Miriam Stone - Book Review

Book Review - By Miriam Stone

Mockingbird: a portrait of Harper Lee.

Written by Charles L. Shields

In the late 1950’s a young writer began a work that she hoped would be published as a novel. Time and again her manuscript was sent back to her by the publisher for revision. Her characters weren’t crisp enough to be distinguished; a novel so raw couldn’t be told through the eyes of an 11 year old girl, not even a tough Tomboy girl; the manuscript wandered and there were too many characters. But, the writer worked on with dogged determination because this was novel would see the light of day.

It did so much more than that. Within weeks of publication in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird became a New York Times bestseller. The book and the author won The Pulitzer Prize in 1965. It went on to become an acclaimed motion picture starring Gregory Peck and it is now being taught in 88% of our American high schools.

It would appear that Harper Lee used the same determination to protect her private life. She never published another book, although there were talks of one and reasons why she abandoned it with only two chapters written. There were talks that her childhood pal, Truman Capote, the character called Dill in her book, had indeed helped her write To kill a Mockingbird to the extent that is was really his work not hers. He gave it to her as a gift for all the work and research she helped him do on his own masterpiece In Cold Blood.

The unsolicited book Mockingbird: a portrait of Harper Lee, written by Charles J. Shields is a goldmine of stories about Harper Lee. She resides now in New York City and is active in her Church. That is all that she wants us to know.

But those of us who love the book To kill a Mockingbird have an insatiable need to know more. Shields book is a tribute to Harper Lee and he delves into many of the urban myths that surround her and probably comes as close as anyone can to answers we seek. Shields interviewed over 600 acquaintances of Ms. Lee, and he presents as thorough a picture into the life of this beloved author as we may ever know.

However the author herself remains an ethereal fabric that floats in and around the words letting us know that she will keep her thoughts to herself and what is private will remain so. Lee fans will surely love this first glimpse into her world from the time she was thrust into the limelight in 1960 to the time, in 1965, when she decided that the world didn’t need to know more about her.

And, indeed, there is one very fresh perspective on the work To kill a Mockingbird and possibly explain why there was no need for Harper Lee to publish a second book. I gave the book to my 97 year old father. He had never heard of the book or Harper Lee, but he read it rapidly and with relish. While I was moaning that I would love to have seen another book published by her, my father said “I can’t imagine she had anything else to say. Everything you can possibly question and ponder about is already in this book. She hit the mark her first time out.” I think my father is correct.

I enjoyed Mockingbird: a portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J Shields and I recommend it for Lee lovers. The Yocum Library owns two copies of the book, and although this book was published in 2007, for a short time it can be found displayed on the new book shelf on the second floor of the Library.