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Go Set a Watchman
Go Set a Watchman: A Novel | Harper Lee
From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prizewinning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.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 painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the pasta journey that can only be guided by one's own conscience.Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor, and effortless precisiona profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context, and new meaning to an American classic.
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Jeg
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Pickpick

The best parts for me were where the past was revisited as I had just read her first book. In this book Scout, Jean Louise is an adult returning to Maycombe which I suspect is based on the town Monroeville where Harper was born. She often reminisces about the past . 50s attitudes explored and many passages reminded me of some of what is happening and being said right now. Can‘t help but wonder what Harper would have thought about today.

Suet624 I‘ll have to check this one out. 2mo
Jeg @Suet624 I‘ve been reading about this book. It was apparently written before Kill a Mockingbird. Wasn‘t meant to be published. Have a look on your search engine . It also gets very mixed reviews. 2mo
17 likes2 comments
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Teresereading
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#aboutabook
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
#controversial
I recently re-read this on audio. I‘m still conflicted, I enjoyed the first part that provides more info on Jem, their mother, Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jack. But after courthouse scene, it just gets complicated and unclear. Maybe if they had just published the first part as a novella, it would have been a better outcome for lifelong fans of TKAM.

TheLudicReader Once I heard the story of how this novel came to be, I decided never to read it. 3mo
Eggs 🧡🖤🧡 3mo
22 likes2 comments
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AroundTheBookWorld
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Awk_Word_Smith
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Panpan

Nope

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Awk_Word_Smith
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This “novel” is making me so incredibly mad. 😡

As a writer, it is fascinating to see the work that Harper Lee and Tay Hohoff, Lee‘s editor, put in to mold an American classic into existence. But to market this as anything more than an unedited first draft of “To Kill A Mockingbird” is disingenuous at best.

Apart from the academic, there is no literary value to publishing “Watchman”. It was an obvious cash grab, and a stain upon Lee‘s legacy.

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Awk_Word_Smith
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…but first…

Instead of my annual rereading of “To Kill A Mockingbird”, I thought I‘d finally read the original unpublished first draft of it.

We shall see if this is an abomination or not, whether it should have ever seen the light of day, or is a valuable companion to the original giving more depth to already beloved characters.

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GatheringBooks
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 9mo
Eggs Perfection 🖤🩷💜 9mo
36 likes2 comments
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Astroneman
Go Set a Watchman | Harper Lee
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Mehso-so

Mmmm... the first book is uncomparable. Usually the second is just an obligation.

#book #books #bookopoly #bookworm #bookshelf #goodreads #litsy #litsybook #harperlee #feltrinelli #toread #readingchallenge2024 #libro #leggere #ioleggo

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VioletMoonBooks
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Since Atlanta, she had looked out the dining-car window with a delight almost physical. Over her breakfast coffee, she watched the last of Georgia‘s hills recede and the red earth appear, and with it tin-roofed houses set in the middle of swept yards, and in the yards the inevitable verbena grew, surrounded by whitewashed tires.
#GoSetAWatchman #HarperLee #firstline #booklist #Fiction #HistoricalFiction #Classics #Audiobook #Historical 💙💙💙💙💙

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Judybskt
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this!

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Judybskt
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Trying to combat this dreary day!

MidnightBookGirl Love that mug! 2y
18 likes1 comment
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Crystal83
Pickpick

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it so much!!! It was narrated by Reese Witherspoon!!! Reese did an amazing job on narrating the book. I felt that Scout has grown up!!!! I had putting this book off for a long time. I seen that my library had the audiobook available so I took the chance and listened to the audiobook. It was worth it.

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Judybskt
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📖Tagged
☕️Iced coffee
🍁Relaxing, getting caught up in my tbr pile!

@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads

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Judybskt
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Starting a new one!

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BC_Dittemore
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Pickpick

When Go Set a Watchman is good, it‘s REALLY good. And when it‘s rough it‘s REALLY rough. It‘s no fault of Lee‘s — she never intended it to see the light of day, and so it was never truly polished. It‘s a tough book, because it takes a revered character and casts him in a more human light. Yet, the lesson here is just as powerful and poignant as the one we take away from To Kill a Mockingbird.

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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

I've heard so many bad things about this book that I've put off reading it for years. I might be in the minority but I enjoyed it.

