From the Bookshelf of 2015 Snagged @ The Library Challenge…

Go Set a Watchman

Harper Lee

Finish date: September 20, 2015

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Nov 12, 2018 Angel Parrish rated it liked it

Maybe this wouldn’t be such a disappointment if we didn’t have To Kill a Mockingbird. If only the characters had different names, so they weren’t inextricably linked to the story Lee published first, I might have higher praise.

Don’t get me wrong—the writing is exquisite. I see the pictures, feel the emotions of the characters. If this were not a follow-up to Mockingbird, I’d have no expectations of the characters and no expectations of the ending. If it were written by another author, it would Maybe this wouldn’t be such a disappointment if we didn’t have To Kill a Mockingbird. If only the characters had different names, so they weren’t inextricably linked to the story Lee published first, I might have higher praise.

Don’t get me wrong—the writing is exquisite. I see the pictures, feel the emotions of the characters. If this were not a follow-up to Mockingbird, I’d have no expectations of the characters and no expectations of the ending. If it were written by another author, it would probably well be worth 4 or 5 stars.

(Here come the spoilers...)

In To Kill a Mockingbird, we see a massive injustice made right. We see the lessons a child learns when one man stands against the odds and fights for what is right. Indeed, To Kill a Mockingbird might be the quintessential story of its type, especially in regard to race.

So when Jean Louise (Scout) comes home as an adult and sees another form of the same injustice being done, we expect resolution. When it turns out that her father—hero of Mockingbird—and boyfriend are instrumental in this racism, the reader expects sparks to fly. Here is a chance for Scout to remind her father of the healing he brought to town. Here’s a chance for us to see her do the same.

But what does she get?

“Good job, Scout. You finally learned to think for yourself.”

That’s it?!? And not only is she good with that resolution, she feels apologetic that she tried to correct her father in the first place.

I suppose some might call this a “second coming of age” story. Some might say we are supposed to identify with that moment when we realize we have learned to disagree with our parents while still respecting them. And certainly that is presented. It might even have value.

If this were another subject, this type of resolution would be sufficient and sweet. We would walk away saying, “Well, that’s no Mockingbird, but it’s a nice little story.” But the subject matter of the two books is the same—racism. In fact, the subject in Watchman is perhaps more important because it is more nuanced. Lee presents both sides so admirably that when Scout gives in, it feels like a win for racism. And it feels like the work done in Mockingbird is undone—perhaps permanently.

The story goes that Harper Lee wrote this book first, but it was rejected. The publisher thought she had a good idea though, and asked her to write about Scout’s childhood. And what a story it was! To Kill a Mockingbird was such a great success, Harper Lee never wrote another book. Then, shortly before her death, someone found this unpublished manuscript and got her to publish it—even though she’d declined to publish it for decades. One wonders if it was really Ms. Lee’s decision, or if she was talked into it.

If you’re going to read the works of Harper Lee, read this one first. THEN read To Kill a Mockingbird. That’s my advice.

Or, maybe just skip it altogether. It simply can’t compete with a masterpiece. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2015 Sandi added it

Shelves: books-read-2015, audio-book-2015

Dec 08, 2015 Jamie marked it as to-read

Shelves: books-on-kindle

Jul 25, 2015 Rachele Hirsch-Brooks rated it really liked it

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