Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman

[jchanic]

They've posted the first chapter of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman (a "sequel" to To Kill a Mockingbird) on-line:

Harper Lee’s new novel: read the first chapter | Books | The Guardian

John

 

[Bev Vincent]

I like it so far.

 

[Dana Jean]

It's due out next week, isn't it? I have got to read Finders Keepers so I can be ready for this one!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...that'll be a nice palate cleanser after a re-read of UTD....

 

[doowopgirl]

I'm definitely interested. Might wait for paperback, though. Reading Revival at the moment. I like GNTs idea of a good palate cleanser.

 

[PatInTheHat]

That was too cool, thanks for that sharing.
Her writing is like a warm invitingly familiar comfy cozy swaying with a subtle beat, think it's a southern thing.

 

[jchanic]

It's due out July 14.

John

 

[Haunted]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/books/review-harper-lees-go-set-a-watchman-gives-atticus-finch-a-dark-side.html?_r=0

 

[mjs9153]

Interesting..that storyline will likely feed into the assertions by some that the book is suspicious in its finding and the alleged manipulation of the author to release it..

 

[Dana Jean]

I watched an old C span interview with Marja Mills who wrote: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee.

She had access to both sisters, and it sounds like they were great friends and did a lot of socializing together. But then after MM's book was published, apparently Harper Lee came out and denied giving permission to any of it.

Her sister wrote Marja a note saying that Harper didn't remember doing things, and signing things. And that was back in 2010? I am still concerned about her ability to be fully engaged in this new book and the process.

 

[Kurben]

Read the article. Certainly seems strange.

 

[mjs9153]

Read the article. Certainly seems strange.

I read a news article yesterday on the finding of the manuscript,it was weird,like Voila'! and it was suddenly unearthed in a safe,sure sounded odd,the circumstances as described..

 

[Kurben]

I read a news article yesterday on the finding of the manuscript,it was weird,like Voila'! and it was suddenly unearthed in a safe,sure sounded odd,the circumstances as described..

Yeah. I read something earlier about that. It was very odd but odd things happen. but if know the book, as the article implies is rather odd too that makes two odds. I don't like it when odds pile up.....

 

[mjs9153]

know what you mean..apparently her attorney found the manuscript,just kinda hard to believe it was not set aside much earlier by her and discussed for refinement and publication,given the success of TKAM..raises some specters that are not good,at all..

 

[Maskins]

I am going to sound like a miserable old man but I refulse to read it. I have read a lot of the preview reviews and it is as I suspected - this was a novel that was never meant to see the light of day. Without adding any spoilers, as I understand it, the original publishers read the initial draft and commented that the flashback sections which related to Scout, her brother and father could be expanded and voila, the next delivery was To Kill a Mockingbird.

This isn't a new novel or sequel but a draft on the road to one of the greatest books ever. I am cynical in the extreme that this should have ever (or was ever) meant to see the light of day.

From what I understand, key characters act differently from one book to the next and it will ruin those characters for me. I have read TKAM in excess of 30 times - it is literary perfection. That will do for me.

That said, I do not judge those who do. This is purely my own weirdness.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I am going to sound like a miserable old man but I refulse to read it. I have read a lot of the preview reviews and it is as I suspected - this was a novel that was never meant to see the light of day. Without adding any spoilers, as I understand it, the original publishers read the initial draft and commented that the flashback sections which related to Scout, her brother and father could be expanded and voila, the next delivery was To Kill a Mockingbird.

This isn't a new novel or sequel but a draft on the road to one of the greatest books ever. I am cynical in the extreme that this should have ever (or was ever) meant to see the light of day.

From what I understand, key characters act differently from one book to the next and it will ruin those characters for me. I have read TKAM in excess of 30 times - it is literary perfection. That will do for me.

That said, I do not judge those who do. This is purely my own weirdness.

 

[Maskins]

Argghh I also hate them darn kids who play their hippity hop music too loud.

 

[danie]

I am going to sound like a miserable old man but I refulse to read it. I have read a lot of the preview reviews and it is as I suspected - this was a novel that was never meant to see the light of day. Without adding any spoilers, as I understand it, the original publishers read the initial draft and commented that the flashback sections which related to Scout, her brother and father could be expanded and voila, the next delivery was To Kill a Mockingbird.

This isn't a new novel or sequel but a draft on the road to one of the greatest books ever. I am cynical in the extreme that this should have ever (or was ever) meant to see the light of day.

From what I understand, key characters act differently from one book to the next and it will ruin those characters for me. I have read TKAM in excess of 30 times - it is literary perfection. That will do for me.

That said, I do not judge those who do. This is purely my own weirdness.

Agree.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Was listening to the fabled NPR this weekend...driving to an estimate or something. Lady reviewer said the story read like a sequel to TKAM, took a dim view of Atticus, gone was the Atticus she had known...said she thought initially that Atticus in the courtroom was...up to his old tricks, something along that line, and instead he let her down. Big sad times, big sad tears. I thought the lady who wrote TKAM was prescient...what with the attitude at the end of the book toward what we have come to call trash. Bashing the trash was acceptable by story end in TKAM and it is acceptable in our society today. I'm curious about Atticus from what the NPR lady was whining about. A story is a story. If someone puts their left shoe on first, who am I to quibble? It's a story! I liked the idea of a "hot steam"...somebody who can't get to heaven, just wallows around on lonesome roads...the one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience. And I think there were events placed at the end of TKAM to make a statement. Treasure the bad. Like what one asks? LLike the ladies gathered and concerning themselves w/missionary zeal...the Mronos, or some group in...never says...Africa, presumably...and then the bit about Hitler, current events day at school...contrived...there to make the fabled statement.

 

[RichardX]

This is a no win situation. The original book has become so iconic along with the movie that it could never live up to those expectations. That's likely the reason Lee never published another book. Similar to Salinger after Catcher in the Rye. They couldn't compete with themselves. Publishers have no such qualms about cashing in on their reputations however. I'll probably still read it though out of curiosity. It may not be as bad as the doomsayers indicate.