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thehawk72's review against another edition
1.0
This book never should have been published, not gonna lie.
mikmik2's review against another edition
3.0
Thoughts while reading:
- what the hell?
- where is this going
- w hy
- I don't see the relevance
I mean, I think I got the main point of this book, but what w a s this?
- what the hell?
- where is this going
- w hy
- I don't see the relevance
I mean, I think I got the main point of this book, but what w a s this?
christina_mac's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
readlikeanerd's review against another edition
5.0
I still feel slightly numb after reading this. Go Set a Watchman completely engrossed me. I was hooked from the very start and it brought that wonderful feeling of not wanting a book to end, which for me is always a sign of a five star rating.
Jean Louise Finch is returning to her hometown of Maycomb for her annual holiday. She’ll be returning to questions of romance and her future, but that’s nothing she hasn’t faced before. However, when she witnesses the two people she holds most dear attending an event which goes against her strongest beliefs, she begins to feel isolated from the town of Maycomb and everyone she loves.
Scrolling through the ‘reviews’ on Goodreads for this book makes me a little sad. They all seem to be either people who are very excited for it, people saying they won’t read it, or people who’ve read it and aren’t a huge fan. I’m yet to see somebody who has enthusiastically enjoyed the book. I believe it might be better for die hard To Kill a Mockingbird fans to read this as a separate entity. Personally, I didn’t reread To Kill a Mockingbird first so it wasn’t fresh it my mind, but this certainly didn’t hinder my reading of Go Set a Watchman; it’s very easy to read this book without TKAM in mind if you so choose.
A lot of people have said that it’s obvious why this book was rejected at the beginning of its life and that it isn’t written that well. I completely disagree. If there were any major flaws in the writing I didn’t notice them; I was too busy enjoying the story! Some people are upset by the different attitude of Atticus Finch compared to TKAM, but I thought it made an important point regarding idolising mortal humans (and I’m tempted to write a post on that later on for the people who feel let down by Atticus). Maybe it’s because I’ve never held Atticus Finch as a personal literary hero, but I thought his character development was interesting and oddly reassuring.
I found Go Set a Watchman to be very readable and very character driven. Adult Scout is a delight and everything you want your childhood heroine to grow up to be: she adopts the morals of her father whilst remaining the down-to-earth tomboy we fell in love with years ago. I love how fierce she is, not letting her emotions prevent her from what she vivaciously believes in as she questions, “What turned ordinary men into screaming dirt at the top of their voices, what made her kind of people harden and say ‘n—-r’ when the word had never crossed their lips before?” The narrative is angry and powerful and I adore the way Lee uses language to demonstrate the relentless energy of Scout. So whilst Atticus says some very questionable things that are likely to upset some people, Scout’s bold retaliation definitely recompenses this. It’s such a joy to read about a female character who is so spirited and independent and willing to fight for what’s right.
A lot of this novel deals with Scout’s memories of her childhood in Maycomb. In some novels I find myself getting frustrated when they move back in time because I want the main plot to be attended to, but here I found the pace to be just right that you could enjoy learning about Scout’s history. It was nice to return to the children we met in To Kill a Mockingbird and it means that the Bildungsroman aspect still remains, even though Scout is officially all grown up. There were also gems of humour throughout the book, despite the dark overarching theme, which I loved.
People have questioned the controversy surrounding the book and don’t know if it’s right to read it in case its publication is against Lee’s wishes. I understand this view, but the book has been published and is going to be read now, so I would rather enjoy the book and share this enjoyment with others than spread negativity. I won’t pretend it’s the same life-changing work as To Kill a Mockingbird and, while I know it’s impossible not to compare them, I hope it can be viewed as a great novel which, as all novels should, entertains and enlightens the reader.
I gave To Kill a Mockingbird
★★★★★
Jean Louise Finch is returning to her hometown of Maycomb for her annual holiday. She’ll be returning to questions of romance and her future, but that’s nothing she hasn’t faced before. However, when she witnesses the two people she holds most dear attending an event which goes against her strongest beliefs, she begins to feel isolated from the town of Maycomb and everyone she loves.
Scrolling through the ‘reviews’ on Goodreads for this book makes me a little sad. They all seem to be either people who are very excited for it, people saying they won’t read it, or people who’ve read it and aren’t a huge fan. I’m yet to see somebody who has enthusiastically enjoyed the book. I believe it might be better for die hard To Kill a Mockingbird fans to read this as a separate entity. Personally, I didn’t reread To Kill a Mockingbird first so it wasn’t fresh it my mind, but this certainly didn’t hinder my reading of Go Set a Watchman; it’s very easy to read this book without TKAM in mind if you so choose.
A lot of people have said that it’s obvious why this book was rejected at the beginning of its life and that it isn’t written that well. I completely disagree. If there were any major flaws in the writing I didn’t notice them; I was too busy enjoying the story! Some people are upset by the different attitude of Atticus Finch compared to TKAM, but I thought it made an important point regarding idolising mortal humans (and I’m tempted to write a post on that later on for the people who feel let down by Atticus). Maybe it’s because I’ve never held Atticus Finch as a personal literary hero, but I thought his character development was interesting and oddly reassuring.
