Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee by Marja Mills
I have grown to like audio books again. I stopped listening to them when I stopped having to commute to work. However, I now find they are also great when I am spending a lot of time in the kitchen or soaking in the bathtub. So, when I ran across an electronic copy of ‘Mockingbird Next Door’ through my local library’s website, I couldn’t resist.
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee was published in 1960, 3 years before I was born. If you were born and raised in the United States, chances are that it was required reading in your high school. It certainly was in mine. However, my family had a healthy book collection in the large built in bookcase in our basement. Books added up between my parents and three much older siblings. I never seemed to be able to get enough to read as a child and was often browsing books to find something to read next.
The cover had a girl on it so I mistook it for a kids book and started reading it. I was in 5th grade. My parents never restricted my reading to “age appropriate” books. I devoured ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’!
In high school, I was so excited to get the opportunity to discuss it with my teacher and classmates. However, because I confessed that I already read it, my teacher gave me a different book to read as well This happened a lot, all through high school. I was in honors classes but still found that I had already read many of the books assigned.
My point is, I loved ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’! I’ve read it three times and plan to read it a fourth before I read ‘Go Set a Watchman’ that was recently published.
It is well know that Harper Lee stopped talking to the press and making appearance in 1965. So when I ran across this biography, I figured it was unauthorized. So, of course, I Googled it. The author, Marja Mills claims that she had Harper Lee’s permission to write and publish it but Lee was quoted as denying that. No matter, she did give Marja Mills permission to move into the house next door to hers in Mobile, Alabama and did become friends with her. So much so, that she was invited into Harper and her sister, Alice’s, close circle of friends. Harper Lee also knew that she was writing a book about her. I can’t say that was giving permission or not but I certainly don’t feel guilty for listening to the audio book.
I really liked ‘Mockingbird Next Door’. It was the perfect audio book to unwind with in the bath. It wasn’t too serious, instead it sounded more like friends getting together for dinner or coffee, which happened a lot in the book. It certainly wasn’t ground breaking. Ms. Mills talked about the Lee’s childhood including Harper, actually known as Nelle Lee, her sisters Alice and Louise. She also talked about what Nelle did before she wrote the book and her part in the making of the movie.
Nelle became friends with Gregory Peck and they kept in touch even after the filming. There were a bunch of little tidbits in the book but mostly common knowledge. Yet I found comfort in it. As Mills often quoted Nelle as saying about certain things, “it’s delicious.”
Would I have liked more nuts and bolts/new information? Yes, it would have been nice. However, I didn’t really criticise it for that. It kept me engaged, was well written, and to my mind, respectful. To me, respectful is the most important element in a biography like this. I also really enjoyed the smooth voice of the narrator, Amy Lynn Stewart.
If you are interested in Harper Lee, I do recommend that you read or listen to this book. If you do, come back and let me know your thoughts.
Have you read ‘Mockingbird Next Door’? If so, what do you think of it?
4/5
About Marja Mills
Marja Mills is a former reporter and feature writer for the Chicago Tribune, where she was a member of the staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for a 2001 series about O’Hare Airport entitled “Gateway to Gridlock.” The Mockingbird Next Door is her first book.
Mills was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She is a 1985 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service; a lifelong interest in other cultures led to studies in Paraguay, Spain and Sweden. Mills lives in downtown Chicago and often spends time in Madison and her father’s hometown of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, pop. 3,500.
If you have been reading my reviews for a long time, you may know that I am a big fan of author, Christopher Meeks. I have had the opportunity to read and review most of his books. However, I hadn’t read his book of short stories, ‘The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea’. I bought the ebook a long time ago but didn’t have the opportunity to read it. Then, a few weeks ago Christopher contacted me to let me know that he created a audiobook version on CD and on Audible and offered me a free download code to Audible. I couldn’t refuse!
My Thoughts on Middle-Aged Man and the Sea by Christopher Meeks
The Audible version is narrated by the author, Christopher Meeks, himself. It includes 13 quintessential short stories about the human condition. With his trademark sense of humor and quirky, yet realistic characters, Meeks takes us on a journey through the lives of his characters and we even a glimpse into ourselves.
