"Scout's honour: to salute a literary masterpiece" SMH

Scout's honour: to salute a literary masterpiece
April 3, 2010
’’I got back and it was like, ‘Oh, Lord only knows what that child has learnt out there in Hollywood’’ ... Mary Badham as Scout, with Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird.
After 50 years the Mockingbird still sings, writes Warwick McFadyen.

'Darling, I'm so sorry, you probably got up at the crack of dawn. We're dealing with major snow here and today was my last day before I fly out, and so I was trying to get everything taken care of. I've been digging for two days, busted up my knee and my shoulders, but anyway ..."

The voice on the line is apologetic, having missed the agreed interview time by four hours. The voice is from Richmond, Virginia, deep in snow and ice, frozen over by winter storms. It belongs to Mary Badham, who, as Jean Louise Finch, better known and loved as Scout, has to many become frozen in time for her role in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Badham grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Fifty years ago, the city was a synonym for racial injustice, its streets battlegrounds for riots. An image of a police dog attacking an African-American circled the world and became a de facto portrait of the city.

In her youthful innocence, Badham played a part in confronting the racism with her role in Mockingbird. Her portrayal of Scout resonated with millions.

It still does. And she still responds to it as strongly as she did as a 10-year-old in 1962 when, for three months, she became Jean Louise Finch, daughter of Atticus.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The novel is one of publishing's global phenomenons, selling an estimated 30 million copies. It won the Pulitzer Prize, and is one of the best-loved works in literature.

Lee said in 1964: "I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I didn't expect the book to sell in the first place. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of reviewers."

And with that, Lee all but vanished from public view, becoming, with the recently departed J.D.Salinger, one of the most famous intensely private people in the literary world.

If Lee is the reclusive keeper of the flame, then Badham is the enthusiastic torchbearer, albeit through film. To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three: best actor to Gregory Peck as Atticus, best screenplay to Horton Foote, and best cinematography/art direction. Badham was nominated for best supporting actress; she lost to Patty Duke but it didn't faze her. She wasn't into movies and was more like Scout. "We read books on rainy days, we went outside and played when it wasn't."

One book she didn't read was Mockingbird. That came many years later, and only then because a professor asked her to do an English literature class on the novel. "I had not wanted to go there. I had everything I wanted right up there in my little memory, which was fine," she says.
But when she did open the covers, the little world of Maycomb that had been defined by the film grew bigger, the characters and their relationships deeper and wider. "It was so interesting," she says. "It expanded the knowledge of everybody so much, it was fascinating. There were all these characters I didn't know anything about; the whole friendship with Calpurnia [the African-American housekeeper] – going to church with her."

Badham could identify with this. The Badhams had an African-American helper to raise six generations of family. Of the episode in the book of going to Calpurnia's church: "Well, we did that when we were kids."

What they wouldn't have been allowed to do was share a seat on a bus with an African-American. "When I grew up in Birmingham," she says, "black people still rode at the back of the bus. They still had to drink out of the coloureds-only water fountains and use their own rest-rooms."

Badham says the filmmakers were doing a "cattle call across the south" and wanted "children of the south who could speak with a true southern accent". They were taken to Hollywood and Maycomb was created on the studio backlots.

The west coast was an eye-opener for an Alabama schoolgirl. People lived in mixed-race relationships and Badham learnt that "there was a whole different world out there and not everybody thinks the way they do down there [the south]". When she returned to Birmingham, she couldn't fit in.

"The Badhams were founding fathers of Birmingham. My dad was a general in the air force, and really well thought of; I had been welcomed into the best homes in Birmingham. Well, then I got back and it was like, 'Oh, Lord only knows what that child has learnt out there in Hollywood."'
What she did find in Hollywood were friendships that endured, most notably with the film's biggest star, Gregory Peck. "He was a wonderful, wonderful human being," she recalls. What people saw on the screen is what they got off-screen.

Too familiar to call him Mr Peck and too young to call him Greg, Badham says, "Atticus it was for him and Scout it was for me, and that's how it stayed. We were really, really close."

Through the years that bond stayed strong. "It was like a family," she says, "and I don't know of any other film where you can say that the people kept up with each other and would take the time to call one another or if they were in the same town to see one another.

"It was nothing for me to pick up the phone and it would be Atticus on the other end of the line, saying 'Watcha doin', kiddo?' And that meant a lot to me."

