3 reason blog to kill a mockingbird by jackson

Overall To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was a very well written book. I liked that it had lots of symbolism in the story. For example that Boo Radley was considered to be a mockingbird. The reason the people from the town shouldn’t kill a mockingbird is because they’re harmless. In fact in the end of the story Boo Radley actually, helps the Finches by saving the kids from Mr. Ewell. Also, Tom Robinson is a mockingbird. He did nothing wrong but is still being punished because of his skin color. Atticus Finch shows that in the trial. He proves that Tom did nothing wrong and made a fool of Mr. Ewell. The single only reason the Ewell’s won was because of Tom Robinson’s skin color. Another example of symbolism is throughout the book where the author shows the small town feel. The town that these people live in very small and that shows in the book. I like this because it gives a different perspective than other books I have read. For example in Maycomb everyone knows everyone. So when a big event like the trial comes up in the town, everyone is there. Lastly, one more theme is the good and evil of the book. For example when it is shown but not directly said in the trial that Mr. Ewell beats his daughter that shows he is an evil man. Also, when Mr. Ewell attacks the Finch kids to get back at Atticus this shows that he is truly an evil man. On the contrary when Boo Radley comes in to save the day and kill Mr. Ewell to save the finch kids this shows that even there were many rumors about him that in his heart he is truly a good man. Next, when Mr. Finch decides to take the case and defend Tom Robinson he shows that he is a good man because Mr. Finch faces hate and criticism for this. Because he is the best lawyer in town defending a black man. He puts himself in danger and his family so that he can do the right thing in his heart. This shows that he is a good man. Another thing the I really enjoyed about the story was the character development. Throughout the story, we can see that each every character is changing in a good or bad way. In the story, Scout is the narrator for some of it. She shows throughout the story in how she grows as a person. Even though she is still young she shows that she is changing for the better. Jem is another character who develops. Both these kids are the children of Atticus Finch. I think that being their father is a huge part in why these two become much more mature by the end of the book. They truly begin to understand the racism and hate in the trial and how wrong it is. The character that I think develops the most but in a subtle way which is really interesting is Boo Radley. He is thought of as this mentally unstable guy at the beginning of the story. Throughout the story, the kids begin to explore him. In the end, after saving the Finch kids, Mr. Finch thanks him which shows how long he has come from not being known by the town to saving kids lives.

3 reasons James Ravalese

James Ravalese

9/7/16

English C

3 Reasons Why I Loved To Kill a Mockingbird

The masterpiece classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the story of a trial of a black man set in the 1930s in the south in Macomb county Alabama. However, the story is through the eyes of a little girl named Jean Louise Finch (Scout). Her father Atticus Finch the best lawyer in town and attorney of the state, decides to take the case of the black man named Tom Robinson who is accused of raping and beating a white woman. Even when the town urges Atticus not to take the case he does because he knows it's the right thing to do. This book is a classic for a reason seen through a young 8 year old eyes and this is pulled off exceptionally well. Second the book really highlighted how cruel and awful racism was without sugar coating or making it very realistic. Finally this book is known and loved because of its trial scene. This scene consists of racism, court conduct, prejudice, and the truth all perfectly described and depicted.

My favorite part about this book is that the narrator is a 8 year old girl and how authentic the writing feels and because I was reading  at a young age there is a strange connection. For example “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Chapter 3) I have heard this saying many times almost word for word especially because my mom is also a lawyer. In this example Atticus is talking to Scout to tell her she needs to be more understandable of other people. For Scout this is hard to grasp because she growing up in a racist world learning to hate african american she has to understand what people are going through. Scout is portrayed as young reckless and immature but as the book goes on it is very noticeable she has matured and become a brave person like her father.

In To Kill a Mockingbird they do not pull punches with racism they make some scenes in the book very realistic to what is was like in the 1930s. For example even though all the evidence was in favor of Tom Robinson he was still found guilty. This was not unexpected at all because Tom Robinson is black. When Atticus fought for Tom Robinson he showed the true meaning of bravery “It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” This is what Atticus did for Tom Robinson He defended him the case even though he had no chance but because he saw that an innocent man would be killed because of his skin color he had to be brave. Throughout the book racism is a recurring theme which causes many of the main character to be brave and fight for what they stand for.

