March 28, 2016 - Polly Smith was the hostess and program leader for the March 17th meeting of the Center Women’s Reading Club. President, Janene Walker welcomed members and guest. The Center Women’s Reading Club members have been invited by the Carthage Reading Club to attend a special program and lunch on April 18. Gae-Lynn Woods, author of the Cass Elliott Crime Series will be the speaker. The Center ladies voted to attend the Carthage program in lieu of the regularly scheduled April 21st meeting.
It was announced that the 2016-2017 course of study for the Club would be selections from the 2015 New York Times Best Seller list. A selection of books from the list will be distributed. Members will be encouraged to choose a book before summer break.
Polly Smith reviewed the book The Mockingbird Next Door, by Marja Mills. The book is the journalist’s memoir of her friendship with (Nell) Harper Lee and her sister, Alice.
Marja Mills is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. In 2001, Chicago’s “One Book, One Read”, was To Kill A Mockingbird. Ms. Mills travelled to Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama with hopes of an interview with the famous author. Many journalists have made the journey to Monroeville, trying and failing to get an interview with the allusive Harper Lee.
Alice Finch Lee answered the door when Ms. Mills arrived, and invited her in to visit. The next day, Mills received an invitation from Harper Lee to visit her. They talked and Mills promised not to write anything the sisters did not want to be made public. It was the beginning of a long interview, and a wonderful friendship.
In 2004, with the Lee’s encouragement, Mills moved into the house next door to the sisters. She spent the next 18 months sharing stories over coffee, feeding the ducks, fishing and exploring all over lower Alabama with the Lees and their inner circle.
Harper Lee was born in 1926, the youngest of four children. She was named after Dr. Harper, the doctor who saved her sister Louise. Her sister, Alice, was the oldest. Alice was fifteen years older than Harper. Alice was an attorney and Harper Lee said that she was Atticus in a dress. They had a brother Ed who died at a young age.
Harper Lee’s mother, Frances Finch Lee, was in “delicate condition”. Harper’s father wanted Harper to attend law school. Harper was smart. She was admitted into law school but first spent the summer at Oxford University as an exchange student. When she returned, Harper told her father she had decided not to attend law school.
In 1949, Harper Lee moved to New York City; worked for an airline and wrote. She became friends with Broadway composer and lyricist Michael Brown and his wife, Joy. Her Christmas gift, in 1956, from the Browns was one year’s salary so she could quit work and write.
She finished the manuscript for To Kill A Mockingbird in 1959. Soon after, she helped fellow-writer and friend, Truman Capote write and article for the New Yorker, which would later become In Cold Blood. Harper was his research assistant. They travelled together to Kansas to interview people and do research.
When Capote’s book was finally published in 1966, Capote dedicated the book to Harper Lee but failed to acknowledge her contributions to the work. Although Harper was angry and hurt by this betrayal she remained friends with Capote for the rest of his life.
To Kill A Mockingbird was published in 1960. The following year it won the Pulitzer Prize. In 1962, the film adaptation was released. Harper Lee travelled to California. When she met Gregory Peck, she said “isn’t he delicious?” The movie received 8 Academy nominations. It won 3 Awards including Gregory Peck as Best Actor. His character was based on her father.
Later in life, Harper Lee suffered a stroke and lived in an assisted living home until her death this year, February 19, 2016. She was 89 years old. Her second novel Go Set a Watchman was published in July 2015.
Mrs. Smith served delicious “southern” refreshments and members enjoyed a special time of fellowship.
