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mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
Good stories about the author of one of my fave books.
beth_diiorio's review against another edition
3.0
This was good for young adult readers, but I'm going to find a biography of Harper Lee written for adults. The most amazing thing is that [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1234606708s/2657.jpg|3275794], one of my all-time favorites, was her first and last book written.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
3.0
This book provides a reader with a good understanding of Lee's motivations and background in regards to her bestseller.
wggleworm's review against another edition
4.0
As I find myself teaching TKAM again this year, I decided to read a bit about Nelle (who I have a hard time calling Harper after reading this). I knew TKAM was semi-autobiographical, but it's crazy just how similar it is to Lee's life. I thoroughly enjoyed Shields' biography.
froydis's review against another edition
4.0
quite an intriguing life! It understandably focuses more on her literary achievement in middle life and her friendship with Capote than on later life. Im not sure much is known, as she has so completely withdrawn from public life. Written for a YA audience, its a well-written biography.
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't read [b:Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553383690l/2657._SY75_.jpg|3275794] and I did wonder why the author had written two books about Harper Lee; then I realized that this was a younger/friendlier version of the other. Usually, books that are altered for another audience lose something, but in this case I can't imagine what. Since [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553383690l/2657._SY75_.jpg|3275794] is read in our Middle School, this is the perfect biography for them.
My only quibble is that he doesn't seem to have updated the book any; with an April 2008 publication date, surely there was time to add mention of the films Capote and Infamous and their depiction of Lee?
My only quibble is that he doesn't seem to have updated the book any; with an April 2008 publication date, surely there was time to add mention of the films Capote and Infamous and their depiction of Lee?
suzannedix's review against another edition
5.0
Only if you have read and loved To Kill a Mockingbird would this biography work for you. I devoured it!
shelbyhannahh's review against another edition
4.0
AHHHH so good! I loved To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman when I read them both, so when I saw this in my school's library, of course I was going to get it!!!! This really gave me an interesting perspective on a lot of the aspects on TKAM and Nelle (Harper) Lee herself! I knew about her friendship with Truman Capote but I didn't know it was such a deep friendship! The only reason I docked a star was because there was an entire passage just dedicated to her sister Alice instead of Nelle. I think it was about half a chapter. Found myself skimming that, but overall, it was great!
amyl88's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up without realizing it was the "young readers'" version of Shields' biography of Lee, [b:Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, from Childhood to Go Set a Watchman|114408|Mockingbird A Portrait of Harper Lee, from Childhood to Go Set a Watchman|Charles J. Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1316728815s/114408.jpg|17070]. I'm not sure if that's why, but sometimes it feels like it's just skimming the surface. A lot of the book is devoted to Truman Capote and [b:In Cold Blood|168642|In Cold Blood|Truman Capote|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424931136s/168642.jpg|1940709]. I knew that Lee had been involved with that project, but I didn't realize exactly how much of her stamp is on it. And it doesn't talk at all about Go Set a Watchman and how it fits into the whole picture.
It's sad to think of her struggling to get another novel out, with TKAM such a huge thing. It must have been intimidating.
I may try the original, not sure. And still on the fence about reading GSAW.
It's sad to think of her struggling to get another novel out, with TKAM such a huge thing. It must have been intimidating.
I may try the original, not sure. And still on the fence about reading GSAW.