This is by far my favorite part of the book and that is the trial scene. The trial scene is intense and it keeps you on your toes and focused on every detail during the trial I was hoping that Tom Robinson would be found innocent but it was always know that because he was black he had no chance. Finally Atticus’ courtroom speech he describes how all men were created equal and in the courtroom that is in effect and he touches everybody's heart with this speech. “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal—there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court. It can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest J.P. court in the land, or this honorable court which you serve. Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal. With this very speech was the beginning of the end of racism.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books because I have so many similarities with the main characters. The sheer intensity of the book makes me tremble every time I read it. First because the story is narrated by a child so when I read this I had the same thoughts and ideas as her. Second this book showed how real and terrible racism was that an innocent man would be killed because his skin was a darker tone than someone else's. Finally the trial this is very intriguing interesting and always kept me on my feet for what was to happen next. With the culmination of all those elements it was one of my all time favorite books.

Racing in the Rain, an inspiring story written by Garth Stein that is narrated by a dog named Enzo.  Throughout the story, the bond between Enzo and his owner (Denny) strengthens. Enzo is with Denny through all of his hard times and learns to not take life too fast and the importance of letting someone go. This book is an extraordinary read due to the fact that it is narrated by the dog’s point of view rather than a human’s, teaching the theme of not taking life too fast, and letting go.

One of the reasons why I find this book as a fantastic read is because the protagonist and narrator is the point of view of the dog, Enzo. In many books, the protagonist is a human. That is not the case in this book. Enzo described his life from when Denny “ picked [him] out of a pile of puppies, a tangled rolling mass of paws, ears and tails” (Stein 9) up to his death. I personally enjoy mixing things up and having a dog narrate the book.  I think it is an interesting twist. Having the dog narrate the book gives it a new point of view. I tis one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much.

Another reason why Racing in the Rain is an outstanding book is because it has a recurring theme of not taking life too fast. The book explains that it is about the journey, not how fast you reach your destination. When Denny explains how to race in the rain, he tells Enzo that the racer needs “ balance, anticipation, patience. These are all vital. Using your side vision, seeing things you have never seen before. Feeling the road, driving by the seat of the pants” (Stein 12). This description sort of connects to life. The quote shows the reader that you need balance, anticipation, and patience in life. As well as stopping to see things you have never seen before. This theme recurs in the book often when the connection of life to racing is made.

Another theme found in the book is the theme of letting go of someone. In the novel, Denny had to let go of his wife and Enzo. When Denny’s wife passed away, it was hard at first to let go of her, but once he sensed Enzo was ready he let go of him. He told him “‘It’s okay...you can go’” (Stein 273). Denny sensed it was Enzo’s time and was ready to let him go before he moved to Italy. When Denny let go of Enzo, it sent a feeling of poignant to the readers. This is a very depressing moment for Denny but Enzo felt free.

Racing in the Rain touches the hearts of many readers. It is a book that is narrated entirely from Enzo’s point of view. There can be some gloomy moments but it is part of the recurring theme of letting someone go. In addition to the theme of letting go, the book also has a theme of living life to the fullest. The novel’s distinct story sets it apart from others and makes it a magnificent read.

The Secret Life of Bees - Molly Jones

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, has multiple interesting characteristics that make it such a good book. It shows people female power, racism, the Southern culture back in the 1960s, and how mothers can impact your life. It has life lessons throughout the book and even shows stuff about bees and honey. It is based in South Carolina where a 14 year old girl, Lily lives with her father, T. Ray and her black housekeeper or nanny, Rosaleen.  Lily’s mother was killed and it is a blurred memory for her. Kidd shows this in her writing with good voice and narration. She also includes many themes that explain and show the importance of this book. Another thing I liked about this book was where she decided to have setting be in, South Carolina. It ties the whole book together and it adds in the Southern and racism aspects to the story. Overall this book would be the type of book I would recommend to my daughter just as my mom did to me when choosing the books I had to read. Its funny and makes me want to keep reading, but at the same time teaches about the South in the 60s.

