To Kill A Mocking Bird Is Still Relevant Today

Image: Mike Baird

My tickets for the Edinburgh Book Festival arrived yesterday, all 35 of them. Holding the bundle in my hand brought it home just how busy August is going to be. And of course, there’s still one very special event I’m hoping to be attending, news of which I should hear soon after July 16th.

The day job was slow, which I hate. I can feel the pressure building when I’m not moving fast enough and with the boss off on his holidays it can lead to hassle up front. Thinks seem to be slow all over, though, as vast numbers start to head off towards sunnier climes, leaving the office barren and rumbling along. It will soon be my turn and it can’t come quick enough now.

I had an excellent writing session last night. I put GREENER to the side for the evening to work on some ideas I’d had over the weekend and it ended up consuming me. I’ll have to get a new notebook for going away now, though, because all my work went into the brand new one I’d bought. I couldn’t resist the sheen, smell and feel of the paper.

I spent some time catching up on all the blogs I read regularly since I’ve not had a chance over the past couple of days. Wish I hadn’t. One of them left me feeling shocked and angry at the unbelievable selfishness and self-absorbed nature of the writing. Not often does my jaw physically hang and I feel sick from reading peoples’ comments, but this was just disgusting drivel and I’ve now lost a large chunk of respect for someone I considered a friend.

I watched a fascinating documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Writer, Andrew Smith (I think that was his name), headed back to the writer’s hometown and tracked her life. He came across an amazing array of people, from the most poisonous bigots to the most wonderful, open-minded people.

It amazes me how the KKK can even survive these days judging by the ridiculousness look of their gowns alone, never mind their hate-filled views. We think we have it bad over here with bigotry but that lot in the American south really do take some beating. Wish someone would as well.

What it did highlight for me is how relevant Lee’s book still is today and always will be. It’s a shame she’s never spoken about it since but her final words on the matter seem very apt somehow: “I said all I wanted to say; why write more?”

The programme was then followed up by the classic movie adaption of the book with Gregory Peck. I shouldn’t have watched it because I’m knackered today as a result but it was worth it.

Peace and out!