For the past few months I have created a wee routine of reading a more intellectual/thought-provoking book (ie. Jodi Picoult books, classics...) and then I will read a more simple 'beach' type novel (ie. Shopaholic series, Pretty Little Liars...). I find this a really good method because after reading something which you need to use your head more for you tend to just want a book to have a break with, something really easy and entertaining to follow it up with! I decided to read To Kill a Mockingbird for one of the more 'difficult' reads as I have never read it before; I know it is quite a popular book for schools, but we didn't do it.
It was completely different to what I expected! I think most people know the gist of the story - a white lawyer defending a black man convicted of rape, but from the perspective of the lawyers children. What surprised me was that there actually wasn't all that much mention of this in relation to the rest of the book. It is divided into two parts and the first part is all about the children's lives and how they spend their time and then in the second half they start mentioning the father's case more and then they have the court case nearer the end which the children sneak into.
I did really enjoy it and only had to look up a few words (some I just assumed or guessed what they meant...). I would like to read it again now that I know what to expect! So if you have not read this book then you definitely should read it once! The protagonist Scout, who is about 7 I think at the beginning of the book, is just cutest little girl with such a big personality. It is so interesting seeing life through her eyes. Also the ending is just fantastic and so gripping!
On another but related note, Goodreads is a really good website for keeping track of all the books you've read and more importantly I find, the books you want to read!
<3