The voice in which the author, Sue Monk Kidd, decided to write it as, really spoke to me in the novel. Kidd has Lily narrating the story how she remembers it. Even though it is written as a teenager’s point of view, Kidd still adds good vocabulary and makes it flow. Within Lily’s voice we learn about strong women and how females can still be important even in a male prominent world. She is telling the story but at the same time is the protagonist. She tells herself as a determined girl that wants to learn more about her mother’s past. Kidd makes Lily sound sophisticated and has sometimes dark, smart, important thoughts that she writes. An example of one is, “I have noticed that if you look carefully at people’s eyes the first five seconds they look at you, the truth of their feelings will shine through just for an instant before it flickers away.” (104-105) She tells the readers something that you probably would not think about when you first see them, but it is something so little that it makes it good.

There are so many important themes in this book that make it the great book that it is. The first one is the female power and how women can still make a business in this world. In the beginning Lily has to grow up without a mother but Rosaleen comes in to be her stand in mother. She teaches Lily about women and being strong against men and racists. She also is strong because of her urge to register to vote. Lily’s father has no respect for women and Lily feel guilty about her mother’s death. August Boatwright, probably the strongest women in this book, teaches Lily about their religion, the Daughters of Mary, and it teaches about the power of women and that the voice of Mary is inside all of us. They believe that women can be free and nothing should stand in their way. Another important theme in this book is the bees. In the beginning of the book, Lily always had a swarm of bees in her room but when T. Ray would come in, they would never be there. She captures one in a jar and this shows her that Rosaleen and her need to fly away from this loveless home. At the Boatwright home, bees is a big part of their life. Their honey jar attracted Lily to come to their home and it’s almost as she was directed their. There are many metaphors about the bees, like how every bee a job in the hive, just like everyone in the house had job. Racism is a huge theme in the book because it is set in the South during the 60’s. Even though Lily is a white girl that has a racist white father, it is almost like she doesn’t see the color in people’s skin. She doesn’t care that Rosaleen or August or even Zach is a different skin color than her. She loves each and everyone of these people no matter the color of their skin. Lily is shown the racial prejudice in both towns in South Carolina, with Rosaleen getting arrested and Zach getting arrested. Even a policemen comes to the Boatwright house and asks her why she is living with all black women. She hears and sees stories about people being beaten and and killed because of their race. There are still many more themes in this novel, but these are the main important ones.

South Carolina is right in the South of the United States. Lily describes Sylvan, South Carolina, as, “Sylvan, South Carolina, population 3,100. Peach stands and Baptist churches, that sums it up.” (8) The setting is important in this novel because it really shows what happened in the 60’s and it has the history part of this story. Tiburon, the other town in the books is described by Lily as, “Tiburon was a place like Sylvan, minus the peaches. In front of the domed courthouse someone had stuck a Confederate flag in the mouth of their public cannon. South Carolina was Dixie first, America second. You could not get the pride of Fort Sumter out of us if you tried. (65) Lily describes these towns not very well and they seem not as important to her. The setting ties to the race part of the book because it is in the South. Race is a problem in both these towns and you're either black or white. The blacks get treated terribly which Lily knows all about because she has seen and heard stories about it. The setting of this story really ties everything together and makes everything make sense.

The Secret Life of Bees is a great book that really taught me a lot. It taught me about female power, which for me as a girl was very important and made me think about how much more women can do than people really think. It also taught me about history of the 60’s and race. With teaching me this much, it also was funny and had parts that I really enjoyed.

"And Then There Were None" By Agatha Christie

If Only There Was One Left Over.

“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were Nine.

Nine little soldier boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were Eight.

Eight little soldier boys traveling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.

Seven little soldier boy chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were       Six.

Six little soldier boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then and then there were Five.

Five little soldier boys going in for law; One got into Chancery and then there were Four.

Four little soldier boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.

Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.

Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then was One.

One little soldier boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself

And then there were None.” - Frank Green, 1869

This poem above, is the main theme behind the book, “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie. Indeed, this poem is very dark and eventually leaves you wondering why the poem was even written in the first place, throughout the book you will develop a clear understanding for why this poem is used in this book. This book is full of confusion, as well as mystery and suspense, and that is the exact reason why I believe it is one of the best books I have ever read.

