I remember the day earlier this year when it was announced that a new book would be forthcoming from Harper Lee. I remember because I basically broke the news to my readers. I saw a tweet that morning and posted on here shortly thereafter. But I also remember there being controversy surrounding this new book immediately.
How was it ACTUALLY discovered? Could Harper Lee even sign off on its publication at her age and mental state? How does this book relate to To Kill a Mockingbird? All these questions and so many more that have not really been answered in the months since that day.
Y’all know I don’t read book reviews. I don’t like them. I’m not interested in them. And I don’t typically care what any other person thinks about particular books. But I’ve made an exception to my own rule several times in recent days. I’ve wanted to see what professional reviewers were thinking of Lee’s new book. I imagine many of you have done the same. I’ll share all of my thoughts with y’all once I read the book because I don’t want to alter your thoughts or expectations about it before you even get a chance to read it.
What are your expectations for Go Set a Watchman?
On this day in 2014 I published Take me to the Library.
Johnny Reads 
Mixed. I always wanted to read more from her, but I’m also afraid of what she might have written that could change the special regard I’ve always had for To Kill a Mockingbird. I’ve already heard rumors of who dies and how Scout has changed. I don’t even know if I’ll read it.
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I’ve read a lot about Atticus. Ugh. I’m still on the fence.
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Reblogged this on Human Interest.
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My wife read some initial reviews and snippets and the content sounds alarming. Really alarming. I’m not sure if I’ll read this one.
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Yes. I have as well. Undecided as to whether I’ll read it or not.
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I’m not expecting it to be the same caliber as Mockingbird. In fact, I expect the explanations of the characters will cause disappointment to the loyal readers.
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I’d say people shouldn’t be disappointed by something that was never meant to be published in the first place.
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Remember everyone this was written first. So it shouldn’t change our opinion of TKAM… it should remind us that revision is what makes writing great!
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Or it should remind us that it shouldn’t have ever seen the light of day? Yeah. I like that choice better.
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I still want to read the book besides mixed reviews, but I want to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird first. I was going to re-read it earlier this year to refresh my memory, but other books came first. So I still won’t read Go Set A Watchman until I get to the re-read.
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Hm. I spoke to a lady on Tuesday about it and she knew every detail about it and she said she read it 15 years ago. I was surprised.
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She knew every detail about To Kill A Mockingbird or Go Set A Watchman?
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What? Mockingbird. I was just surprised because I don’t think that’s typical. That’s a long time.
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For sure. I probably read it about that same time frame. Early high school/late junior high. I remember a fair amount, but not all the details. I’d love her memory!
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Hmm. I like my own memory. And I’m glad I wasn’t forced to read it in school. Who knows what younger me would have thought.
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I wasn’t forced to read it. I read it outside of school because I wanted to.
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You’re a superstar.
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Nah. Just a read-a-holic.
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I guess you read labels and manuals and dictionaries and road signs and magazines and newspapers and maybe sometimes books?
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Yep. All of the above. And plenty of books.
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And I do crossword puzzle books like my grandma. 🙂
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Hahaha that’s great.
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