The School. Reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in Russia

We were sitting with Kolya on the stone wall, eating ice-cream and watching cars.

-Hey, man, ever read any book about America?- I asked.

-Jack London’s sure. Swell dude. Malamute Kidd, Rivera, the Mexican. Hey, also that funny guy, O’Henry. They made a terrific movie recently. That ‘Indian Chief’ was just unbelievable.

-Any women- authors besides The Gadfly?

-Women? Nope. Wait, wait, that theater here recently staged some play by an American woman. Didn’t you see the posters? Something called ‘Little Foxes’. Boring stuff.

-I’ve got a book here, a new one, written by some woman. Seems to be about killing birds or something. Do you think I should try it?

-Those westerners, they sometimes have strange headings. How do you say it is called?

-Ubit Peresmeshnika (To kill a Mockingbird- MS).

-That could be some nickname of a gangster. Boss Mockingbird. You know, give me the book and wait for me. I will go and ask our school librarian. Don’t go with me- she becomes suspicious when we come together. Thinks we are on for some trick.

Kolya returned in about 0.5 –hour with a puzzled face.

-Dude, she says it is about Negroes. Kind off like Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Vopli i sopli ( Lots of noises and tears- MS). But she also said something I didn’t comprehend. She said it was not for me to read.

-What’s that supposed to mean?

-Don’t know. I can read anything. Recently I read a steamy book ‘A man and a woman’. Ever watched a movie?

-That’s French, right? This book is about USA.

-OK, you try it then and tell me if it’s worth it.

3. Screening in the Red Corner

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