As mentioned above, the poem that comes along with the book is one of the major reasons that I believe this is a good story. This is because as you develop throughout the book, you will come to realize that the poem tells you what will happen in the book, but at the same time, you do not know what will happen. The first evidence of seeing how the poem comes into play in the story is one page 89 and it states, “As she passed the mantelpiece, she looked up at the framed doggerel. ‘Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were Nine.’ She thought to herself: It’s horrible- just like us this evening….”  By Agatha Christie putting this thought of Vera Claythorne, one of the main characters, she starts to put the idea into the character’s head as well as our own that, well maybe this poem actually does have something to do with this book. The poem provides enough information for the reader to clearly know what is going on, yet it leaves you with this unsettled, unbalanced feeling. The poem clearly tells you how a person may die in a very interestingly form of terror.  Although it is not on one page with a specific quote, the power of the poem can be felt through the characters emotions. They are truly terrified and at some points, I myself as a reader was as well. Specifically with  a character such as Vera Claythorne, the poem and the idea of people dying gets to her head completely.

Another key factor within this story is the fact that this poem and the idea of people dying, turns the characters in the story against each other. This is another part of the book that makes the story and plot so interesting. It provides a certain type of aggravation that makes you want to just keep reading and reading until you finish the book. It also shows how the characters react to this situation and who will really end up lasting the longest. On page 103, Philip Lombard as well as William Blore question General Wargrave on whether the motorboat will really come to take them off the island or not and he simply replies, “Of course it won’t come. We’re counting on the motorboat to take us off the island. That’s the meaning of the the whole business. We’re not going to leave the island… None of us will ever leave… It’s the end, you see-the end of everything….” I believe that this is one of the most powerful quotes in the entire story due to the fact that this tests the reader to think about whether or not this is really true, which in the end of the book we come to find out that General Wargrave was indeed correct on his idea of no one leaving the island. With this idea in mind, the reader begins to see the fate of each character and how they eventually end up not trusting each other at all. At the very end of the book, there are two characters left alive, Vera Claythorne and Philip Lombard. There comes to a time in the chapter where Vera Claythorne has gone completely insane and has grabbed the gun of Philip Lombard. She promptly kills Lombard as he reaches for his gun that she has taken. Once he is dead, the author explains the emotions of Claythorne after this moment occurs, “...She was alone on the island… Alone with nine dead bodies… But what did that matter? She was alive… She sat there-exquisitely happy-exquisitely at peace… No more fear…” Although this quote is very simple and short, I believe it shows what the island did to a person. It drove a person insane and eventually forced them to commit suicide.

This story, “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie is a story about how mystery and fear can bring someone to a point where they aren’t a human being anymore with a human mentality. It can take your concept that you think that you have of humanity, crumple it up, throw it away, and make a horror show of the whole thing.  It is suspenseful, simple yet complicated, terrifying, and one of the creepiest books I have ever read. That is why I believe it is also a very good story and one of the best stories I have read yet.

3 Reason Blog Post - 9/7

“He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley-- there was a flash of violet light, a sound like a firecracker, a sharp squeal, and the next second, Dudley was dancing on the spot with his hands clasped over his fat bottom, howling in pain. When he turned his back on them, Harry saw a curly pig’s tail poking through a hole in his trousers.” (Rowling 59) This is just one of the many interesting yet humorous statements in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. The first book in this exciting series, it tells the beginnings of Harry Potter and his long journey of learning magic. It is funny, exciting, and well-written, is set in the breathtaking castle of Hogwarts and city of London, and clearly shows how the main characters change throughout the story.

A humorous book, J.K. Rowling creates a masterpiece of words. She makes you feel as if you are right there journeying with Harry Potter, learning the art of magic, and fighting the Dark Lord Voldemort. “He was going to smash right into that barrier and then he’d be in trouble -- leaning forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy run -- the barrier was coming nearer and nearer -- he wouldn’t be able to stop -- the cart was out of control --he was a foot away -- he closed his eyes ready for the crash -- It didn’t come… he kept on running… he opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting…” ( Rowling ... )This is one of Harry’s first encounters with magic, a seemingly solid barrier that people could run through. The reader can truly feel as if though they are running alongside the famous Harry Potter through a wall onto Platform 9 ¾. “... wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching -- he stretched out his hand -- a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight…” (Rowling 149) Here, the author captures Harry’s first flying experience , and uses just the right wording to show it.

