Sing It

Rereading the novel as an adult, I came to admire it for its clear-eyed depiction of American tribalism in its three major manifestations: race, class and region. Few contemporary literary American novels have such a sweep and fewer have the confidence to take on social issues in the way Harper Lee does. Much literary writing today about racism is cloaked in irony or in so much lyricism that it becomes gaseous. Lee refuses to hide behind aesthetics. Her writing is so beautiful, so steady and even and limpid, that she might have evaded confronting these tribalisms head-on, but she doesn't.

... Sometimes novels are considered "important" in the way medicine is – they taste terrible and are difficult to get down your throat, but are good for you. The best novels are those that are important without being like medicine; they have something to say, are expansive and intelligent but never forget to be entertaining and to have character and emotion at their centre. Harper Lee's triumph is one of those.

That's Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, writing in The Guardian about To Kill a Mockingbird. She says what I think. In other, and totally opposite news, 'Is To Kill a Mockingbird overrated?' (Thanks to Chris M. for the link.)

Comments

[Monet]

I had the privilege of meeting Adiche last year...she is one of the most thoughtful and articulate people I've met. She speaks highly of Harper Lee's work (which I believe is deserved), and I hope that her own work receives continued praise and admiration