To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Rating: 5/5

Lost References:

Juliet pretends to play the movie of this book for Jack, though her tape really contains a secret message. Also, there’s an Other named Harper.

Thoughts:

It’s a tale of morality, like Lost. Also like Lost, it’s particularly well-told. One could argue that both are from the perspective of a naïve narrator. Scout in Mockingbird is a child, and while the Losties only have one child amongst them, they fumble about just as much as Scout while trying to understand the strange world around them.

Fun Fact: I share a birthday with Harper Lee.

Carrie – Stephen King

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

Juliet chooses this book (her favorite) for the Others’ book club, even though Ben doesn’t like it. (Oddly, when Ben is later captured by the Losties, he asks Locke for Stephen King to read. Of course, this may have been part of his cover.) Juliet’s sister, Rachel, also has a copy of the book.

Fun Fact: Emilie de Ravin (Claire on Lost) played Chris Hargensen in the 2002 TV movie version of Carrie.

Thoughts:

Carrie is a disturbed, repressed girl with a supernatural gift. Since she’s a high schooler, she naturally uses it to get back at bullies. Low points: Carrie and her mother (both pretty crazy and unlovable), the ending (rushed, despite the novel being Stephen King’s usual doorstop length). High points: Stephen King (whose masterful control of the English language makes up for a lot), the Prom Scene (it’s a classic for a reason).