AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is an audiobook review for To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The narrator is Sissy Spacek. I read this as part of the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. I also read this for my Banned Book Challenge.

I have always had a hard time with audio books. My mind wonders too much and I just can't focus on the story. When I mentioned this on the blog, Lisa from Bookshelf Fantasies suggested I try one as a reread. With Harper Lee's sequel for To Kill A Mockingbird coming out in just a few short months, what better time was there to delve back into the world of the Finch family? When I heard that Sissy Spacek was the narrator, I was even more enthused. I just love her! Listening to her narration, I do think she was the perfect choice to narrate this wonderful story. Sissy Spacek's narration made me want to listen to this story for days and days. The only downside about an audio book is that it takes so much longer to finish than a print book. In this case, I did not mind because I was able to savor the story in a way that I am sure I wasn't able to when I was younger. 

I had not read this book since high school, but I still remembered the basic plot. I think everyone is pretty familiar with the story. Atticus Finch is the honorable lawyer in a small Southern town and father to Jem and Scout (the narrator). This book tells the story of the eccentric, withdrawn neighbor Boo Radley and the case that nearly tore the town apart. Atticus takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white girl. I am sure so many people have reviewed this book, so I am not sure I can contribute anything new. Harper Lee did an amazing job of describing life in a small southern town where everyone knew each other and everyone knew everyone else's business. As someone who grew up in a similar southern town, I could relate. Atticus Finch is probably my favorite fictional father of all time. He was firm, but fair and he was willing to stand up to everyone to defend a man falsely accused. He was also much more empathetic than I probably would have been. As he told his children, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . .  until you climb in his skin and walk around in it." I love this quote and think it perfectly sums up Atticus as a father. I loved this book so much and can't wait for the sequel. We get to see Scout as a grown up!

Buy/Borrow/Skip: Buy! If you like audio books, I highly recommend the audio version of To Kill A Mockingbird.