to kill a mockingbird

While I've been out of the blogging world, that is, not had time to reflect on many things, or bring my reflections to the keyboard, I've been reading To Kill A Mockingbird with my students. I think this is perhaps my favorite book right now. It's my third time through it, and I still feel the language is so charming, the themes so poignant, the characters so endearing. I still find myself laughing aloud and nearly crying.

the book is full of amazing quotes: only tidbits of the humor and truth in this book.


"In Maycomb, if one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one's mind incapable of definite purpose."


"I sometimes think Atticus subjected every crisis of his life to tranquil evaluation behind The Mobile Register, The Birmingham News, The Montgomery Advertiser."


Atticus to Aunt Alexandria: "I'm in favor of southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life."


dear, dry Atticus, to dirty Dill: "And for goodness' sake, put some of the county back where it belongs, the soil erosion's bad enough as it is."
Scout interprets: "He's trying to be funny. He means take a bath."


from tonight's reading:

"You're mighty dressed up, Miss Jean Louise," she said. "Where are your britches today?"

"Under my dress."