Celebrating 50 Years

Last night, I attended Decatur Library's program, "Celebrating Mockingbird," with friend and recent transplant to the South, Lori. The panelists were Southern literary professor Tom McHaney, high school English teacher and Monroeville native Cathy Powers, and actor Tom Key, who has played the role of Atticus Finch on stage. McHaney and Powers had an interesting dialogue about the power of To Kill a Mockinbird and its impact on readers over the last 50 years. Powers was able to speak specifically to Author Harper Lee's wish to remain unbothered by reporters and others who love the book. When asked how Monroeville citizens felt about the book's publication, she said everyone was excited about it except those who showed up in the book. As discussion wrapped up, Key did a monologue of Atticus Finch's closing arguments in the trial of Tom Robinson, which was fantastic.The auditorium at the library was nearly full, and parking was hard to come by. It's nice to know I'm not the only one holding this novel in such high regard, and that after 50 years, To Kill a Mockingbird can still draw a crowd.