Go Set A Watchman Review

Like Joey and Rachel did with the books that upset them, yesterday I too wanted to put my copy of Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman' in the freezer. I refrained partly because I'm sure the freezer would not be kind to my Kindle, but also because I was trying to be open-minded and finish the book before passing my final judgement. When it was announced that Harper Lee was releasing another book after 55 years I couldn't wait. I had loved 'To Kill a Mockingbird' when I read it at school. The film is one of my favourites and in my opinion Gregory Peck's best role and I have seen the stage play more times than I can count. It is a timeless tale that to this day captures the masses. How could I not be excited to return to the characters I so loved and proceed on an all new adventure with them? Before the book was even released though controversy began to boil. First off many felt that with Lee's sister Alice, no longer around to watch out for Lee, meant Lee was being taken advantage of and being made to publish a book she never wanted to. Secondly, Atticus was suddenly a vile racist and the golden book that had introduced him was now tarnished. Now that I'm finished with the book it is not either of those issues that troubles me and made me want to put the book in the freezer. What had upset me the most was the disregard for 'Mockingbird' and the story it had told. The trial that Lee details in 'Mockingbird' was based on a real trial her father had been involved in, and while our fictional hero Atticus loses that case Lee's father had won. In 'Watchman' this was also the case which changes the character of not only Atticus but Scout as well. The case, it's outcomes and repercussions are what shape the Finch family and by changing that, their personalities and beliefs changed to. I also was surprised by the introduction of characters that never existed in the 'Mockingbird' world and felt they were out of place and hampered the story. But mostly I felt that Lee had not found her voice quite yet when she wrote 'Watchman'. The story certainly reflects what was happening in the south during the Civil Rights and desegregation period. It shows how people on both sides reacted and while we now look at it and find it evil and wrong, we must understand that we are looking on these things through the lense of our 21st century knowledge. While we can be surprised and rankled by them we shouldn't condemn them completely. Perhaps the real reason so many people were upset is the book reflects so much of what is happening in today's America. Uncle Jack's speech to Scout after she discovers Atticus attending a Citizen's meeting speaks of this change. America was once a country for the little man, who could achieve the American dream. Now it is a land for the wealthy and powerful who do nothing but demand it's people live a certain way and stomps on those who dare to dream. This reflection maybe something that we wish not to see. We love pretending that we've grown and evolved but the recent shootings in the South and the battle over the Confederate flag only prove that the same prejudices and mistrust that existed 50 years ago and even 100 years ago still runs rampant today. I hope that this book can be seen for what it really is; a single step in a writers process. While the characters may have the same names in 'Watchman' as in 'Mockingbird' it is Lee and essentially Scout's voice which are missing. The reason that 'Watchman' was not published 55 years ago is not because it is bad, but that it had not found it's feet. 'Mockingbird' is a true masterpiece and 'Watchman' only proves this. To be brilliant, Lee and her characters just had to grow. Above all, these two books exist in different worlds and 'Mockingbird' can never be tarnished unless we let it. 'Watchman' helped 'Mockingbird' take shape but it can never take it's place. If you can read 'Watchman' with this in mind you may enjoy it. If you can't then go read 'To Kill A Mockingbird' again and rediscoveritss brilliance. *** 3 stars out of 5

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