To Kill A Mocking-Bird

Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit them , but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird. ... Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... That's why its a sin to kill a mockingbird. 

Ask me one reason why you should read this novel , "To Kill A Mocking-bird" by Harper Lee , and I will tell you at least a dozen reasons to do so. On the top would be , its stronghold on child-psychology . Atticus is a single parent , an old lawyer in a small county of America , called Maycomb. His wife left him with two small kids , one boy and his younger sister called Jem and Jean Lousie . The narrative is from Scout's point of view. The novel progresses and we know Atticus' anxiousness as being a single parent. He understands his children well and he has educated them at home. He has earned their love and respect by his truthfulness . Atticus , according to me , is true model of a parent. His notion is that one should always answer to the curiosity of children.

The narrative has been made so simple and lucid that one feels one has become a child himself / herself. One is surely reminded of childhood days when one played secret games and did funny things. Scout i.e. Jean Lousie learns her lessons in life as well as Jem learns his. I believe what they learn at their age , most of us haven't learned even at our age , for example , what courage means -

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you are licked before you begin you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.

Maycomb county , isn't only a county in America , its a microcosm of world. There are people which we see everyday but we see them differently - some as goody white and some evil , irritable as black-brown. But no ,  the novel shows no one is as bad and too good. Everyone out there is grey. Its a new way to look at people . Like my mother used to do , look what's good in people , after knowing their faults too. Atticus is like a gentleman of a small town. His philosophy is our Indian philosophy "वसुधेव कुटुम्बकम" (the world is your home) , it irritates his children as it does us too when our parents show this attitude , but I finally know what does it really mean.

This novel , I think , would be a best read during vacations. It gives the perfect feel of holidays and missions which go together with it. Besides everything , the novel is really interesting , if at all you are interested in childish stuff and if you appreciate them and their way of doing things.