Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

[fabrisse]

I'll put any spoilers under a cut, and I will probably wait until I have completed the book to write about it in detail.

In the meantime, Chapter 8. Even if the rest of the book turns out to be terrible, this chapter is perfect and, by some terrible coincidence, it has come to us at the perfect time. Go Set a Watchman is set in that never world

Comments

[author_by_night]

Just read chapter 8. Wow

[fabrisse]

Facebook is surprisingly good at helping to identify prejudice in all its manifestations (and snobbery for theat matter).

Dill was part of the summer world which is part of what made him so exciting to Scout and her brother. Henry was part of the workaday world, and, the later chapters make it clearer, becomes a greater focus after she's about 12.

I agree that there are a couple of places which could use tightening or other minor bits of editing. What strikes me though is how visceral this book is. The great sentences are there, but they have an immediate impact rather than being the step away of TKaM.

I don't think anyone would describe the author of TKaM as angry. I think it's impossible to describe the author of Go Set a Watchman any other way.

[author_by_night]

Yes - I think when Jean Louise mentioned he was a childhood friend, I had in mind the TKAM childhood more so than childhood in the preteen years sense. But you're also right that most of TKAM takes place during the summer, so we never really see much of Jem and Scout's school life. We mostly see them when they're on summer break, away from their usual friends. And a lot of kids have friends they hang out with when school's in versus summer vacation. (I know I did.) I do wonder when/if Dill will show up, but he may not - I would think Chekov's Gun would be employed here, though. (Not quite the right way to put it, I realize.)

I don't think anyone would describe the author of TKaM as angry. I think it's impossible to describe the author of Go Set a Watchman any other way.

Interesting. I think you're right.

[fabrisse]

Let me know what you think when you've finished. I loved it despite the flaws and find it far more powerful than Mockingbird.