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Harper Lee to publish new novel, 55 years after To Kill a Mockingbird

by Midnight Oil
11 replies
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This is great news. Can't wait to read it. TKaM is one of my favorite novels and movies. I read the book at least every few years and rarely miss the movie when it comes on. Looking forward to this.

Harper Lee to publish new novel, 55 years after To Kill a Mockingbird | Books | The Guardian

Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, is to publish her second novel, Go Set a Watchman this summer, a work which the reclusive writer had believed lost for decades, and in which her beloved character Scout will be seen as an adult.

The shock news will delight the 88-year-old's millions of fans, who have waited for a second novel from Lee since 1960, when she released her debut, To Kill a Mockingbird, the tale of racism in the American south which has captivated readers ever since.
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Interesting ... surprising! I'll be honest: I actually had no idea that she was still alive.

    Reminds me of Henry Roth, the author of Call It Sleep, famous book published in 1934, whose second book came out, I think, 60 years later, in 1994.


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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I would have thought Harper Lee to be long gone by now, too. I had to read the book twice throughout my school years. I believe some schools have banned it now - and they do everything now that has a subject that isn't nice and "comfy". I'll be darned if I remember much about that book, though.

    MO - do you know if this is going to be similar subject matter, perhaps a sequel, or something completely different after all this time?
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    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      MO - do you know if this is going to be similar subject matter, perhaps a sequel, or something completely different after all this time?
      It was actually written before TKaM. Looks like it was the original manuscript, but Lee's editor convinced her to rewrite it.

      Lee said in a statement attributed to her by her publisher that Go Set a Watchman was completed in the mid-1950s, but she believed the original manuscript had been lost.

      "It features the character known as Scout as an adult woman and I thought it a pretty decent effort," Lee said in the statement. "My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel from the point of view of the young Scout. I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told."
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      • Profile picture of the author Alton Hargrave
        I saw the movie shortly after it came out. It is a very meaningful story. But, I was only about seven years old. The story meant more to me as I watched it many years later. Everyone ought to see the movie or read the book to get some insight as to how things were in the 1940s and 50s. As far as race relations, things hadn't changed much since the Civil War ended.

        When I was a little boy, I was allowed to shoot sparrows with my BB gun, but was always told to never shoot a Mockingbird.
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      • Profile picture of the author Formal Shorts
        Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

        It was actually written before TKaM. Looks like it was the original manuscript, but Lee's editor convinced her to rewrite it.

        Not exactly. She wrote Go Set a Watchman, but was convinced to write a different story. She didn't rewrite it as TKaM, but wrote TKaM as well.


        The version being released is the original though, and is being published with no edits, so it should be quite interesting to see how much of the Scout's childhood she had already formed in her mind before she even wrote it.


        I have to say it does feel a little suspicious. The book has only been discovered now - with Lee on death's door, by her new attorney with a questionable reputation, 3 months after her sister, long time attorney and protector has passed away
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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          Originally Posted by Formal Shorts View Post

          I have to say it does feel a little suspicious. The book has only been discovered now - with Lee on death's door, by her new attorney with a questionable reputation, 3 months after her sister, long time attorney and protector has passed away
          That does put a somewhat different light on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author DJL
    Yeah, I read To Kill A Mockingbird when it first came out, and was very disappointed.
    I thought it was a "how to" book.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by DJL View Post

      Yeah, I read To Kill A Mockingbird when it first came out, and was very disappointed.
      I thought it was a "how to" book.
      Extraordinary, you look so young in the picture. Any skincare tips?
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      • Profile picture of the author WalkingCarpet
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        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        Extraordinary, you look so young in the picture. Any skincare tips?
        Milk and Vit C. Not in that order.
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      • Profile picture of the author DJL
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        Extraordinary, you look so young in the picture. Any skincare tips?
        That picture was taken on my fiftieth birthday, at my Dad's request.
        All I know about skin care is, choose your parents carefully,
        as genes and hormones seem to rule us all.
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by DJL View Post

          That picture was taken on my fiftieth birthday, at my Dad's request.
          All I know about skin care is, choose your parents carefully,
          as genes and hormones seem to rule us all.
          Wow, I honestly had you down for around 30.
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