I didn't read the comments (seldom do, either I'm too impatient, or get bogged down wrapping my brain around everyone's nuances).

however, well, yeah, dammit, I heard the NPR interview and thought about re-reading the book. I remember hearing that Atticus Finch was the favorite role of Gregory Peck. the book was still only a few years old during the hopeful and somewhat idealized era of the 60s when I read it as a teen, believing in the possibilities of integration and harmony.

now I still think there is value in the book as a slice of history, both of the 30s and of the era in which it was written, but I do think we need to wrap a frame around it and not get sucked into the sentimentality that I admit I have felt about the story.

ah, well, studying history means having to continuously re-write the stories as we gain perspective.

When we did it in school - age 12 or so - we needed a lot of the race stuff explained to us; quite a few people reached that age with no clue about race in America at all. I knew a little because my aunt was head of a school in San Bruno and brought us back books from time to time.

And we all thought the Mockingbird was Boo, not black people. I'd have to reread it with the metaphor moved over to see the rest of it.

Wow, in the comments, people are equating "removing from school use" with "banning." That's... shocking.

Thanks so much for posting this. It crystallizes how I feel about the book (it was Boise's "Everyone reads the same book" last year, and I also got to see the movie in a theater and hear Scout speak).

It's related to this:

http://www.neabigread.org/

and while I don't agree with all the books they choose, I like the concept.