What We're Reading: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

This blog entry is the first in a series of reviews of items in the J.A. Jones library collections. If you are interested in writing a review for this series, let me know. I'd love to see a variety of voices guest blogging here. Below is Nancy Williard's review of Harper Lee's controversial sequel/early draft of To Kill a Mockingbird that was published this year. Let us know what you thought of this book in the comments--we'd love to talk about it.

And, if you want to read the book, you can find it in our rental book collection near the photocopier on the main floor of the library.

From Nancy Williard:

Aside from the intrigue of seeing what preceded the famous work by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, this earlier work is a fine story in itself. Jean Louise Finch, formerly “Scout”, is twenty-six, fresh from New York, and viewing her old hometown, Maycomb, Alabama, with the judgmenta
l eye. Through this visit the 1950’s Southern view of race relations is balanced against the more activist “color-blind” perception of the New Yorker that Jean Louise professes. The discussion of race relations is interesting to compare with the justification of Southern culture found in The Help, a more recent book set in the same time period. Scout’s headstrong rejection of Southern manners and sensibilities is as humorous and compelling as it was when Scout wore her overalls to town in To Kill a Mockingbird. Once again, Jean Louise, Scout, causes a social upheaval that involves many of our favorite characters, Calpurnia, Atticus, and Aunt Alexandra, and a new one, Henry “Hank” Clinton, a love interest. Although I found the ending lacking, I was fascinated to see where the seeds for To Kill a Mockingbird began.  What was kept and what was left out?