Harper Lee Honored

The Guardian has noted this morning that Harper Lee, reclusive author of one of my all-time favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird, has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by George Bush. It is America's highest award.

Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by George Bush. Whether or not one of the world's most publicity-shy literary stars will relish being given America's highest - and very public - award remains to be seen.

Some interesting To Kill a Mockingbird tidbits mentioned in the story:

- The book is taught in more than 70% of schools in the United States.

- Last year the book topped a World Book Day poll conducted by the UK's Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), in which librarians around the country were asked, "Which book should every adult read before they die?"

I've read time and time again and learn something more about the book, and about myself, each time I read it. The climactic scene, where Scout is wearing the pork costume, still reverberates inside me every time I read it, or watch it in the movie, or watch it on stage, which I did recently at Seattle's Intiman Theatre. And then, Scout meeting Boo? Ah, it's hard not to get misty over that.

Anyway, congratulations Harper Lee! Who knows if she'll actually go to accept the award (she's really reclusive), but it's nice that she's been honored.