Editor’s note

The first Standard Journal Book Club met as a small group on June 26 at Cedartown Library, with an interesting conversation on Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” still bouncing back and forth in my mind. I made a point during the meeting, and upon further reflection I wish to briefly expand my thoughts for all.

Lee’s novel, the winner of the 1961 Pulitzer prize, is undoubtedly about class, racism, justice and the struggles of people during the Great Depression in the American south. I think another idea should be considered for those who have read the novel, or those about to for the first time.

The smiling American nuclear family has for decades been portrayed as mother and father, children and family pets in a suburban home. Lee, writing during a peak in this particular American fantasy, seems to draw a stark contrast to it with single father Atticus taking care of his two children, with the help of extended family along the way.

The point I think I made well was that there’s no such thing as a stereotypical American family, never have been and likely never will. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I’ll revise this statement to say most families don’t fall into the stereotype. Every family is different.

A poll is available online until Friday to choose the next book club selection for the July 24 meeting.

Those include John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and Jules Vernes’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”