Memorising screenwriter Horton Foote's lines hadn't been a problem for Badham until she realised the adventure was about to end. There was one scene to go, the pivotal moment outside the jail where Atticus was guarding his client Tom Robinson against a lynch mob. Scout and her film brother Jem (Phillip Alford) were there to see what all the fuss was about. It was Scout who turned the crowd around with her wide-eyed innocence in speaking to one of them. But Badham faltered.

"That was the last scene that we shot and I knew that after that I would have to say goodbye to all these people that I had fallen in love with, and I didn't want to say goodbye," she says.
"I hadn't had any trouble up to that point, and then all of a sudden I started stumbling and bumbling. Finally Mr Mulligan [the director] called 'cut'. My mum took me back to the trailer and she's like, 'Young lady, you better get your lines right and you better do this scene because you know what the freeways are like at five o'clock and these people want to go home,' and I'm like, 'OK,' and I go out and do the scene."

While time has not dented her love for all things Mockingbird, it has taken its toll. "I can't watch it any more, I just can't. It's so upsetting because nearly everyone is gone," she says.

Source: watoday.com.au

The Power of One--Bryce Courtneay

This book was a totally amazing read. I could hardly put it down. It is starts off with Peekay, a five year old boy growing up in South Africa. He is sent to a boarding school where he is the only white boy amongst Boers. He is tortured, beat up and put down constantly. When he is six and a half he goes back to live with his family. On the way in the train he meets a boxer who looks after him and teaches him some boxing tricks, like "first with the head, then with the heart', and 'a good boxer never stops thinking'. When home he meets an elderly gentleman who is a musician and botanist. 'Doc' teaches him many useful and important things, and he loves Doc more than any other person.

Here are some of Doc's words of wisdom:

'Always in life an idea starts small, it is only a sapling idea, but the vines will come and they will try to choke your idea so it cannot grow and it will die and you will never know you had a big idea, an idea so big it could have grown thirty metres high through the dark canopy of leaves and touched the face of the sky. The vines are people who are afraid of originality, of new thinking; most people you encounter will be vines, when you are a young plant they can be very dangerous. Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you will grow stronger. If you are right you have taken another step towards a fulfilling life.'

'Experts, what did I tell you about experts, Peekay?' 'You can't always go by expert opinion. A chicken, if you ask a chicken, should be stuffed with grasshoppers, mealies and worms.'

'Inside all people there is love, also the need to take care of the other man who is his brother. Inside everyone is a savage, but there is also tenderness and compassion. When a man is brutalised in such a place like this [prison] he is always looking for small signs. The smallest sign that someone is worried for him is like a fire on the dark mountain. When a man knows somebody cares he keeps some small place, a corner maybe of his soul clean and lit.'

Peekay has the ambition to become the welterweight boxing champion of the world. Most of this book is centred on him working towards realising his goal. Doc is unjustly imprisoned during WWII as he is a German. Peekay visits him in prison regularly, and joins the Prison Guard's boxing team, becoming unbeatable in championships.

When he is 12 he is sent to boarding school again. This time an English 'gentleman's' boarding school. He starts up a teaching program for adult blacks to learn how to read and write. It is closed down by the police, so he starts up a correspondence school just before he graduates.

In order to pay his way through Oxford university he goes and works on the mines. He develops a friendship with a Russian and they get each other out of many scrapes. Peekay over works himself in the most dangerous part of the mines. An accident occurs. His friend the Russian saves him, however the Russian dies. Not however, before writing into his life insurance that Peekay is to be beneficiary. Peekay now has enough money to go to Oxford.

However, before he leaves the mines he is attacked by a big, burly diamond miner. This miner has a swastika tattooed onto his arm. Peekay recognises the kid who tortured him when at his first boarding school. Peekay, becomes angry, and uses all his boxing prowess to beat this guy to a pulp. His revenge satisfied, he walks out into the cool night air, satisfied with his life.

I both loved and hated this book. It is enthralling, interesting, spellbinding. However, there is an awful lot of swearing and coarseness in this book. And it does not end up leading anywhere worthwhile.

Courtenay also spends a fair bit of time having a go at Christianity. However, all of the things he has to say are against silly charismatics, who are hypocritical and ignorant. I would agree with what he said about their doctrines, however to then turn around and blame and hate God for their ignorance is pure nonsense.

I hated the ending. A good man dies to save him, all his monetary difficulties are solved as a result (conveniently), he gets to beat up the guy who always beat him up as a child (hateful revenge) and then all of a sudden his life is fulfilled.

