Friday, August 27, 2021

Go Set a Watchman

Written by: Harper Lee

First line: Since Atlanta, she had looked out the dining-car window with a delight almost physical.

Why you should read this book: Jean Louise Scout returns to the sleepy southern town where she never fit in as a child to spend time with her aging father, Atticus, her sometimes sweetheart, Henry, and an assortment of disapproving friends and family. Maycomb should be timeless, as far as she's concerned, but as she muddles through her visit, its people seem different, more sinister, than she remembered, and she questions all her old relationships and understandings, particularly as they pertain to race relations. This book is primarily of interest to scholars of the author and perhaps writing enthusiasts interested in the progression of an idea from trunk novel to Pulitzer.

Why you shouldn't read this book: It seems fairly obvious that Lee never intended for it to be published, and that she was probably coerced into releasing the manuscript at a time in her life when she was not truly capable of consent.

No comments: