wally Lamb, etc.), some not, in which they all talked about their first time reading TKaM, I found I was unable to remember reading the book at all. I'd seen the film, of course, at least a half dozen times over the past fifty years. But the book? I just could not remember. Wally Lamb's interview really got me curious, so I went and found a copy of Harper Lee's now-classic novel and started reading. I finished it in just a few sittings in a couple days. Wow! What a book! And these other folks who said Horton Foote's screenplay was pretty near perfect were right.

In any case, if Mary McDonagh Murphy's SCOUT, ATTICUS & BOO: A CELEBRATION OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD serves any useful purpose, it's to nudge people to read - or reread - Lee's novel. Because THAT is simply a beautiful book! This book, these interviews? Meh! They're really only just okay. Mildly interesting. A curiosity. But thanks for that needed nudge, Murph. I needed it.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER… (mais)

This is a companion book to a documentary of the same name which is now in my Netflix queue. I bought this book on an impulse during 2010 when [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327879116s/2657.jpg|3275794] was celebrating its 50th anniversary and, as a resident of Alabama, it was difficult to escape that celebration. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the movie so I found it only fitting that I remove this book from my shelf and actually read it. I suspect when I watch the documentary that what I read in this book will turn out to just be transcripts of the interviews from the documentary. With that said, I suspect I would have enjoyed this information in the documentary format versus this book but the content of those interviews is valuable and has made me want to read the book (and see the movie) for the third time in 10 years. I was especially intrigued by the comparison and contrast to [b:Gone With the Wind|18405|Gone with the Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328025229s/18405.jpg|3358283] which I'm currently reading. More than one interviewed subject mentioned both books in their discussion. I will likely recommend the documentary over this book to those who love To Kill a Mockingbird (book and/or movie) as much as me, but I guess I won't know that for sure until I see it.… (mais)

Boy, does Mockingbird ever need some positive affirmation and appreciation at the moment! Here Mary McDonagh interviews a range of authors, teachers, celebrities and people connected with the book and the film, including Mary Badham (Scout) and Alice Lee (Harper's sister), to find out just why the story and the characters are so popular and enduring. Bonus points for not mentioning Watchman (well, once, obliquely - editor Tay Hohoff recalling of the first manuscript entitled 'Atticus', that 'there were many things wrong with it').

Rosanne Cash values the 'beautiful naturalness' and 'sense of confidence in his skills as a parent' that Atticus demonstrates, while novelist Richard Russo wanted Atticus as a father (me too). Whereas for Mary Badham, and probably for everyone else who has seen the film, 'Gregory Peck was my Atticus'. Mark Childress points out that Atticus 'is a little too good to be true, but in the book he's got more bumps than he's allowed to have in the movie', which is true. Allan Gurganus admires how Lee 'manages to be a child and an adult', the secret weapon of the novel which confuses most critics, and also suggests that 'the lady down the street' (Maudie) might be Atticus' 'part-time lover of an evening'. (Sacrilege!)

We also learn more about Harper Lee, which to be honest, doesn't interest me all that much - her brother Edwin was probably the model for Jem, particularly in Watchman. Edwin 'married, had two children and then died of an aneurysm in his sleep' (just like Harper's mother, although Harper was older than Scout when she died). Also, the Lee family house in Alabama was long since demolished and replaced by Mel's Dairy Dream (reminds me of Grosse Pointe Blanke - 'you can never go home again - but you can shop there').

Lots of great anecdotes and Mockingbird initiations, plus plenty love for Atticus - he's far from a paragon in the novel, but he is a good parent and a positive character. All the Watchman mudslinging at the moment really depresses me. Definitely one for the fans, but a worthy companion to the novel. Go Forget A Watchman - read this instead!… (mais)