October 2019: "To Kill A Mockingbird" Julie's pick

[Sylvia]

Use this thread for you book discussion.

[Julie]

I just realized that we all selected books that are set during the Great Depression. I didn't even realize that's when To Kill A Mockingbird takes place.

[Julie]

I just watched the movie and it was very close to the book. Maudie's house fire was the only major difference I noticed.

I've heard that in the sequel, Go Set a Watchman, Atticus is against the civil rights movement. I don't know if I want to read it and possibly tarnish my view of him. Have you read Go Set a Watchman?

[Dominique]

Yes, I've read it, and it's definitely different from Mockingbird. I actually don't remember too much of what happens, but in the book a grown up Scout returns to Maycomb and gradually discovers that Atticus is bigoted and looks down on the civil rights movement. I thought his manner was much the same as in Mockingbird. He remains dignified and calm, just what comes out of his mouth is the opposite of what Mockingbird Atticus would say. I wouldn't recommend it as required, wow you have to read this, but I think it was meant as a first draft to Mockingbird, and I think Harper Lee didn't intend to publish it as a sequel, it was the marketing. If you want to get a sense of where she was in her writing before Mockingbird, you might like to read it. I'm kind of fifty fifty on reading it again. More power to you if you pick it up though. :)

[Julie]

That makes sense, it being a first draft that she didn't intend to publish. I think I'm going to skip it and keep admirable Atticus in my mind.