Knowing this was written before To Kill A Mockingbird helped me appreciate it more. This story is told through the eyes of an adult Scout who has to come to terms with people not being exactly who she thought they were. There's a harshness to this reality of Maycomb that felt very true to the timeframe.

vivastory I had no idea that this was written before To Kill a Mockingbird!! 2y
Addison_Reads @vivastory From what I've read this was a first draft of the idea that would become To Kill a Mockingbird but Lee wasn't happy with it. Thinking about that while reading it helped me appreciate both books more. 2y
PaperbackPirate I liked it too! I connected with returning home to your small town after becoming an adult and seeing negative things you didn‘t notice or maybe care about as a child. 2y
Addison_Reads @PaperbackPirate I had a similar connection as well. I can remember that first time when I went back home and noticed people and ideas weren't what I thought they were. I like the contrast between Mockingbird being through the eyes of a child, and Watchmen being from an adult's view. 2y
PaperbackPirate I think some of it was a change in me, but like Scout it felt to me like everyone else had changed. And you made a great point about POV. (edited) 2y
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SleepyDragon
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Pickpick

I picked this one because it was controversial and ticked some people off. The rather plausible notion that Atticus was indeed racist was unsettling for many, and that is exactly why I was glad Lee's original concept was published. Maybe the white savior's armor isn't all that shiny after all. And it was interesting to see Scout all grown up, struggling with the problematic nature of her Southern upbringing. #Alphabetgame #LetterG

marleed I really liked it. I thought it showed how rewriting the story from the younger Scout‘s perspective showed how much children see their parent as a hero. I‘m glad a read TKAMB first because I never thought Atticus as being anything but heroic. But years later it was fascinating to realize his flaws. 2y
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BC_Dittemore
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Having just finished To Kill a Mockingbird bird me and Granny are gonna dive into Go Set a Watchman. I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about this book, but it‘s been on my TBR list since the day it came out. So if ever I‘m going to read it, it seems now, with the story of Atticus, Scout, and Jem still fresh in our minds, is the perfect time.

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BarkingMadRead
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I haven‘t 100% decided on my goal for the #awesomeapril #readathon with @Andrew65 but I plan to finish 3 books I think! On day 1 I am doing a Charlotte NC book crawl so most of that day will involve buying books, so my goal that day is to buy one book from each Indie bookstore! #shoplocal

DGRachel I thought about taking a couple of vacation days to do the book crawl at a leisurely pace, but then I looked at the stacks of unread books that I don‘t have shelf space for and thought maybe I should skip it this year. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣🤣 3y
BarkingMadRead @DGRachel I‘ve never done it, so I‘m pretending my unread books don‘t exist 🤣🤣 3y
DGRachel Have fun!! 3y
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BarkingMadRead
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BCfinn
Pickpick

Really enjoyed listening to this auto book, couldn‘t turn it off. One of my daughters liked it too has she just read to kill a mockingbird in school.

julesG Welcome to Litsy! 3y
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VioletMoonBooks
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sjdreads
Panpan

What a disappointment. I was in two minds about reading this after reading that Harper Lee never wanted it published and I can understand why. Maybe I missed something but literally nothing happens throughout the book.

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Cazxxx
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Starting this one today, reviews seem so mixed but I‘m keeping an open mind

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xxlozzelxx
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"If you did not want much, there was plenty."

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DebinHawaii
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#QuotsyJul21

Catching up from yesterday‘s #austere prompt. I‘ve have still not read this one yet.

“On any other day she would have stood barefoot on the wet grass listening to the mockingbirds' early service; she would have pondered over the meaninglessness of silent, austere beauty renewing itself with every sunrise and going ungazed at by half the world.”

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TH3F4LC0N
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Here‘s a picture from my new booktube video. It‘s a doozy. If you‘ve got time, come on over to my YouTube channel (TH3 F4LC0N) to watch my latest video “Unpopular Literary Opinion: Why Go Set a Watchman is Better than To Kill a Mockingbird”. In which I explain why the beloved American classic was actually surpassed by the rough draft which was published half a century later. Bring your hate; I know this book is sacred. I give no 💩.

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bibliobliss
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>>#minimalistbookstagram for
3•31•21

I've read "To Kill a Mockingbird" but somehow this one is not a top priority pick for me just now. Another one languishing atop #MountTBR ?

Do you have a favorite quote from either TKAM or GSAW? If so, please share!

#alwaysreading #minimalistbookstagram #instabook #tbrpile #paperbacks #fiction #novels #booksandmugs #coffeeandbooks

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Judybskt
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🌷 Yes!
🌷 Nobody comes close
🌷 Tagged - not sure why

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs “Nobody comes close” 😂😂 Thanks for joining in 👏🏻🌸📚🌼💗 4y
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MilicaS
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6/53

🥰

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BayouGirl85
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one contrary to vast opinions. I appreciated seeing Scout's personal growth. I was sadden to see the loss of her naiveness, the world no longer being black and white, a crumbling of personal icons. It's an unfortunate necessity.

