As good as the movie is (and I know this sounds old), the book is simply superior. The clarity of the English prose, the believability of the characters, the nuances in the plot--all fabulous. What is so refreshing is the depiction of social complexities (race relations, poverty, education, etc.) in the South, and the author's use of typology: There is not just one "mockingbird," but several: the falsely accused black man, the virtuous lawyer, the lawyer's young son, the emotionally disturbed man who ends up the savior. Complex and simple all at the same time. Truly a masterpiece.