Another aspect of the fascinating first book is its setting. Yes, this whole series is set in England; the Dursley’s house (where Harry lived), Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts being the three places Harry spends his first year of mastering and honing his skills at magic. “Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once… These shops were selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange instruments he had never seen before,windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels’ eyes…” (Rowling 71-72) Rowling sets up a street market, one where wizarding families can get their school supplies, ice cream, and much more, and describes it so well. The reader can truly imagine what it would look like.

On the grounds of Hogwarts, Harry goes through many changes. One of these changes is becoming best friends with Ron and Hermione, and beginning to feel less lonely than he was his whole life. At the start of the book, Rowling writes, “At school, Harry had no one. Everybody knew that Dudley’s gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley’s gang.” Harry had no friends and no one to talk to, at home and school. Later in the story, however, Rowling continues,  “‘Go on, have a pasty,’ said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron…” (Rowling 102) This here is the start of Harry and Ron’s lifelong friendship, sharing treats on a train to magic school. Hermione’s friendship with the two boys truly began when they saved her from a troll in the bathroom: “But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their best friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.” (Rowling 179)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone really is a fascinating read. J.K. Rowling demonstrates her fantastic writing abilities through the novel, creates a whole entire imaginary magic world that almost seems real, and portrays character development throughout the story. Yet again, this book is a really great novel, the one that started the Harry Potter fan craze.

Alyssa Pilecki

The Secret Life of Bees- Skylar Kubas

Did your summer reading book grab your attention, and make you want to keep reading? I read,  The Secret Life of Bees, over the summer and I did not find the book very interesting. One thing I didn't like was that there was not a very clear plot and sometimes it was hard for me to tell where the characters were at times. Another thing was that there wasn't a very clear overall theme, there was only minor things along the story. One last thing I didn't really like about this book, was that it's sometime was written confusingly, and it was hard to understand.

Over the summer I read the book called, The Secret Life of Bees by, Sue Monk Kidd. I did not like this book very much. One thing I didn’t like was that there was not a very clear plot and sometimes you didn’t really know where the book was taking place. For example, when Lily, a young girl from Sylvan, South Carolina and Rosaleen, her caretaker or “stand in mother”, ran away from T.Ray, and went to Tiburon, South Carolina, the author is unclear about how they got to the bee house. She does explain that this town was important to Lily’s real mother, before she died. Kidd, also didn’t really explain the story behind her family before her mom died, and who her dad really is, and the whole part of why her and Rosaleen escaped from him.

I also thought this book wasn’t very good in my perspective because, there was really a big theme to it. Some minor themes of the story would be, forgiveness, when Lily has all the guilt of killing her mother, she asks from her mother in heaven for her forgiveness. Another theme could be racism, how T.Ray would hurt and mistreat Rosaleen because she wasn’t white like him and Lily. In addition to these themes, another would be, lack of female power, and how T.Ray (Lily’s father) had no respect for women and was against all idea’s any women had. One last theme in the book was the bee’s, which was one of the bigger themes because bee’s came in at lots of times during the story first with her mom, then in her room, and at the bee farm.

