I have to read To Kill A Mockingbird but can't understand it, is there a free site where I can listen to it?

Question

I am the type of person who actually has to hear it to get it and can't just read it from some book.

Dont' get me wrong, I love reading and everything but if it's something I'm not interested in I just can't understand it.

Answer 1

Boo? Arthur Radley...is that you?

It's a sin to kill a mockingbird...but is not a sin to smack an intelligent person who is simply too lazy to read one of the best short stories ever written because it has too many words.

Which are you? Practice reading. It gets better. I can only imagine that someone telling you a book like this is worth reading is a bit like telling a deaf person how cool a song sounds.

You wrote a well-worded question, so I can only assume you are literate. Please, take some time to acquire an interest in reading. Your life will be so much richer and meaningful if you do. Until then, listen to it for free here:

Here (most complete reversion):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFwAxMLye4M

Here (most ridiculously innane but still comprehensible reversioning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCQOLOeyft8

Or Here Just Chapter 11 (though it is the funnest reversioning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjYDwG6XFjs

Answer 2

It isn't a particularly difficult book to understand, as it is narrated by a little girl. So the movie probably won't help. If you don't "get" the symbolism of the mockingbird in print, I'm not sure you'll "get" it on film, either. The movie is outstanding, but omits most of the easy, simple chapters of the beginning half that help us understand Scout and Jem and Boo and Atticus. I'm sorry to be yet another voice who sounds like I'm working against you, but I'm sure your teacher would prefer to hear what you do get, on your own, that what Sparknotes or a film can tell. Re-read the first page and then the last two of Chapter 1; then start at Chapter 2; Chapter 1 does contain some thorny digressions after the first page, but before Scout and Jem meet Dill. The end of Chapter 1 where Jem runs up and touches the old Radley house is scary and great, particualrly when you notice what Scout observes from the house. Creepy.

Answer 3

Please try to read it or at least watch the movie - don't just give up. It was voted best book of the century. Forget about sybolism for the time being and just concentrate on the plot. The primary themes of the book are pretty univeral -- It's a coming of age story in which a young girl is trying to understand right from wrong and issues of race and class. She is watching very adult events but telling them to you, the reader, through the voice of someone who cannot fully understand. Watch as she matures over time through the book. Read the cliff notes if you need to, but read them as a support along with the book, not instead of...

Answer 4

Maybe now is the time you should learn how to read a book so that you can understand it. Truly, pick it up and spend a weekend reading all of it with no distractions. If you try to read it in the evening when you're going to bed and tired you won't understand it. No one can. But if you read to relax before bed then it will be better.

When you read, go to your own space, turn off the phones, television, music, and internet. It's going to take a while to read it and no one can multi-task while reading a book.

After you read it you'll understand what everyone is saying: there are no short-cuts to reading a book.

Answer 5

Learn to visualize the words in your head and then you can create thevoices and sounds for yourself. Imagine someone with a great reading voice and mentally have that voice in your head. If this does not help your library may allow you to download books to your computer and listen for free.

Answer 6

What do you mean you can't understand it? Its a very easy book to understand and a great and meaningful story. I think you are just to lazy to read it. Read the book, you'll be glad you did.

Answer 7

If you don't understand it, listening to it probably won't help, but I'm sure you can get an audiocassette or CD at the library. It's probably better to get Cliff's Notes though or another study guide. Good luck.

Answer 8

One of the greatest novels ever! I
I would try your local library for an audio book.
You could also try and rent a copy of the movie with Gregory Peck.

Answer 9

Short written summary:
http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/killmockingbird/shortsumm.html

Sorry, I was unable to find a free listening site.

Answer 10

i think they have done a movie of it. so try to find the movie and watch it. maybe u will understand it then. cuz if u dont understand it reading it u will be stuck hearing it. so try to watch it.