Many people who claim not to like short stories, usually say because they don’t feel complete. I dare naysayers of Short stories to read this book. Okay, so the endings aren’t wrapped up in nice neat bows but neither is real life. “They all lived happily ever after” are the kind of stories we tell children to make them feel safe and secure.
These stories have kernels of truth hidden within them. They cover, marriage, middle age, and old age. The thread throughout is human relationships and how we dealt with them. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Christopher Meeks book, if there weren’t some references to pop culture sprinkled with in.
Usually, I find short stories in a collection hit and miss however, ‘The Middle-aged Man and the Sea’, is quite an even collection. I really loved them all.
As for the narration, it was good. There were a few places that you could hear the wetness that can accumulate in ones mouth. I haven’t detected this when I have listened to a more seasoned narrator. However, with practice, I believe Christoper Meeks could go from good to great with his narration skills. I hope he records more of his books.
5/5 Writing
4/5 Narration
I received a free download code for the Audible version for my honest review.
About Christopher Meeks
Christopher Meeks first published short fiction in a number of literary journals, and the stories are available in two collections, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea and Months and Seasons. Recently, he’s focused on crime novels. His first, Blood Drama had a graduate student writing a thesis on David Mamet in a struggle with a ruthless killer and bank robber. The new A Death in Vegas is a mystery based on the death of a young woman and the wrong man charged with it. Visit Christopher Meeks online at chrismeeks.com.
Buy Middle-Aged Man and the Sea by Christopher Meeks
During that last summer, as if in punishment for being happy, Kate was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
The last time we used the wishing stone was at the hospital the morning she died.
On that day, all three of us made a silent wish, certain the others had wished the same. Kate died that afternoon and I never thought about it again. It was the last time I believed in magic, in love or in the existence of God.
Then, after three miserable lonely years, the unthinkable, a second chance . . . Warwick.
Praise for Machines of the Little People (The Eve Project- Book 1)
“The plot is unique, I must say that I haven’t read a Sci Fi book so original in a long time. It has everything, mystery, suspense, romance, eccentric characters, conspiracy theories, and of course the little people with their machines! Crazy, Wild, Excellent Written. Highly Recommended!!!”- Julia Damatto, Romorror Fan Girl
“the real joy of this book is not the plot itself. The real joy is the way in which Maus keeps his readers constantly off guard, stringing them along for pages before flipping the situation on its head and forcing readers to reevaluate whatever they thought they knew. Normally, that just pisses me off, but the way Maus manipulates his readers makes us squeal with delight at every turn. There is an energy to his novels, a sense of urgency tinged with wonder. We trust that wherever he takes us–and it won’t be somewhere we expect–it will be an adventure in the truest sense of the word. And then we have the characters. At the end of the day, it’s the characters that make a Maus book what it is. Definitely recommended for anyone who just wants a cracking good story. “-Jonathan Cook, Author ‘Youth and Other Fictions’
“Anyone who loves a good science fiction/fantasy story would have a hard time putting this one down.”- Lisa Binion, Author ‘Softly and Tenderley’
Praise for Wishing Stone (The Eve Project- Book 2)
“More great Sci-Fi adventure from Tegon Maus. He doesn’t just give us a good Sci-Fi story. He gives us a story with great characters and a unique story and is able to include many other genres in his Sci-Fi stories. Comedy, drama and action. Let’s pray for a book three in the series.”-Erik Nelson, Author ‘Unlawful Protection’
“This is a great science fiction story, which follows on nicely from The Eve Project: Book 1, Machines of the Little People, however could easily be read as a stand-alone. It has it all for science fiction fans, top secret scientific projects, a great storyline, twists and turns round every corner, yet, at its very core lies, dare I say it, a love story. It has a great finish, however, at the end, all I wanted to know from the author – is there is another book in the series coming? I hope so”-Susan Keefe, Author ‘Toby’s Tales’ Series
“I enjoyed The Wishing Stone even more than the first book, even though, again, it’s not my usual read. I really liked the eccentric scientist characters Ben meets at Warwick, and as with book one, Tegon Maus did a great job of keeping me guessing what was really going on right to the very end. I look forward to finding out what book 3 has in store!”-Nick Stead, Author ‘Hybrid’
My Thoughts on Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
‘The Wishing Stone’ is the 4th book I have read by Tegon Maus. In my opinion is is tied for his best with his book ‘Bob’. It has his trademark quirky characters and humor in spades! We get to know Ben and his brother in-law, Roger so much more than we did in book 1. We find out much more about the condition Ben has that makes electronic devices stop working and sometimes even explode, B.C.E.D. (Bio-Chemical Electrical Discharge). This is a really condition some people have and I have discovered that I am actually one of them! However, I have a very mild form. All battery operated watches stop working within a day or two of when I start wearing them. I use to think it was just the fairly cheap watches I bought but even when I wear expensive ones, they stop. I have found that I can only safely wear digital watches. It’s very frustrating but no where near as frustrating as the condition is for Ben!
