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Review: the Mocking Bird Parables

 

the Mocking Bird Parables

Transforming Lives through the Power of Story

Matt Litton

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

2010

 

The Mocking Bird Parables lives up to the endorsements on its back cover as few books have.  It is insightful and enchanting.  As the title hints, it is based on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird,  which just celebrated its fortieth anniversary.  So Litton’s book is timely and a good follow up to the novel.  Reading groups could easily use it for a great discussion guide.  It does have a short set of reflection questions at the end for that purpose.

Each of its ten chapters reflects on either a major character or scene from the novel.  The reader finds relevant issues like building relationships, role of women, ecology, finances, parenting and several other topics presented by the author.  His discussions are personable and pointed.  Gently most of the time, happily.  I liked his discussions of how his own perceptions have changed over time.  That’s a good reminder that some issues aren’t static or settled by the time you graduate from college, or whatever milestone affects your life at a given age.  It is a book that you should not devour, but one that should be savored slowly.  

I tried the devour style first.  Don’t do that.  It will feel like a paper for a literature class.  While the idea isn’t unheard of in that setting, a quality implementation of it is rare.  So slow down and enjoy this author’s book.  I guarantee that you will find yourself in agreement or dispute with him.  You will feel pain in some discussions as well.  You may even want to reread the now classic novel to check if all the author has seen is really there.  I think it is.  Decide for yourself.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.

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