New book from Harper Lee. I tried to search, but nothing came up here or on the main board. Anyway, just saw this article about how there's a thought that this book was actually discovered 4 years ago http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/0...een-found-earlier-than-thought.html?referrer= Such strange circumstances surrounding this one. Book comes out July 14
Very strange circumstances. Doubt it would have ever gotten published if Harper still had all her mental capacity.
Really enjoyed To Kill A Mockingbird, but this has me nervous. Especially the bit about Atticus not being the Knight in Shining Armor. Anything that tarnishes that image of Atticus not being The Hero could really hurt TKAM and Lee's legacy.
Came out today. I just acquired a copy and am set to read it tonight. However, I just read a review that said it's pretty bad and should have never been published. An obvious money grab by Harper Lee's attorney and publisher. Now I'm doubtful and may just read Armada (which I likewise acquired). I loved TKAM so much that I really don't want to ruin it. Ugh.
I have both ebooks. Going to read Armada first I believe. Will also read Go Set a Watchman. If I hate it I'll hate her attorney and publisher. If I love it then I love it. Not planning on reading any more reviews than I already have because I figure a lot of people will decide if they like it or not before they actually read it and write reviews accordingly.
Now that I've read it, the story that this was written first and To Kill a Mockingbird was born out of these pages makes absolutely zero sense.
I read somewhere that the story as it was just published wasn't the original version that ended up in To Kill a Mockingbird. idk though. What did you think?
If I had to guess, this was written afterwards (the only way the story itself carries any weight whatsoever is if the reader is already familiar with the characters), but Lee realized that it wasn't a particularly worthy followup to TKAM so she shelved it. The conflicting stories regarding its origin points to this as a money grab by her attorneys/family/publishers/whoever, IMO. Anyway, there are some beautifully written passages, and the flashback scenes are the strongest fragments of the book, particularly the one involving Scout, Jem, and Dill. But the parts of the book in the present (of when it was written) didn't really work for me at all. And the conversation about race that the book seeks to have and present is absurd and doesn't play at all in present times. I think the book would have been more interesting if Cal would have answered "Yes" instead of "No" to a question Scout asks her (I won't spoil the question, but you'll recognize it when you get there). It doesn't spoil TKAM for me or anything, mostly because I view this book as non-canonical with regards to the Finch family.
It doesn't make any sense that Watchman would lift paragraphs of text from Mockingbird if it was written second.
finally finished it. just not a good book, unfortunately. i am happy that it got me to read to kill a mockingbird again. but i can see exactly why harper lee didn't want to publish this one
Just finished and I don't know what you are talking about. Apparently, I missed it. As a stand-alone book, it was OK. Really does tarnish Atticus. I don't think it would have tarnished him as bad if you read the book in 1965, as his sentiments about race weren't that far off the norm for old, white men in the south in the late 50s. But reading it today, in 2015, his remarks seem really racist. And not the stupid, "We hate niggers! Send 'em back to Africa!" racist, but the "intellectual", "They just aren't as good as us white people. Anyone can see that," racist. (Obviously, I'm not saying the latter is intellectual. It's just a form of racism born of arrogance instead of hate). TKaM is still an all-time great book, and this doesn't change that, but I would recommend not reading this if you have read, or want to read TKaM. It adds nothing and kind of detracts from it. Spoiler I thought the character of Henry (Hank) was really forced. Lee could have had Jem live and taken out the romantic subtext, and just used him instead of Hank. Not sure why she didn't. Really missed that there was absolutely no mention of Boo Radley. What happened to Boo? If no one says anything about him, it's safe to assume he faded back into his home and died there, or still living in the dark. That is sadder than Jem's death IMHO. Speaking of Jem's death, it is mentioned a few times, but man the Finch's sure seem to have put that behind them. I don't even get to see or hear Scout talk about him in a sad way. And no Dill, either. I hated that Cal was pretty much out of the story altogether and, when she was, she treated Scout like shit because she was white and the race shit had hit Maycomb. Lee can write, and it's good to read someone good at her craft, but I didn't like anyone in the book at all. Even when Scout finally told everyone what she thought and finally became 'the hero', she wilted like a dead flower when her uncle knocked the shit out of her. Scout and Atticus coming together in a sentimental way at the end didn't feel like a happy ending, it felt like a cop-out. 649/1000
Just read it this weekend. I enjoyed this more than most it seems, but it definitely had it's issues. I havent read up on the circumstances of its publication. Will look into it right now. Agree w everything Arkie Proud wrote about it. From reading this thread - some say it was written prior to TKAM? I cant see it. Killed me to see Atticus' views on black people. The one thing that really threw me for a loop was the changes made in the trial from TKAM. TKAM - Tom Robinson arm was damaged in a cotton gin Watchman - damaged in a saw mill TKAM - Mayella Ewell was 19 Watchman - She's 15 Most importantly : TKAM - Mayella came on to Tom and she was interupted when her dad came in Watchman - They had sex and it was consensual I enjoyed the story. The first part I was just loving being back in Macolm and seeing what happened to everyone. The entire time Scout was hating on Atticus for being in that meeting, I was expecting his excuse to be as an infiltrator of sorts. Trying to be the voice of reason from within. What a kick in the nuts that he actually had the views he did. Also that exchange w Cal -
Just finished it. Really liked it. Spoiler It felt very strange for a while, but loved the message of the book which to me was that even if you disagree with someone's views that you should try to understand them and why they feel that way instead of checking them in a box as "racist, bigot, ignorant, etc" from a an ivory tower. The entire climax about how scout was actually the bigot was interesting and probably something that a bunch of the SJW's of today should take to heart. Also believe that is part of why she wanted it published finally. Unfortunately, the point has been missed by many it seems and just pushed to "Atticus is a racist," which was exactly what she was speaking out against.