Yesterday one of America's most famous novelists passed away. Harper Lee is of course the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird". The novel was made into a movie before hollywood had even switched to color films and both the book and the movie have been central to American culture for decades.
Generations of school children have been assigned the book and read it (or not) or have watched in fascination as parents, school boards, and librarians have battled over banning the book. There is enough, shall we say earthy, language in the story to make some people at least question the propriety of having children read it. Others embrace it entirely.
Cartoonist Berkeley Breathed based much of his famous "Bloom County" on Maycomb, Alabama and would later become a pen pal of Lee's. The relationship started when he wrote to ask for permission to reference her work in one of his strips. She in turn was charmed by his bumbling penguin Opus according to recently released letters.
"Get Fuzzy", another newspaper comic, depended on the readership knowing what "To Kill a Mockingbird" was for the punchline to have a kick, when its main character explained to his cat that it was not in fact a 'how to' book.
It is probable that generations more high schoolers will sit down to read and analyze Lee's classic, and generations more authors and artists will draw inspiration from the story she told. Here's hoping that hollywood doesn't get any ideas about a remake. What are the chances that there will ever be another actor capable of doing Atticus Finch justice?
Generations of school children have been assigned the book and read it (or not) or have watched in fascination as parents, school boards, and librarians have battled over banning the book. There is enough, shall we say earthy, language in the story to make some people at least question the propriety of having children read it. Others embrace it entirely.
Cartoonist Berkeley Breathed based much of his famous "Bloom County" on Maycomb, Alabama and would later become a pen pal of Lee's. The relationship started when he wrote to ask for permission to reference her work in one of his strips. She in turn was charmed by his bumbling penguin Opus according to recently released letters.
"Get Fuzzy", another newspaper comic, depended on the readership knowing what "To Kill a Mockingbird" was for the punchline to have a kick, when its main character explained to his cat that it was not in fact a 'how to' book.
It is probable that generations more high schoolers will sit down to read and analyze Lee's classic, and generations more authors and artists will draw inspiration from the story she told. Here's hoping that hollywood doesn't get any ideas about a remake. What are the chances that there will ever be another actor capable of doing Atticus Finch justice?
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