When I first decided to start a book review blog, I didn’t have a focus in mind. I decided to do a little bit of research into different genres I could focus on, topics of conversation, or perhaps a time period. Over the course of my research, I noticed that many of the most highly rated and recommended books had something in common – they spoke of social and political issues. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, George Orwell’s 1984, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. These are all books that tackle social and political issues in our society. With today’s volatile and aggressive political climate, I decided my book reviews will focus on the social and political issues in literature.

I want to be completely transparent: I am a liberal. While I understand the libertarian ideologies of small government and lesser taxation, I tend to believe that we have a moral and ethical responsibility to help those that are less fortunate than us. The easiest way to do this is to have our tax dollars, which we already pay, be allocated for more social programs: health insurance, education, and battling climate change.

So, while I fully intend my reviews to be based in facts and statistics, the truth of the matter is that no one can be completely unbiased. This blog is not intended to change anyone’s mind – it is a place that I can share my thoughts on various books while having a central focus point from which to begin.

The first review I will be sharing with you is Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. There are two reasons I chose this book as my first victim. The first reason: It is one of the most highly recommended books, often listed on top lists of books you should read in your lifetime. The second reason: It is an easy choice for a book that focuses on social and political issues.

I hope you enjoy my insights.