“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what” (Atticus Finch).

Periodically, I get the urge to read a book I’ve read before. This time, it’s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I can’t remember how many times I’ve read this book, but it’s probably at least twice. I always seem to forget how much of the book got left out of the movie (although that particular movie is still one of my favorites).

Whenever I read dialogue in the book, I hear the people from the movie. Especially when I read Atticus Finch, I hear Gregory Peck. I even hear the two kids from the movie when I read Jem and Scout’s lines.

I’ll probably end up watching the movie again after I’m done with the book. For some reason, I always feel compelled to watch it in the fall.

If you made it all the way through high school without reading this classic, I’d suggest you read it. Pronto. If I could only write one book (as Harper Lee did), I think this would be the one I’d want to write.