• HOME
  • Agave Magazine
  • Prickly Pear Kids
  • Editorial Staff
  • Books
    • 2018 Series
  • Submit
  • Shop
  • Services
    • Book Design Pricing
  • Archives
  • Stockists
  • Blog
AGAVE PRESS
  • HOME
  • Agave Magazine
  • Prickly Pear Kids
  • Editorial Staff
  • Books
    • 2018 Series
  • Submit
  • Shop
  • Services
    • Book Design Pricing
  • Archives
  • Stockists
  • Blog
AGAVE PRESS

On the Blog

Will you Go Set a Watchman?

24/7/2015

Very few books evoke as much universal praise as To Kill a Mockingbird. In 2010, bookstores and libraries across the United States planned events to celebrate the book's 50th anniversary; at the same time, the book rose to the top of several bestseller lists in the UK. Atticus is even a popular baby name for parents inspired by the character's bravery and moral compass.

In February of this year came an exciting-yet-puzzling announcement: Harper Lee's second book, Go Set a Watchman, would be released in the summer. Although Lee publicly claimed to be ecstatic about the release, the questions and concerns came immediately: why did the reclusive Lee decide to release a new book now? Did she really want this or was an adviser taking advantage of her? How could the book live up to its beloved predecessor?

(We should warn you: while we won't give away anything in this post, links from this point forward will most likely have plot spoilers.)Days before its official publication date, the first chapter was released to even more controversy and, for some people, a palpable sense of grief. 

Reviews of the book have been mixed - and some lovers of Mockingbird have declared that they won't read Watchman. We won't comment on the book in this post, but as a staff who critically reads literature regularly, the chatter has given us food for thought. Does reading the book somehow make a person complicit in Atticus Finch's development as a character? Can a reviewer really objectively evaluate the quality of Lee's writing? Does reading the book make us feel differently about Lee or Mockingbird? Should Watchman be read in classes as a companion piece in schools? We could go on.

It may seem trite to say that books we love become part of us, and it's easy to forget the power of words in our 140 character-at-a-time world. But as the reaction to Watchman show us, when a book is beloved we become so invested in the characters and their worlds that we are genuinely angry and disappointed when they don't live up to our expectations. For any writer (or should we say every writer) who's ever questioned why you're toiling away at your latest piece, it's comforting to know that words have the amazing potential to make people feel something.

Will you be reading Watchman? Why or why not? Tell us what you think in the comments!


Go Set a Watchman
US cover of Go Set a Watchman Photo: Wikipedia
2 Comments
Columba link
23/7/2015 02:58:13 pm

I read it. It was enjoyable, but a little clunky. I read somewhere it was Lee's first try at TKAM, which was then rewritten into the classic we love. It read a bit like a first draft, I thought. I'm not sure what to make of the whole situation.

Reply
Binasa link
14/11/2016 02:43:33 am

I was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. Its really fun to read. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Agave Press

    Literary, art and photography publications, and publisher of fine books. Quarterly magazines are available online and in print, and feature contributors from around the globe. For current book titles, visit our homepage.

    www.agavemag.com





    Listed at Duotrope

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories​

    All
    Activism
    Agave Magazine
    Agave Press
    Art
    Awards
    Berlin
    Canada
    Dance
    Five Questions
    Global
    ICYMI
    Inaugural Issue
    Ireland
    Kids
    Literature
    London
    Music
    Nyc
    Philosophy
    Photography
    Poetry
    Prickly Pear
    Storytelling
    Subscriptions
    Summer Reads
    Sustainability

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Agave Magazine + Press, 2018
ISSN 2329-5848
ISSN 2375-978X
ISSN 2574-3392
​
✕