Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” probably should not have
been sub-titled “A novel.” It’s more like a collection of short stories: Scout
(Jean Louise) attempting to disprove Thomas Wolfe by coming home again,
reliving the past with her white trash friend Henry, going to a ladies’ tea and
finding out that she can neither abide nor fit in with this hallowed Maycomb
tradition, finding out that her father is part of a town council dedicated to
suppressing the blacks, getting strange advice from her uncle who really loved
her mother and finally coming to an understanding of who she is and why she is
the way she is.
Lee’s book has some interesting dialog; lots of southern
argot and characters who are somewhat memorable but in a way are almost
stereotypical of the south.
The book is not a page turner and reminds me of many of the
other southern women authors I read back in the day (Carson McCullers’ “The
Member of the Wedding” comes to mind). However, it does provide conversational
material for book enthusiasts, and will, no doubt be required reading in
academic circles.
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