Roger has put inhibitors on Ben to help counteract his condition but they no long help like they use to. It is with desperation for a cure or at least a way to better control it, that Ben finally agrees to go with Roger to a place that can better help him. He has never been away from Southern California before. Roger and Ben’s girlfriend, Audry, drive Ben to a facility out in New Mexico. They don’t dare fly, knowing that is possible for Ben’s condition to interfere with a plane. Once there, they are greeted by old kinds of odd people. When he is brought to where he is to sleep for the duration of his stay, it turns out to be an exact replica of his house, down to every last detail, including the dishes he left in his sink.
Two of the lab workers, Marcie and Digby befriend Ben and come to his quarters just about every morning and have breakfast with him. They are both very talkative but when he tries to find out what the facility is and does, they just ignore him and keep on chattering. He can’t get straight answers from anyone, including Roger, who it turns out runs a secret lab on the campus and is well known by everyone who works there.
I could go on and on however, I risk giving away spoilers if I did. As I read on, I like Ben was in the dark and had the same questions he did. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out! What is this place for? What is in Roger’s secret lab for and why has he really brought Ben there? Ben is only suppose to be there for 4 days but that time slips by quickly and he is still there.
I enjoyed Book 1 of ‘The Eve Project’, ‘The Machines of the Little People’ however, as often happens with book 1 in a series, it was slow to start while it introduced the character, etc. However, book 2, ‘The Wishing Stone’ takes of like a rocket and I feel the G-force all the way through! It is a great character study but with action. This book has it all. I recommend it for those who love science fiction but I also think those who enjoy dystopian and even literary fiction, like myself, will love this book! I can hardly wait for book 3!
I received this ebook for my honest review.
5/5, it really can’t get much better than this!
About Tegon Maus
Tegon Maus was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends he could conjure. Not that he wasn’t friendly, he just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe he lived in his head way more than he should have, maybe not. He liked machines more than people, at least he did until I met his wife.
The first thing he can remember writing was for her. For the life of him he can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married him shortly after that. He spent a good number of years chasing other dreams before he got back to writing.
It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought, it was more of a stepping stone. His wife and himself had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told.
He was thrilled. If there is one thing he enjoys it’s making people believe him and he likes to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mind you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not. When he writes, he always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, he guarantees you, nothing, makes him happier.
He has consistently placed in the top 3 in 189 writing contest in a variety of genres and has been featured in magazines a couple of times to raise money for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Note: The Wishing Stone is currently on sale for only $0.99. Take my word for it, that is a steal! The sale ends the end of March, so go grab it!
Giveaway of The Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
This giveaway is for the ebook and is open worldwide. It ends on March 19, 2016 at 12 am pacific time. If you buy the book and then find out you have won it, we will gladly send it to the friend of your choice! Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee by Marja Mills
Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee by Marja Mills
Middle-Aged Man and the Sea by Christopher Meeks
