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

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-Is this book about hunting?

-Hunting, indeed, - my dad said, “Something similar to Mark Twain’s. Only modern, 1930s or so. The author is a woman. Like the one who wrote The Gadfly.”

-Boring,- I said.

 

Women- authors were the automatic turnoff. No self-respecting boy of my age would consider reading a book written by a woman. That was because most of the books for the little kids were written by women and we all went through the sea of nursery rhymes where banner was rhymed with amber and granddad Lenin was the savior of all children on Earth.

 

The Gadfly, written by Ethel Lilian Voinich, somewhere in 1900s was a different story. That book was immensely popular, an eternal bestseller. There were also at least two movies. Children played in those characters. It was a tough argument but again, no teenager would admit at first that he was interested. Not a chance. Boring.

2. Kolya, the boy wizard

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?

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The writer is 67 years old, semi- retired engineer, PhD, PE. I write fiction on a regular basis and I am also 10 years on OEN.

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