I don’t know how to feel about this. To Kill a Mockingbird was a lightning bolt to be sure, but I also think time and place played a huge part in making it what it has become. And I’m not saying it doesn’t deserve the accolades it got.
I don’t see how a follow-up, no matter how well composed, can compare favorably. I expect it will end up as just another book.
I’ll be getting it know matter what the reviews are.
I’m excited to read it, but reining in any expectations I may have based on the high quality of “Mockingbird”. Like many of us out there, I view the characters as old friends and a chance to revisit them and see how their lives unfolded will be welcome. If it’s excellent, I’m more than willing to be pleasantly surprised.
I think Penguin Random House, the publisher, should make every effort to make it clear that this book was actually written before To Kill a Mockingbird. It is, in fact, a “lost book” that has since been found.
Go Set a Watchman takes place after To Kill a Mockingbird, but wasn’t written as a sequel – the latter was actually a prequel.
I’m reading it. You’re reading it. We’re all reading it!
I wonder if she’ll do something massively cool like donate most of the zillion dollars this takes in to create scholarships. Or - just buy Alabama. Re-write the constitution and make it a great place for diversity and equality.
I am eager to read this book. Based on the description in the linked story, and when it was written, I think there is good reason to have pretty high expectations. I don’t expect it to be better than Mockingbird, but I expect to really enjoy it.
She always said she only had one story worth telling and I fully believe her. Extremely low hopes / outright thinking this is horrifying news on my part.
I am worried that it will seem dated since it was written 50yrs ago. I am very much looking forward to reading it, and, yeah, I just saw the item in my news feed and already there is a thread on it and Sampiro has posted in it. Gotta love this community.
Wow, that is exciting news. “To Kill a Mockingbird” had more of a profound effect on me than any other novel - looking forward to catching up with Scout as an adult.
End of the third and beginning of the fourth graf of the linked Guardian story indicates that Lee (who I’m well aware is still alive) thought the novel lost.
I’m super excited because it’s not actually a follow-up, as it was written BEFORE Mockingbird. But it takes place after Mockingbird, with the same characters. So it’s a sequel to what was the prequel, but nobody knew the other was a prequel. And this new one is actually the first in the “series.”
She’s 88, has earned millions from Mockingbird, and lives in a very modest ranch style house with her sister. Her sister who lived with her until her death in November was literally a lawyer until she was 100 years old, and Harper was her sole heir, so I doubt money’s her motivation.
Now for the publishers, it probably is.
Lost how?