Meant to add that I tried so hard not to listen to any of the commentary, but of course something crept into my hearing. I wish the media could keep mum for a few days; however, didn't they release the first chapter well before release date?

Did you like it?

I've heard some say that while it's destined to be a blockbuster success, the strongest appeal may be to hardcore Mockingbird fans who will enjoy a new visit with their beloved characters. Warts and all.

What's your reaction to that? Does it stand on its own or is there a nostalgia effect too?

I do not have it yet but do want to get it either the kindle version or a real book. Probably the kindle since I can have it instantly.
I want to know too did you enjoy the read?

I just got it yesterday. Haven't started it and haven't read or heard any of the hubbub about it, other than the initial announcement.

I was going to start this conversation, too. I haven't started it yet, but will probably do so later today.

I picked up my copy yesterday but it's still in the bag. I want to wait until I have time to read it in one sitting. If I take it out even just to look at it, that will be the end of that. I hope I can hold out until Friday. Sure.

I read chapter one when it was released last week. I was not captivated by it. I am not sure I will read the rest of the book.

I won't say too much except that I have heard all the chatter about it. I'll be very interested to hear all your reactions when you do have that conversation. I have no intention of reading the book myself.

I'm with you, Fran. I've read "Mockingbird," and that was fine, but I'm not interested in "Watchman." I'm happy others are looking forward to it.

Snidely, I won't answer your questions yet nor talk about the book until more people have had a chance to read it, but thanks for asking. I can't even give you a yes/no as to whether I enjoyed it as my answer isn't straightforward. :) I have a lot of questions myself and can't wait to discuss it.

My dd, who is a Mockingbird fanatic is so afraid that her beloved Atticus will be knocked of his pedestal that she considered not reading the book either. However, now she's relenting.

Isn't this the early draft that later turned into "Mockingbird"? I'm mainly interested to know if it had to be re-formed to make it an easier 'sell'.

I've ordered my copy, it's been shipped but haven't received it yet.

I've heard about the book for quite awhile....have no plans to read it. Costco had plenty for sale yesterday. I am curious to know what the title means.

I got my copy yesterday afternoon and finished reading it last night. I'll look forward to the discussion on here when more people have read it.

I contemplated reading it until I also heard scuttle about Atticus being not so wonderful. Like sjerin's daughter, I don't want anything to make me feel bad about him.

Well, I just finished reading it. In my not-so-humble opinion, it stinks.

Ooh, I better read it, now. Perhaps I have a better understanding of events, the timing, and the environment in rural Alabama at the time, etc.

I think that I can read Watchman knowing that it was written first.

I didn't know what the title meant so I goggled it. The phrase comes from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, in the King James Bible:
"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, Set a Watchman, let him declare what he teeth."
Isaish 21:6

I guess we're sneaking up on this - let him declare what he teeth?

No spoiler, I haven't read it--------

chisue, here's what I'd heard about this book's origins. Go Set was written first. An editor or agent read it and responded back to the author with something like "Where were these characters 15 or 20 years earlier, what experiences brought them to where they are now?"

So Lee spent a year or two writing a prequel to this story, that became Mockingbird. This one was never changed or released. I guess some elements mesh and some don't.

I read that Mockingbird was the result of directives from the publisher to create a sympathetic 'white savior' character. This is a common plot device, and unnecessary and insulting, according to the black readership responding to the review. (The Noble Cause Person is of course a common character outside of this black/white context.)

"let him declare what he teeth."

Should be, "let him declare what he seeth.

Revised Standard Version....."let him announce what he sees."

I can totally guess what they're talking about him seeing considering Mockingbird. But announcing it wasn't done back then. So I get it. Make too much sad sense.

I am not sure I want to read it either. One critic said you should read it on it's own merit. Easier said than done.

As mentioned, this book was the one written first. It's how Harper Lee wanted to tell the story.

I am thinking that the character of Atticus will seem like two different men. And, like sjerin's daughter, this would make me sad.

There is buzz on the Internet about it being suspicious that this book was just mislaid all these years, and then suddenly found. There's inference that the publishing company knew of its whereabouts earlier, but waited all these years, because Harper Lee had stated that after the fanfare of Mockingbird, she never wanted to publish her writing again. She is supposedly quite incapacitated now, and many are leery that she may not have been aware of what she was signing, when she okayed the publishing of it, and may not have read it or amended anything, since submitting the original manuscript, so many years ago.

I hope if this is the case, that she is never horrified to realize they published a work she never wanted made public....especially if she felt it was sub-par to Mockingbird. When an artist has been dead many years, and suddenly an unknown work is 'found' that was never known of previously, I always wonder if he might be thinking, "Oh no, that was one of my earliest works, when I was a terrible painter. I NEVER wanted that to see the light of day!"

I read it on my Kindle yesterday. From the content, the 'trial' has already happened, so this takes place clearly after Mockingbird not before. It sounded like the author's wonderful writing, but the story left me cold.