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Post by Emily Michalak on May 30, 2013 13:38:19 GMT -5
We're reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is on the AP level reading list, so if anyone wants to join, you can get the AP level book and discussion done. You don't have to be in Pre-AP English II to join. It was only a suggestion to those that are in it.
READING AND POSTING SCHEDULE
July 2nd: Chapters 1-8 read
July 9th: Chapters 9-16 read
July 16th: Chapters 17-24 read
July 23rd: Chapters 25-31 read
July 25th: Review #2 and Discussion are due
*There are 31 chapters in the book, and we tried to divide it up best we could.
*We'll post on the days stated above and discuss the chapters we just read! |
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Post by Celeste Beihl on Jun 23, 2013 16:07:20 GMT -5
I will join your book club !  |
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Post by Jordan Darrow on Jun 25, 2013 17:29:36 GMT -5
I have no idea how to join, but I'm in!
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Post by katiemaupin on Jun 30, 2013 22:04:35 GMT -5
I am going to be gone on Tuesday, and I'm not sure if I will be able to post then, so I hope it's okay if I write my review now! I thought the first few pages when Scout was describing her heritage were a little slow, but Harper Lee paints a very clear and detailed picture of the little town Scout and her family live in. I also didn't care for Scout's teacher very much. She seemed judgmental and set in her ways, and seemed to dislike things simply because they were different. I also found the "cootie" part amusing.
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Post by Kayla Gallagher on Jul 1, 2013 14:31:44 GMT -5
I am going to be in Colorado on Tuesday and I will not have internet so I'm going to post my review of the first 8 chapters now if that's okay! In the beginning of the book I was very confused about what was going on because it seemed like Scout kept going back in time and it kind of confused me about what was going on. However, as I kept on reading I really got into the book and found it to be very detailed, which I liked. I enjoyed the part about Scout in school. I didn't like the teacher very much but I found it interesting about how much Scout knew even before she had started school.
I found that the whole deal about the Radley Place is very interesting. I really enjoyed reading about all of the different theories that the parents and the kids had come up with about Arthur. Personally I believe that he is still in the house and is actually a nice guy who is just waiting until all of the theories about him blow over so he can come out. I think that he is a nice guy because if he was mean I don't think he would have put that blanket over Scout. This book seems really interesting and exciting. Sorry I'm not able to post on Tuesday but I promise that I will try to be able to next time!
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Post by Carter on Jul 1, 2013 16:20:47 GMT -5
I hope I can join
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Post by Celeste Beihl on Jul 1, 2013 19:55:14 GMT -5
I will be at work til 4:30pm so I'll give my review now just in case so I liked how childish they are about Boo Radley. I dont like how the teacher was mad how scout can read.or how she doesn't listen to scout when she was explaining about her friend.I love the mystery behind the trinkets in the tree its like Boo is trying to communicate through it. its funny how as they got older it starts to matter that she's a girl. I think it was hilarious how jim got his pants caught on the fence but it was also scary because he could have been caught by the man. It was sad when the hole was filled in. I think it was symbolic how it snowed.
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Post by Claire Gallagher on Jul 1, 2013 20:01:01 GMT -5
I will be gone on Tuesday so I'm going to post now! I have really enjoyed the book so far! It was hard to get into at first and I found the first few chapters a little boring. But once I got further into the book I really enjoyed it. I liked reading about the Radley Place and about their lives. I like how the book goes into detail about Scout's take on everything, especially on how she views Arthur Radley.
I don't care for the first grade teacher. She doesn't seem to want Scout or any of the other first graders to learn. When Scout tries to speak up she gets humiliated and ridiculed, which I don't think is very fair. The system of their school is very different compared to how schools are now. I found it interesting to learn about the way of their town and about how they think and act. I am excited to read more into this book and to learn more!
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Post by Emily Michalak on Jul 2, 2013 8:44:32 GMT -5
I have really enjoyed reading this book, but the beginning was a little slow for me. I agree with all of you about not liking Scout's 1st grade teacher. If a child has a passion, they should be able to use it in the classroom not just halt the use of it. I love chapter 6 where all of them go to the Radley house and then Jem's pants get caught on the fence. It was so suspenseful, and you were just hoping they didn't get caught. I also had a feeling someone's house might burn during the cold weather. Having the fires on all night could be dangerous an burn down the house, and that is exactly what happened to Miss Maudie's house. I thought it was kind of a reliever that Miss Maudie wasn't very upset that her house burnt down. If she was very upset and wanted to be alone for awhile, that would also change Scout's emotional state. What did you guys think of Miss Maudie's reaction to her house burning down?
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Post by Lydia Sorrels on Jul 2, 2013 14:54:07 GMT -5
I do agree that the first pages were slow, but I disagree about Miss Caroline, the teacher. It may appear that she is trying to halt the kids' learning, especially Scout's, but I think she just hasn't found her groove yet, being a new teacher. I might feel this way because I've already read the book and discussed it, but this is really my opinion. I felt sorry for the teacher because she seems to feel that she isn't a good teacher because of the way the kids are reacting to her new methods, and she obviously was very excited to be a teacher. On page 29 Scout saw Miss Caroline put her head in her arms. This tells me that she is really a very compassionate and empathetic woman, and it was not her intention to upset the children. She is just not yet used to the flow of the town and it's occupants. It's probably been quite stressful getting accustomed to Maycomb's ways and the variety of children's attitudes that come with her teaching job. Miss Caroline was probably unprepared to deal with a student who already knows everything that makes it possible for her to get a paycheck. I bet it scared her to think that if more kids were like Scout she'd be unneeded and out of a job. I think that we will see more of her in the book, and we will notice a positive incline in Scout's opinion of her.
