Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee

Post by **spot** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 7:43 am

The world's about to get a slap across the face, apparently. Several hundred million children must have been set To Kill a Mockingbird as a school text, and suddenly their walls are about to crumble.

Go Set a Watchman has just gone high on my list of books for the next month, much to my surprise. I wonder whether it will get as much attention as a school text as the earlier book did.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:41 am

Having only read the reviews, I am not quite so committed to the book as you seem to be.

I read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in the 60s, but not a as a school project. It was on the unapproved list in my school library in those days.

I am thinking that I should read it again, before the "Watchman" to get a fresh perspective.

An interesting study would be on how the Finch of Watchman grew from the Finch of Mockingbird.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 9:55 am

They are some interesting reviews of the book, it is quite controversial in the portrayal of Atticus. I know we had a discussion of it last week with our school librarian while in meetings. I had read somewhere Harper Lee was against publishing it and that is why it sat unpublished so long, until the first novel was accepted. I will read it when I come back from vacation and read everyone's comments.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 10:25 am

"An interesting study would be on how the Finch of Watchman grew from the Finch of Mockingbird."

I've read a review, and from that review, I'm not sure Finch "grows".

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 10:45 am

People, real non fictional people, are complex.

Why shouldn't Atticus be aggrieved by injustice, yet not want black neighbours ?

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:41 pm

Bruv;1482653 wrote: People, real non fictional people, are complex.

Why shouldn't Atticus be aggrieved by injustice, yet not want black neighbours ?

There was an American saying: In the South, the whites don't care how close blacks are, as long as they don't get too big. In the North, the whites don't care how big blacks get, as long as they don't get too close.

I find that apropos to your comment.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 4:47 pm

Most of the White Abolitionists were all for freeing the slaves, but didn't really want them living next door.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 10:42 pm

Nothing really changes. Nimbys everywhere, in all things.

Post by **spot** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:14 pm

The book should be in the shops tomorrow. The Kindle price is only pennies different from the discounted hardback, I've not seen that happen before.