The Bookhouse Boys discussion
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Go Set a Watchman
Go Set a Watchman
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Go Set a Watchman discussion
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By the way, the Goodreads app is absolute garbage.
I will try and get the conversation initiated here without spoiling things . . .I hope folks are enjoying this book because I am. Why? Mostly because of Harper's sparse, delicate language.
I know it might be difficult to compartmentalize knowing that Go Set A Watchmen is a draft, but judging it on its own merits, I think it is quite good.
Harper Lee does an excellent job at pacing her tale as well as introducing her protagonist and ensemble. But my favorite moments aren't necessarily the interaction between her cast but those moments of solitude when Scout is figuratively and literally beside herself and can reflect on her past and recent events.
There is one moment when Scout awakens quite early before anyone else and she decides to to wander the grounds and smoke a cigarette. It was during that moment I really connected with this book, as I found myself transported in that intimate moment of solace though Scout had some reflecting to consider.
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Thanks for sharing yours, though, Rob!
(PS: you imply that GSAW is an early, unfinished draft, but that's not true....it's simply a finished draft that they decided not to publish originally)
True, Jason. I should have been more precise. Go Set A Watchman is not a draft but a finished manuscript that was never published until now, of course. And as a finished manuscript I find it quite satisfying.
I'm not sure if it is the accessibility of its language or the fact that I haven't read a piece of prose for sometime, but this book is refreshingly breezy despite the gravity of Scout's revelations and predicaments.
True, Jason. I should have been more precise. Go Set A Watchman is not a draft but a finished manuscript that was never published until now, of course. And as a finished manuscript I find it quite satisfying.
I'm not sure if it is the accessibility of its language or the fact that I haven't read a piece of prose for sometime, but this book is refreshingly breezy despite the gravity of Scout's revelations and predicaments.
Apologies for the double post.
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Any word on a recording being posted?
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There are only a few literary events of sufficient gravity to lure the Bookhouse Boys out of retirement: dinosaur romance....a new Twilight novel...or a new novel from infamously reticent one shot wonder Harper Lee. Join us as we boldly lay bare our childhood heroes, strip the rose-colored gauze from our eyes, and decide whether GSAW can stand proudly alongside the greatest works of American literature...or if its only legacy will be to topple one of literature's most revered pillars.
OUTRO: "Things Are Changing" by The Relatives
http://bookhouseboyspodcast.podomatic...
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I didn't want to share this until after you guys had recorded your own thoughts, but the first half of this ep. of another book podcast I listen to religiously is a deep dive into GSAW. I'm curious about your thoughts on their thoughts:http://bookriot.com/2015/07/20/the-book-riot-podcast-episode-115-all-the-asterisks
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:P
I want to thank you all for making this podcast, boys. Without you, I would have been less likely to approach this book, even with the marketing circus and speculation circling GSAW.Like all of you, I have very mixed feelings in regards to this manuscript. As Jason mentioned, I think Harper Lee did an economical job of describing and relating Maycomb. It felt genuine, almost tactile. It is a "place".
Some of the themes that Dave had mentioned were worthy of discussion and pause for thought, too. Such as, how do we deal and relate to those relatives who are clearly racist or of an antiquated thought? Though, there was no clear solution or even iteration of process, it's an unfortunate concept that pervades as strongly as ever.
I also found Harper Lee's language to be elementary, in a sense. Not pedantic or insulting, nor too academic, and I found that "lightness" to be refreshing, in a way.
Now the rest, as we've phrased and coined "the ending", was a real gut churner. It made Jean-Louise into a completely gutless, wishy-washy, emotional stereotype of a damsel, placating to the patriarchal iron-fist of the Finch's. It was really difficult to take.
Now, I have to ask. We all agree that Go Set A Watchmen is not necessarily a good book, but does it have an important role in the literary world?
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I think that if TKAM was fresh in my mind, it isn't as it's been at least 25 years since I've read it, I may be a bit more incensed by all the events swirling around the publishing of this text, plus the actual book. But as an actual piece of work, this was merely tepid on its own merits.
Reading all of the comments has motivated me to read the book. I have been reluctant because I hate sequels most of the time. (Or is this a prequel?) I will read the book.
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Since this is a *NEW* book, please use tags to hide any text that might spoil plot points for readers. To use spoiler tags: before your spoiler-y text put < spoiler > without the spaces I used. At the end of the spoilers, put < /spoilers > without the spaces. It will look like this:
So, it turns out that (view spoiler)[Bruce Willis was dead the after the first scene in the movie. He was a freaking ghost, bro! This Shyamalan guy can do no wrong. I predict each movie will be better than the last! (hide spoiler)] and so I recommend you see the movie.