The Secret Life of Bees, was very confusing at some parts. The writing style was kind of wordy sometimes. Often I felt like I was falling behind while reading, and not understanding everything. Many times I felt like I had to reread to figure out where Lily and Rosaleen were in their travels. Sometimes there were parts when the author added some difficult vocabulary of places or names of things that I didn’t recognize and had to look up to figure out what they meant.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is a good story for many reasons. One reason is that the story has a great plot. Another reason TKAM is a good book is that it has great characterization. A third reason why TKAM is well written is the themes in the book. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist, Scout, grows up with her brother Jem and her father Atticus in Maycomb County, Alabama during the Great Depression. She is a tomboy and always questions her world as she sees it. She does not know the meaning of blunt and will always ask a question, always say something. Scout’s innocence plays a large role in To Kill a Mockingbird and allows Harper Lee to create a different view of the world Scout lives in. Her bluntness occasionally gets her into trouble, but her unfaltering honesty is one of the best (if not the best) things I like about the book. Additionally, Scout’s loyalty to her family and her fearlessness shape her a s a character. She never backs down from fights, and starts quite a lot of them herself. Especially during the stressful times during the Trial of Tom Robinson, her traits become heartbreakingly apparent. For instance, when Atticus was outside of Tom Robinson’s cell at night and was reading to him, surrounded by and angry mob of townsfolk, Scout, heedless of the danger, runs up to Atticus, says hello, and immediately starts making polite conversation with Mr. Cunningham. Scout has no idea whatsoever of what is going on, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to be polite, which inadvertently saves Atticus from some unpleasant fate. Additionally, at the time of the trial, right after Atticus makes his defense, Jem says to scout that there is now way they’ll convict Tom. Their complete innocence and cluelessness about racism and cruelty is heartbreaking. Because Harper Lee changed the viewpoint, she transformed the story of To Kill a Mockingbird to a completely different level. Additionally, To Kill a Mockingbird has important and well written themes throughout the book. To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the current issues when Harper Lee wrote this book, especially racism. To me this is ingenious because Harper Lee wrote a culturally relevant book that conveys her viewpoint on all the hotly debated issues in society at the time, yet made it accessible to all ages. Also, Harper Lee has many important and positive themes in the book about family and growing up. For example, in the book Scout learns about table manners from Calpurnia after questioning a poor boy’s choice of food at her house. She is rebuked about her table manners, but there is also something more. She is being taught to respect her guests, to treat them the way she would like to be treated. This is just one of many possible examples in To Kill a Mockingbird that teaches basic life lessons that are essential for a child to learn growing up. However, on the other end of the spectrum, Harper Lee talks about the more unpleasant things in society at the time. Scout sees racism, greed, and bigotry all around her as she lives in Maycomb. At her family reunion, one of her cousins accuses Atticus of being a N*gger lover. Also, at school, when the other kids accuse Atticus of the same thing she defends him by saying that he isn’t. This illustrates the common racism in the south at the time, how being racist was normal, and if you weren’t, you were an outlier. Using Scout’s innocence Harper Lee is able to raise the issues on these controversial themes with great detail. Also, To Kill a Mockingbird has an amazing plot. The story follows the Finch’s journey through life. Scout meets many people, and journeys through life as an explorer who is never afraid to ask a question. She has many interesting experiences, from watching Tom Robinson’s trial to finally meeting Boo Radley. Harper Lee takes you on a journey through the life of a young girl in the Great Depression, and lets you go back in time for a few short hours.

This is why I think To Kill a Mockingbird is a good book.

A Walk in the Woods - Aidan O'Loughlin

I would consider my second summer reading book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, a good

story. Out of all the books on the list of recommendations I chose this book because of it’s

description. It stated that the book was witty, and about two very out of shape people hiking the

Appalachian trail, I immediately  knew that this was the book I was going to read. It includes

great narration, a fascinating plot, and captivating themes.

The author, Bill Bryson, narrates the entire story. He supplies the book with humor and a happy note, as well as information and a more serious tone. Throughout the book he can bring out his voice in multiple ways, in a more humorous tone like, “I wanted a little of that swagger that comes with being able to gaze at a far horizon through eyes of chipped granite and say with a slow, manly sniff, ‘Yeah, I’ve shit in the woods.’”(Bryson, 4) He can also take a more serious tone, “Then there is the little-known family of organisms called hantaviruses, which swarm in the micro-haze above the feces of mice and rats and are hoovered into the human respiratory system by anyone unlucky enough to stick a breathing orifice near them-by lying down, say, on a sleeping platform over which infected mice have recently scampered. Among viruses only rabies, ebola, and HIV are more lethal. Again, there is no treatment.” (Bryson, 6)  No matter what it is he is talking about Bill Bryson makes it interesting; however, the book also has other reasons to be liked. Such as it’s fascinating plot. The basic plot is two old friends who are very out of shape decide to thru hike the Appalachian trail. The book follows these two through their hardships, their fights, and their adventure. While it is not super adventurous it is certainly entertaining and an interesting plot that has a multitude of frightening scenarios. However, not only does this book have a great plot, it has captivating themes. It is based around how important friendship is and how we need to take care of the environment. Friendship is very important in this book, at the start the author and Katz weren’t close and I didn’t even like Katz; however, by the end I was worrying for Katz. The book also taught me much about the environment, national parks,  and the Appalachian trail I didn’t know about.  Without out the book I never would have known that the Parks and Recreation committee while less funded than it used to uses its money on unimportant projects when they know about species of animals going extinct and entire species of trees being wiped out.  This book is not only  interesting to read, it tells a story that is hard to forget.

I have read a lot of books and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is definitely worth your time.

A Walk in the Woods