until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
- atticus finch, to kill a mockingbird
of all the books i've ever read
this pulitzer prize novel, to kill a mockingbird is my favorite.
it's been called the great american novel, and if you've had the
pleasure of reading it, you know why it's beloved by so many.
it's timeless and transcends generations.
atticus finch and his children are not only people you want to be friends with,
but they are people you want to be more like.
this book and many of the characters are so loved,
they inspire people {like me}, to name their children after them.
it was required reading during my high school years,
and though i enjoyed it then,
it wasn't until i read it again in my late 20s that i came to fully appreciate it.
i'm not as eloquent as one reviewer of the book but i share his sentiments:
after reading this book, we never leave the book the same person.i am reading this book again and this time, with my finn.
it crawls up inside of our brains, wraps itself around our hearts, and refuses to let go.
leaving a lifetime of legacy, and remembrance, and reflection.
i didn't think it possible i could ever enjoy it more, but somehow i am.
being a mom might have something to do with that.
{i've chosen to skip over the courtroom chapters because of his age}
at 8 years old, he is unable to fully appreciate the beauty of this book,
but he is enjoying the siblings jem and scout - their inquisitiveness and their adventures.
he is also growing to love their father attitcus, who is is dedicated to justice and equality.
finn and scout will both get their own copies someday,
with a handwritten note inside the cover by me.
i've been thinking about the best time to give them this book,
and the transition from middle school to high school seems appropriate.
someday, i hope they will share this book with their own children,
because harper lee's novel is truly a gift to us all.
