Reviews
"Tom Santopietro gets to the heart of the matter in every subject he has tackled in his illustrious career. His latest, the story behind the great American novel To Kill A Mockingbird and its superb film adaptation is fascinating. This gifted author takes you inside the world that inspired the novel and the process that led to its telling as only he can. Inspiring, hopeful and surprising at every turn, this is a glorious read in the moment we need it most." --Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of Kiss Carlo "I barreled through Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters , Tom Santopietro's comprehensive and multi-faceted investigation of Mockingbird's backstory, the movie's making, and the enduring influence of a story which, as Santopietro observes, is simultaneously straightforward and complex, traditional and subversive. Santopietro masterfully examines the novel's impact during the era in which it was published and also within the context of these present, more cynical times of race-baiting politics, the Black Lives Matter movement, and what readers might make of that flawed "other" Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman . If, like me, you're a fan and a student of To Kill a Mockingbird , you will love this fascinating and timely book." --Wally Lamb, bestselling author of I Know This Much Is True, Praise for A Sound of Music Story : "For film lovers who enjoy special features such as deleted scenes or director's commentary, lovers of Broadway history, and Rodgers and Hammerstein devotees."- Library Journal " A celebration of a beloved movie... an enthusiastic close-up of movie history." - Kirkus Reviews Praise for The Godfather Effect : "... a beautiful narrative of the way pop culture shapes our self-image." - The Hollywood Reporter "Slickly told... it's the connections with family that give it a center as sweet as cannoli cream." - Newsday, "Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird , the film and the novel, will enjoy this work. " -- Library Journal "Meticulous attention to detail... Readers not familiar with the stories behind the novel and film will find much to relish." -- Publishers Weekly "Absorbing and full of beguiling detail." -- USA Today "A detailed account of a classic novel's context, transformation, and acclaim." -- Kirkus Reviews "Santopietro has certainly done his homework, and he applies the rigor of his knowledge admirably... Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters is astute."-- New York Times Book Review "A fascinating new book. Santopietro does To Kill a Mockingbird proud. Even Harper Lee--so reticent, so resistant to attention--would have been mighty pleased at this affectionate, meticulous and masterful explanation as to why Mockingbird still matters. " -- New York Social Diary , Denis Ferrara "Tom Santopietro gets to the heart of the matter in every subject he has tackled in his illustrious career. His latest, the story behind the great American novel To Kill A Mockingbird and its superb film adaptation is fascinating. This gifted author takes you inside the world that inspired the novel and the process that led to its telling as only he can. Inspiring, hopeful and surprising at every turn, this is a glorious read in the moment we need it most." --Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of Kiss Carlo "I barreled through Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters , Tom Santopietro's comprehensive and multi-faceted investigation of Mockingbird's backstory, the movie's making, and the enduring influence of a story which, as Santopietro observes, is simultaneously straightforward and complex, traditional and subversive. Santopietro masterfully examines the novel's impact during the era in which it was published and also within the context of these present, more cynical times of race-baiting politics, the Black Lives Matter movement, and what readers might make of that flawed "other" Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman . If, like me, you're a fan and a student of To Kill a Mockingbird , you will love this fascinating and timely book." --Wally Lamb, bestselling author of I Know This Much Is True