I think Miss Maudie's reaction to the destruction of her house fit her attitude towards it before it burned down. She always wanted to have more flowers and she was rarely indoors, so I think it's a good thing for her to not be upset. I'm sure she was also trying to appear content because it wouldn't be good for the kids to see Miss Maudie in a weak state, and it would be a lesson for them to not become too attached to material things or allow negative events to affect them badly.
I also think it's interesting to point out Atticus's wisdom. He uses day-to-day events as teaching moments and is always very just to his kids and his clients. He is obviously well-respected at this point among the people of Maycomb, most likely due to his humility and ability to formulate solutions to suit every party's needs. Atticus's handling of the Walter Cunningham situation is a testament to his non-judgemental ways of fraternizing with everyone. He doesn't allow the fact that Scout is his daughter to affect anything, he still allowed Calpurnia to punish her for being so cruel to poor Walter.
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Post by Emily Michalak on Jul 2, 2013 16:13:39 GMT -5
I can see Miss Caroline being worried about it being her first day, but she shouldn't have told Scout to completely stop reading at home. It sounds like reading is Atticus and Scout's bonding time, and now Miss Caroline makes them read "in secret".
I really do like Atticus's character in the book. He is every thing you said Lydia: wise and well-respected. I also think he is dry mature.
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Post by Jordan Darrow on Jul 2, 2013 19:43:44 GMT -5
I have actually enjoyed reading this book! I agree with you Emily, it started out very slow and a tad hard to stay focused on. Other than that, this book is very good! It is a nice easy read for the beach too! I think that it was really precious how Dill would tell Jem and Scout all about the picture shows that he saw.
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Post by Emily Michalak on Jul 9, 2013 8:50:15 GMT -5
In Chapter 9, I could not stand the way Aunt Alexandra and Francis were treating everyone. They were so rude and very impolite to Jem and Scout, and I don't blame Scout for beating Francis up. He was offending her family!
In chapter 10, you saw more of Atticus's character. We find out that Atticus was one of the best shooters in Maycomb, but he never told his children. This shows how selfless he is by not telling everyone of his greatest accomplishments.
I was very shocked when Mrs. Dubose died, and I'm kind of shocked Jem wasn't too upset about it. You would think after being at her house everyday for a month he would somewhat miss her presence.
In chapter 12, when Jem and Scout went to church with Calpurnia, I wasn't sure if they were being nice to them only because they were Atticus's children or that they didn't really mind white kids in their church. That older woman didn't want them there, so did she know who they were?
I also am not happy Aunt Alexandra came to live with Atticus and his family. I agree that Jem and Scout may need a motherly figure in their lives, but she is nothing like that by the way she treats them. I don't think they will benefit from her being there.
When Jem, Dill, and Scout followed Atticus downtown, I thought they all were going to get hurt by the mob. They were all in a very dangerous situation, and the kids had no reason to go out there. Luckily, Atticus did have a backup plan.
I hope Tom and Atticus win the trial, but I don't want the Finch's to get hurt. But if they lost the trial, wouldn't Atticus look foolish? I don't think the family will ever stay the same after the trial, and I don't know which situation would be better to be in.
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Post by Kayla Gallagher on Jul 9, 2013 14:11:39 GMT -5
I agree with Emily about Chapter 9, I think that the way Aunt Alexandra and Francis talked about Scout's dad was way out of line. I don't understand why Scout didn't tell her dad what Francis had said. He probably would of been easier on Scout. I agree with Scout when she talked about how she didn't get why they couldn't use the reason that her dad had to defend the guy no matter what when her classmates were picking on her. It probably would have helped with all of the gossip that was going around the town.
When Mrs. Dubose died I didn't understand why she gave Jem the flower. When Jem seemed to be fine with it I was kind of surprised but at the same time I think that it kind of made since because Mrs. Dubose was so mean to Jem and the rest of his family.I think that their Aunt is very mean and judges people too much. I don't understand how their dad can stand have them live with her. Maybe it wasn't so much as the dad decision as it was the entire family's.
I really hope that Atticus wins the case but by the way the town is acting about this event, something tells me that it isn't going to happen. I think that if they loose the case that things will be weird around the town for a while but will slowly go back to normal. However, if they win the case, i think that the town is going to act strange for a very long time.
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Post by Kayla Gallagher on Jul 9, 2013 14:12:10 GMT -5
I agree with Emily about Chapter 9, I think that the way Aunt Alexandra and Francis talked about Scout's dad was way out of line. I don't understand why Scout didn't tell her dad what Francis had said. He probably would of been easier on Scout. I agree with Scout when she talked about how she didn't get why they couldn't use the reason that her dad had to defend the guy no matter what when her classmates were picking on her. It probably would have helped with all of the gossip that was going around the town.
When Mrs. Dubose died I didn't understand why she gave Jem the flower. When Jem seemed to be fine with it I was kind of surprised but at the same time I think that it kind of made since because Mrs. Dubose was so mean to Jem and the rest of his family.I think that their Aunt is very mean and judges people too much. I don't understand how their dad can stand have them live with her. Maybe it wasn't so much as the dad decision as it was the entire family's.
I really hope that Atticus wins the case but by the way the town is acting about this event, something tells me that it isn't going to happen. I think that if they loose the case that things will be weird around the town for a while but will slowly go back to normal. However, if they win the case, i think that the town is going to act strange for a very long time.
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