Quote by Charles J. Shields

'To Kill a Mockingbird' is really two stories. One is a coming-of-age tale told from the point of view of Scout Finch, a girl…

— Charles J. Shields

On the strength of Vonnegut's reputation, 'Breakfast of Champions' spent a year on the best-seller lists, proving that he could indeed publish anything and…

— Charles J. Shields

'To Kill a Mockingbird' appeared to highly favorable reviews and quickly climbed to the top of bestseller lists, where it remained for more than…

— Charles J. Shields

Harper Lee and Truman Capote became friends as next-door neighbors in the late 1920s, when they were about kindergarten age. From the start, they…

— Charles J. Shields

The great purpose in life is to take your destiny out of the hands of others.

— Charles J. Shields

She just wanted to be comfortable in her own skin...But she would not stop to seek others' approval. The notion that she should never…

— Charles J. Shields

My theory is that Kurt had a lot of residual pain from his childhood. And when you pile that on top of his experience…

— Charles J. Shields

Engaging and well paced, the book fills in the reality behind Vonnegut's work

— Charles J. Shields

Edith Vonnegut behaved like a guest in her children's lives. To her way of thinking, parenting came under the general heading of household tasks,…

— Charles J. Shields

In the late 1990s, I left the teaching field to write biographies and histories for young adults.

— Charles J. Shields

“I think part of your success lies in the shock of recognition- or as the Japanese might say, 'the unexpected recognition of the faithful…

— Charles J. Shields

“You took her as she was. She wasn't trying to impress anyone," said Claude Nunnelly.”

— Charles J. Shields