“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”~ Harper Lee, from To Kill a Mockingbird
I will never forget the joy that Harper Lee’s unforgettable novel To Kill a Mockingbird has given me. Jem and Scout were my friends. Scout was the flawless curious, rebellious girl. One of my two favourite characters in all of fiction (Zooey Glass being the other one).
But Atticus Finch? He was FATHER. He was the world’s father. Every time I dissect this novel, it comes up differently. One time, it’s a story about racial tensions and racism. One time, it’s a coming of age story. One time, it’s a look into mental illness and the misunderstanding of the things we fear the most. One time, it’s a story of love and family. One time, it’s the deep south and its struggles.
I will always read To Kill a Mockingbird at least once a year. And every time I do it, I will tip my hat to the woman who wrote the beautiful Great American Novel.
Harper Lee had a whole life of 89 years. Many know little about her, myself included. But I know that she touched my heart irrevocably. Scout, Boo, Atticus…these are characters that live in my head every day. I can’t thank her enough for introducing them to me. Long may they live.
Godspeed, Miss Lee. Thank you for such a beautiful legacy of words.
KEVIN CRAIG 