Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: July 2015
Pages: 278
Source: Library
For: Harper Lee, duh!
Series: Sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird
Summary (from goodreads):
Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience.Things I Liked:
I enjoyed a number of parts of this book. I really liked seeing Scout and just who she had grown up into and the funny things she said and thought. I loved that part of her. I really struggled with what the story was actually about, her seeing the truth of her hometown and father and not idolizing them anymore. It was hard to read, hard for me to understand, and just not what I wanted to read, I guess. It was a smart book, and definitely changes your perspective and thoughts in relation to To Kill a Mockingbird. Still, I found as it went on that I wasn't much enjoying my read. I did like it, but I didn't like it too. Makes perfect sense, right? I read the book probably six months ago, but I'm only posting it now, just in time to hear of Harper Lee's death. Wish we had more from her!
Things I Didn't Like:
Think I covered both in the previous paragraph.
Read-alikes:
Well I'd start with To Kill a Mockingbird...and maybe end there too :)
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few
mrg-factor: none
v-factor: ->
maybe a little off-page
Overall rating: ***
Posts
Thanks for your thoughts. I've decided not to read it because I don't want my mind changed about Atticus. I know that seems close-minded, but he's one of my favorite literary characters and I don't want how I feel about him jaded.
ReplyDeleteNah, I figure there's too much out there to read something you don't want. :)
DeleteYeah, I don't want to read this one. I'm good with the original.
ReplyDeleteThe original is still so fabulous. I need to reread it now!
DeleteI was really apprehensive about reading this because I love TKAM and Atticus so much. But, you know what? I didn't hate it. I think the new perspectives Scout gains are realistic and interesting. All of us have to grow up sometime and part of doing that is realizing that our parents aren't perfect -- and being able to love and accept them anyway.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree that she needed to see her father as human, though I was a bit bothered by just how human they made him.
DeleteI've been avoiding this book but I think I'll read it someday.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you have to go in ready for it for sure.
Delete