Besides, I really wanted to know whether he did become the welter-weight champion! Stupid ending.

So I haven't posted in a L.O.N.G. time!!!!

Hi All,

I have been SO busy this year! It is just crazy.

So I have not much hope of actually achieving my goal, but oh well that doesn't really matter I suppose.

I have been reading some books. Lots and lots of childrens books! And some others too, but to be honest I can't even remember what I have read since I last posted.

So, I have decided that I will just keep this blog and continue to post whenever I have the time.

Until then,

Karli~

I Corinthians

9:19-23:
"For though I be free from all men, yet I have made myself a servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without the law (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all tings to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."

10:30-33:
"For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks? Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved."

When Paul speaks of becoming (or being made) "all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" he is obviously not speaking of breaking any of God's laws, nor of doing anything against his own conscience. When Paul says "all things' in chapter 9 he means "all things" that "profit many, that they might be saved" (chapter 10). It will not save or profit anyone for Paul to disobey "Christ's law". It is for the believers to "judge all things" (2:15) in order to decide what course of action will be beneficial to the individual lost.


On a side note: I thought of using not getting a tattoo as an example of not disobeying Christ's law; but I couldn't remember the particular verse. So I googled it, and came up with for and against arguments that all seemed very convincing (I hate that I am easily swayed!); so I decided to go for an opinion from some Pastor that I really trusted. I went to John MacArthur; couldn't find anything for or against. So I went to John Piper: he says it can be fine so long as your motives and heart are right before God; so long as it is not a means of finding fulfillment apart from God; and that individuals must decide for themselves. I am not quite sure that I can digest that just yet, it goes against everything I have always believed. Anyway, just found that interesting (and unsettling!).

Romans

Verse memorised from this book:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: "the just shall live by faith." 1:16-17

Favourite portion:

Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. For we know that the judgement of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
2:1-4

H.M.S. Ulysses

"This is the story of a ship in time of war, a ship in her finest hours, engaged in the work for which she was built, protecting the vital lifeline of supplies against the King's enemies.

"This is, above all, the story of a gallant ship's company, of men driven to the limit of human endurance and beyond, battered by the elements, sought and fought by the enemy with grim resolution and every diabolical device. The characters are memorable and typical of the Navy, unforgettable in their living and in their dying, from the Admiral down to the latest ship's boy."
(From the dust-jacket)


Let me tell you now, I L.O.V.E. this book!! This is one of the most riveting books I have ever read. It is the story of a legendary ship, the H.M.S. Ulysses, the "luckiest" ship in the Navy. It patrols the Arctic Circle as leader ship of a convoy bound to destroy the undestroyable "Tirpitz". Churchill saw this ship as a great threat. He said: "The destruction, or even the crippling, of this ship is the greatest event at sea at the present time. No other target is comparable to it. The entire naval situation throughout the world would be altered." (Winston Churchill) Close to the end of WWII the "Tirpitz" was sunk by British Air fighters, amongst which were some fighters from the "Dambuster" squadron.

The H.M.S. Ulysses was not in any way responsible for the "Tirpitz's" downfall. The fundamental reason for this is that the H.M.S. Ulysses never existed. This is a novel that is based around facts. It is a very depressing book. Almost the entire convoy (around 36 ships) is destroyed, including the Ulysses. A love of the characters is developed, the characters are destroyed. A love of the ship is developed, the ship is mutilated. Hatred for the enemy is developed, the enemy are victorious.

However, it is well worth the read. You are left, not with a depressed or a hopeless feeling, but with a renewed respect for the glorious actions mankind sometimes demonstrates. There is the young man whose mother and sister's entire village is wiped clear off the earth; whose brother is accidentally killed in a mutiny; and who is commanded by his superior officers to pull the trigger in order to speed his own father's death and save the rest of the convoy. Murder is attempted on him twice by another crew member. And if that were not bad enough, he must be clapped in irons for defending himself against this murderer because of the murderer's superiority of rank. He is alternately released during action stations, then imprisoned again when the action stations are over. His story ends when he is shot while defending the ship against a company of Heinkel III's (a German aircraft capable of carrying 1000kg worth of bombs/torpedoes), his hand still clasping the trigger.