March Book 3/25 #bookspin #LitsyLove @TheAromaOfBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
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Curiouser_and_curiouser
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I'm enjoying this sequel to Harper Lee's first novel To Kill A Mockingbird.
It tells of the Finch family around 17 years after where the first book left off. Atticus is aging but still working as a lawyer & Jean Louise is 26 & living & working in New York, coming back to her hometown of Maycomb for a visit. Equality issues are still high as time has passed. The white folk of Maycomb still have racist attitudes which Jean Louise finds confronting.

nanuska_153 This book broke my heart 💔 4y
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Elizabeth2
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Mehso-so

I really don‘t quite know how to review this book. The first half dragged and I found Jean Louis (Scout) not very likable. Then, when the meat of the story finally begins the pace picked up a bit. There are lessons here, especially at the end of the book. It turns out, that it‘s sort of a timely read. I wish I hadn‘t spent any money on it, knowing now that Lee didn‘t want it published. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5)/5

This was my #bookspin for December!

samantharoberts I haven‘t really heard anything good about this book which makes me so sad because I loved TKAM! 🙁 4y
Elizabeth2 @samanthagutt I saw someone else say that you really have to separate the two, and keep in mind that this is not a sequel. It is the first version of TKAM, that Lee wanted scrubbed. For those who really love TKAM, maybe it‘s best to let this one lie. (I did love TKAM, but it has been 30 years since I‘ve read it.) 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great review!! 4y
28 likes3 comments
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Elizabeth2
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#sundaymorningvibes

Finishing this one today so I can wipe it from my TBR. I stuck with it because I don‘t give up easily on books, but that first half was a struggle. Finally into the meat if it and the story has picked up somewhat.

DarkMina Cute mug! 4y
Elizabeth2 @DarkMina thanks! I think this one may have been a Target special. 😉🎄 4y
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Elizabeth2
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Beginning this one next. It‘s been on my TBR for a long time, but I‘ve been putting it off because of the mixed reviews. It‘s my #bookspin book this month, so I‘m diving in!

marleed I read it a couple months ago with the same reservations. I was glad I read it. Also glad I knew it was not a sequel so much as it was a first draft. That made this so much more interesting to me. I‘m glad Harper Lee opted to give us Scout‘s young heroic version of her father rather than that of the older tainted Scout. 4y
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VioletMoonBooks
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marleed
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Pickpick

Had this been written as a sequel to TKAMB, I would be forever saddened that Atticus was not all his 6-yr old daughter knew him to be. However, as an unedited, rejected manuscript written by a Southern woman in the 50s for what would later become TKAMB, it is fascinating. I‘m glad her finished work was Scout‘s story at 6 rather than at 26. This is a testamentr as to why each of us must be an Anti Racist.

PurpleTulipGirl I thought it was an interesting accompaniment to TKAMB. We all need a reminder now and then that our heroes are human. They are not perfect. 4y
marleed @PurpleTulipGirl I‘ve prioritized books #BLM this year and without intention this was such an interesting book to include. Atticus was a fictional southern man in his 70s in this book. It‘s a great example of white privilege and supremacy. Also, a good example for - racism is bad. I‘m good and therefore can‘t be racist. ...The white fear of NAACP in the 50s is something I should learn more about. 4y
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Jari-chan
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Mehso-so

This was the original version of the Mockingbird and in my opinion Harper Lee did good to revise the book. It sure is an interesting read to see where she started out and how hard she worked on her books. She also set the focus anew, which I think is the main reason Mockingbird got that famous and important.

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JennF13
Pickpick

I appreciate the writing but I preferred the point of view from To Kill A Mockingbird - I sometimes regret seeing the world from a grown-up Scout‘s perspective.

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rsteve388
Pickpick

This was a reread as an audiobook, and I loved it as an audiobook and the story it's self. For me this story is the complex emotions one person goes through when they realize that the people they love and look up to, have racist ideas and ideals. It a story of what happens when you realize you were raised with these ideas and attitudes. It's what happens when you remove the white supremacist lens and take a good look at your community.

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SolitaryBookLover
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If only we all thought this way. The world would be a better place.

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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OrangeMooseReads
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Panpan

I didn‘t like it. It wasn‘t that Atticus is a racist or that Scout is naive, although those things certainly taint the characters that we met in TKMB. The writing was so far apart from the writing in TKMB. It felt off. I don‘t like this book. That may be an unpopular opinion. It should have stayed locked away and I wish Ms. Lee could have been sound minded enough to keep it that way.

LinesUponAPage I agree with you. I hated it too. I was going to read it, however, i felt like i needed to be true to author so i did. It changes every single thing i knew and respected about Atticus. I wish i hadn‘t read it. 5y
Blackink_WhitePaper Completely I agree 🙌🏻 5y
43 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Still very torn over reading this. But I did buy it so ...
#nextup

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Echo
Pickpick

Oof. This was a hard read. As an Alabamian, I am both embarrassed and saddened. It‘s made worse by Lee not shying away from the exact thing that was going on in small southern backwoods at the time. Humanity has come so far, but still has so far to go.

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Echo
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The turning point. The point where Atticus falls from grace. The point where Scout realizes something ugly about the one person she‘s always thought could do no wrong. I think this will ultimately be as important a read as To Kill A Mockingbird, because people are not always what they seem, because even a seemingly good person can harbor ugliness.