It’s Thursday — What Book is Your State?
By Kristen on Jan 31, 2008 in 50 States 50 Books
Check this out: The Columbia Spectator is doing a series, every Thursday, on “a list of 50 books that we think capture the essence of each state, all while telling a great story along the way.”
I have the great fortune of having actually travelled to all 50 states and am very interested in what great works they choose! As an added bonus, I will present a few photos from each state and, just for my dad, list the state capitol. On our summer wanderings through the country, we could only count each visit as official once we had visited the state capitol. Anyone know Alabama’s? (Answer revealed below…)
Photo by Photo-Mojo
Alabama is well represented by To Kill A Mockingbird for the following reasons:
But Mockingbird tops the list not only for capturing the essence of a town where “there was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go,” but by giving readers one of the best representations of courage and compassion in literature. Alabama has often been less famous than infamous for its past in the Civil Rights Movement, and this stigma remains today in the eyes of many northerners. Through Scout’s tale, we see not only the bravery of Atticus Finch and his defendant Tom Robinson, but the complex nature of segregation-era life. Far from a caricature of bigotry and patronization, the citizens of this small Alabama town refuse to become stock characters: even potential lynchers cannot remain unswayed by Scout’s innocent courage. She and her brother Jem, meanwhile, help to illuminate the gentility and neighborly compassion often woefully absent north of the Mason-Dixon line.
For another perspective, check out 1 More Chapter’s review, too!
Photo by babasteve
I look forward to passing along each state’s representative every Thursday, but check out the original source, too!
Photo by SouthernPixel
A special thanks to The Millions for passing this link on…
And the capitol of Alabama is… Montgomery!
By the way, feel free to suggest (in the comments) other great choices for Alabama (hard to beat Mockingbird, though) or for any other state, and we’ll see how you do!
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