This novel dives deep into the character of man. It illustrates man at his best, and man at his worst. Like the (attempted) murderer of the young man of the previous paragraph, who even while the ship is being blown to pieces around them, even while the young man is attempting to shoot down the enemy, is trying to push him over board in the storm. Or like the murderer who saves the lives of many. Or like the kind hearted Norwegian who pulls out one after the other the half drowned men, then jumps down into the hold and pulls the lid down after him in an act of "laying down his life for his friends". The lid would not shut from the outside, if it was not closed the entire ship would have sunk. The men who were rescued later die (there was never any hope that they would live, they had been so long in the toxic water) by an enemy aircraft crashing into the infirmary.

I have given this book an Adult rating, as there is violence, blasphemy and (minor) swearing in it. My copy is about to be black permanent mark(ered?)!

Book Giveaway--the winner has been revealed!!

I have drawn! The winner has been decided. Commiserations are offered to the unfortunate.

The winner is Ma/Susan/The jewelled path

Congratulations!!! Congratulations!!! Congratulations!!!

The slip of paper was drawn out of the hat by Mum in front of three witnesses. (Oh, and Cath I did add you into the draw.)

For those of you are the sad, misser-outers I am going to be giving away a children's book soon also. Gee, this giveaway stuff is FUN!

Bloggy Giveaway----Changed date!

Sorry everyone, I was going to draw the winner of Prayer on the 4th, but unexpectedly had to come up to the Gold Coastal region to visit my Grandfather in hospital. (He is going okay.)

So I have decided to change the date to the 10th. I hope that is okay.

Thank you all for entering...and good luck on winning this draw!

By Searching

This is that latest book that I have completed. It is a warm, honest account of how Isobel came to believe in God and be sanctified by Him, by searching.

Isobel was raised in a Christian home that was not entirely on the straight and narrow. Her parents taught her the things that she should do and believe in, but did not give her Christ Himself. She became an antagonist at university. While still at university she met and fell in love with an ex-WWI soldier and became engaged to him. A good friend of Isobel's came to her one day to inform her that Ben was dating another girl behind Isobel's back. She was shattered. She confronted Ben about it and his response was: "Isobel, you're a softy. You don't suppose, do you, that after we are married, I'm not going to take other women out sometimes?" "Then we part," Isobel replied.

She was grief stricken, especially because she had given him her whole heart. Her father had warned her to give her heart entirely only after marriage, but she had refused to listen to him, and now reeled with agony. After some time, she decided on suicide. But the thought of her father's grief stopped her from doing so. She sat down on her bed and prayed that if there really was a God that he would send her peace. She was filled with peace immediately, and slept that night for the first time in many weeks.

After that day, Isobel continued searching. She was sanctified and taught by the Spirit (often through godly Christian's, and His Word). She went to Bible college after she graduated from university (as a teacher), only being able to afford to be there through rich gifts (unasked of humans, only asked of God) and a lot of hard work as a waitress (sometimes with the promise of pay unfulfilled by employers). She met John Kuhn at Bible college and after both their graduations became engaged to him. He went to China first to preach to the Lisu tribe, she followed about six months after, doing missionary work at home with working girls, as part of the Vancouver Girls Corner Club. The Kuhn's were missionaries to the Lisu's for 35 years. They had two children, Kathryn and Daniel. Isobel died in 1957 from cancer at the age of 55.

Book Giveaway---Prayer by C. H. Spurgeon

I am giving away this wonderful book! It is open to all readers who want to enter. Just leave a comment and share about a spiritual/devotional book that has led you to come closer to God.

Here are some sentences from the back of Prayer:

"You feel like you don't know how to pray--you can't find the right words, or just can't seem to get God's attention. You will be encouraged by this treasury of devotional expressions for Charles Spurgeon."

His elegant prayers, beautiful in their simplicity, will invite you to be vulnerable before your Creator.

His profound trust in God will set an example for your own pursuit of peaceful spirit.

His persistence in intercession will motivate you to pursue God in prayer.

Also, part of one of the prayers from within Prayer:

You who are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we worship You. "Before Jehovah's awful throne, we bow with sacred joy." We can truly that we delight in God. There was a time when we feared You with the fear of bondage. Now we reverence You, but we love as much as we reverence. The thought of Your omnipresence was once horrible to us. We said, "Whither shall [we] flee from thy presence?" (Psalm 139:7). It seemed to make hell itself more dreadful, because we heard, "If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there" (v. 8).

But now, O Lord, we desire to find You. Our longing is to feel Your presence, and it is heavenly that You are there. The sick bed is soft when You are there. The furnace of affliction grows cool when You are there. The house of prayer when You are present is none other than the house of God, the very gate of heaven.