I found Go Set a Watchman to be very readable and very character driven. Adult Scout is a delight and everything you want your childhood heroine to grow up to be: she adopts the morals of her father whilst remaining the down-to-earth tomboy we fell in love with years ago. I love how fierce she is, not letting her emotions prevent her from what she vivaciously believes in as she questions, “What turned ordinary men into screaming dirt at the top of their voices, what made her kind of people harden and say ‘n—-r’ when the word had never crossed their lips before?” The narrative is angry and powerful and I adore the way Lee uses language to demonstrate the relentless energy of Scout. So whilst Atticus says some very questionable things that are likely to upset some people, Scout’s bold retaliation definitely recompenses this. It’s such a joy to read about a female character who is so spirited and independent and willing to fight for what’s right.
A lot of this novel deals with Scout’s memories of her childhood in Maycomb. In some novels I find myself getting frustrated when they move back in time because I want the main plot to be attended to, but here I found the pace to be just right that you could enjoy learning about Scout’s history. It was nice to return to the children we met in To Kill a Mockingbird and it means that the Bildungsroman aspect still remains, even though Scout is officially all grown up. There were also gems of humour throughout the book, despite the dark overarching theme, which I loved.
People have questioned the controversy surrounding the book and don’t know if it’s right to read it in case its publication is against Lee’s wishes. I understand this view, but the book has been published and is going to be read now, so I would rather enjoy the book and share this enjoyment with others than spread negativity. I won’t pretend it’s the same life-changing work as To Kill a Mockingbird and, while I know it’s impossible not to compare them, I hope it can be viewed as a great novel which, as all novels should, entertains and enlightens the reader.
I gave To Kill a Mockingbird
★★★★★
lmconway_ak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Better than I expected. Still, a difficult discussion of the southern position.
Content Warnings
Be aware of the use of the N word. While not an overuse, it's still there.
missnerdinatrix's review against another edition
4.0
Within an hour of putting GSAW on my currently reading shelf I had someone already complain to me about how racist and horrible it was. So I knew I was already in for a long story or so I thought.
I should say first what this book isn't: It isn't a sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird. It's easy to see how people would assume that because of the same characters we grew up with in TKAM being in this one. In reality this is a draft OF TKAM that Lee decided to rewrite and then went on to become the novel we grew up with in schools for about 50 or so years. So we have to put things a little in to perspective when we go through Watchman.
Yes, even tho it's a draft Watchman fits VERY well as a continuation of the story begun with Mockingbird. So well in fact that people assume it is which is just an indication to Lee's ability to stay engaging and consistent as an author. The only downside to an alluring story is that we tend to hold it in such high esteem than anything which tries to view that book in a new light or change any bit becomes a point of contention.
Atticus....is a racist. People screamed and howled about it totally forgetting a few important points: Eventually, Scout is going to grow up and people change.
Once you get beyond the shallow controversy you find a slow and sleepy narrative that mirrors the hometown of Scout herself as she visits her family and society that shes left for New York. It doesn't take long before she realizes her father has changed: He's getting older, his health is not what it once was and worse of all Scout expect everything to remain the same. She doesn't accept that change is a constant thing but works in its own ways and that she herself can't control it, even if she has good intentions. It's a much slower pacing without any big climax as one might expect tho it flows well painting Scout in a way I hadn't expected to see her. She is an example of the restlessness of the time it was written in when people were ready to push forward yet had no real idea on HOW. The clash between Scout's mindset and the approach of atticus to the issues of the day are a startling contrast that overlaps the uneasy politics they were grappling with at large.
Very rich personalities and spirit against a cross section of mindsets makes Watchman very likable as long as one's ready to let it stand on its own and stop comparing it to Mockingbird. We've grown up since first reading it in school, so should we let Scout and Atticus grow up as well.
I should say first what this book isn't: It isn't a sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird. It's easy to see how people would assume that because of the same characters we grew up with in TKAM being in this one. In reality this is a draft OF TKAM that Lee decided to rewrite and then went on to become the novel we grew up with in schools for about 50 or so years. So we have to put things a little in to perspective when we go through Watchman.
Yes, even tho it's a draft Watchman fits VERY well as a continuation of the story begun with Mockingbird. So well in fact that people assume it is which is just an indication to Lee's ability to stay engaging and consistent as an author. The only downside to an alluring story is that we tend to hold it in such high esteem than anything which tries to view that book in a new light or change any bit becomes a point of contention.
Atticus....is a racist. People screamed and howled about it totally forgetting a few important points: Eventually, Scout is going to grow up and people change.
Once you get beyond the shallow controversy you find a slow and sleepy narrative that mirrors the hometown of Scout herself as she visits her family and society that shes left for New York. It doesn't take long before she realizes her father has changed: He's getting older, his health is not what it once was and worse of all Scout expect everything to remain the same. She doesn't accept that change is a constant thing but works in its own ways and that she herself can't control it, even if she has good intentions. It's a much slower pacing without any big climax as one might expect tho it flows well painting Scout in a way I hadn't expected to see her. She is an example of the restlessness of the time it was written in when people were ready to push forward yet had no real idea on HOW. The clash between Scout's mindset and the approach of atticus to the issues of the day are a startling contrast that overlaps the uneasy politics they were grappling with at large.
Very rich personalities and spirit against a cross section of mindsets makes Watchman very likable as long as one's ready to let it stand on its own and stop comparing it to Mockingbird. We've grown up since first reading it in school, so should we let Scout and Atticus grow up as well.
abhi_sp's review against another edition
1.0
The ppl who were involved in the publication of this book should be ashamed of dishonoring a sweet old lady whose true work invested such Joy and tolerance across the world.
emilyrollande's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0