Review: To Kill A Mockingbird

I wanted to submit a review of one of my favorite books in the world, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.  The movie, produced by Universal, was also well done, and I think gave a fairly good interpretation of Ms. Lee's story.  My students and I finished reading the book today, and they were both happy that they'd finished, and sad that it was over, at the same time.

The book, narrated by Jean Louise Finch, (nicknamed Scout) follows her life as well as that of Jem, her brother, and Dill, their friend.  It begins when they are all fairly young, when the greatest concerns they have are their worries about "Boo" Radley, a neighbor who hasn't left his house in years, and about whom they have many frightened and far fetched ideas.  But life does not stay as simple as they would like, and they are forced to grow up a little too quickly when their father, a lawyer, is called upon to defend a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman.

Both book and movie teach, without becoming overly didactic, the value of human life, and of honor and of compassion.  It teaches that while there is ignorance, dishonor, betrayal, and evil in the world, and tragedy too, that there is more good there, than bad. 

And that's something I think is important to know.

DJ Weaver

My last few posts have been sad news, and this is no exception.  On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, a young boy named DJ Weaver whose family lives in our town, and who was in my son's class at school, was hit by a semi while crossing the street on his bike to get to the bus stop.  He later died at the hospital. 

In a way, this hit me harder than the shooting on the 14th of December in Connecticut.  I didn't know DJ personally, but my youngest two children did.  I pray for his family to have peace, and God's comfort with them.

"Oh God of heav'n, send Christ again
Bring in his reign of peace
And make Earth pure for tiny hands
And safe for tiny feet.

Then give back my child to me."*

*Cope, Kenneth. "Tiny Hands." My Servant Joseph. 1993. Embryo Records.

Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary

I didn't post this sooner, because my feelings were too raw and roiling to feel like coming to my blog.  But I feel able to come now, and paste an article I wrote for my school's newspaper.  Usually, the students write the articles, but this time, I decided to write the article myself.

From Warrior's Voices, the newspaper of Uintah River High School, December 19, 2012:

On December 14, 2012, twenty innocent little children between the ages of 5 and 10, as well as their principal and the school psychologist and several teachers were brutally murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.  Another woman was murdered by the same perpetrator some miles away.  In all, 27 innocent people lost their lives.

 

When things like this happen, the initial emotions that humane people feel are shock, denial, disbelief, and grief.  Especially when innocent children are victims. 

 

It is impossible to comprehend the grief that the parents, siblings, family and friends of these little children and their teachers are feeling at this time.  The only way to understand it, is to endure something similar, and I hope no one should ever again have to do so.

 

It is possible, though, to feel compassion for them, to hope that they find some way to endure, and, if you believe that prayer has any power, to pray for them as well.  Pray hard.

 

Additionally, it is possible to make a commitment to yourself, in your heart, never to use violence or any hurtful behaviors, even just abusive words, to deal with your own life’s troubles. 

 

I want you to look at the faces of the people in the pictures on this page.  Those people are not actors.  Their fear, their grief is very raw and real.  That is exactly how the people who care about you would feel if what happened to those little children, happened to you. 

 

 

In a video game, when you shoot someone or something, it’s not a big deal, because the character isn’t alive.  It’s just a part of the game’s program.  But in real life, when someone dies, that person, who was a living, thinking, feeling individual, just like you, is gone.  Forever.  

In the picture to the left, you can see the relief in the mom who is hugging her little girl; you can see it in the way she’s holding her little girl so tightly, the tension in her hands, and in the little girl’s face at having her mom there after having such a terrifying thing happen to her.  Tragically, not every parent, or child was as fortunate.

 

As President Barack Obama tearfully said in one of the most outwardly emotional speeches of his presidency, "The majority of those who died were children - beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old."  Later in the speech he emphasized, “These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.”

 

During his speech, he had to pause several times to maintain control of his emotions, and wiped repeatedly at tears.

 

Two White House Aides who were with him, were reportedly in tears as well, as he gave his speech.

 

All human beings have worth, whether you know them personally, or not.  Whether you agree with their ways of doing things or not.  All human beings have something positive that they can contribute to this world.   

 

Be as kind to everyone as you can, stay as safe as you can, and remember your own value as a human being, and the value of others. 

 

Gordan Ryan- The Dawning of a Brighter Day

Gordan Ryan , author of Dangerous Legacy, Threads of Honor and others, passed away November 14, 2012.  He served in the United States Marine Corps, as a missionary for the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Norway, and with the United States Air Force during Vietnam. 
I enjoyed getting to know him as a member of LDStorymakers.  During his adult life, he lived in Norway, England, Thailand, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Ireland.  He was living in New Zealand at the time of his death.
One memory I have of Gordon, is when a group of Storymakers met at a restaurant in Draper and I brought a little jar of kiwi jam for Gordon.  He got the joke and chuckled.  He was a great person, and I will miss him.

The Hobbit- by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien has been one of my favorite stories for as long as I can remember.  I remember loving the story when I was a little kid, yet I still enjoy it now that I am an adult. 

While I look forward to seeing the book translated into a movie by Peter Jackson, I will always cherish the original story by Tolkien, and the images in my own head of that.

The Hobbit, as many people already know, is the story of Bilbo Baggins, who is reluctantly drawn into the adventure of thirteen Dwarves, assisted here and there by Gandalf, who are on a quest to take back their stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug.  On the way, Bilbo and his companions have run ins with Trolls, Orcs, and Wargs, and are assisted by friendly Elves, and Beorn, a... well, you know who Beorn is if you've read the book.  Suffice it to say that Beorn isn't exactly human.  All the time.

I heartily recommend The Hobbit to all ages of readers who enjoy a good fantasy adventure.

Escape from Zarahemla- by Chris Heimerdinger

I have been a fan of the Tennis Shoes series since I was a kid, and have enjoyed the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his friends and relatives.  So every time Chris Heimerdinger comes out with a new book, I'm usually one of the first to read it.  I can't honestly say that I read Escape from Zarahemla, by Chris Heimerdinger since I listened to it on CD, but I did, well, experience the story.  And it was great! 

Here, we find the story that left off at the end of Passage to Zarahemla, and continues the story of Kerra and Brock, and their dad.  Their troubles haven't ended, in fact in Escape from Zarahemla, they're only getting worse!  We get to meet a few characters we haven't met before, like Kerra's new step mother, and half brother, and we also get to meet, again, some characters who look, well, strangely familiar.  To my delight, in fact, Escape from Zarahemla, is where we see two previously separate series converging into one, and I am excited to see what will come in the future from Chris Heimerdinger!

I recently finished a story entitled Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi.  It is a delightful story, with Kenny Rabbit, its likable main character as the hero.  He makes a best friend in Grahame, a friendly dragon, but things start to get difficult when George, the kindly bookshop owner turns out to be a retired knight, and is recruited by the king to kill the dragon.

I won't give the ending away, but I will say that it's fun, and filled with twists that folks of all ages will enjoy! 

This is a book I heartily recommend.