I had a great discussion with a good friend about this novel.   We joined forces to give you two views on this novel.  Lots to talk about whether you liked it or not!

More articles can be found in the features section of this website.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
278 pages

My thoughts
Thank you to Megan for sharing some of her thoughts!

What’s it about?
This novel follows the characters made famous in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird".  Scout is young woman returning home from New York to visit family in Maycomb, Alabama.  On returning home she is confronted with the social prejudices of the South. For the first time in her life she is disillusioned with her father, a man she much admires, and his views on what is happening at the beginning of the modern civil rights movement.

Some background: Watchman, set amid the 1950s civil rights movement, is Harper Lee’s first novel.  Lee’s publisher, seeing great possibility in the story, asked Lee to revisit the earlier world of Maycomb in a second book.  In Mockingbird, Lee brings to life saintly Atticus Finch, literary archetype of justice, decency and integrity, and Scout, his heroic, but precocious, tomboy daughter.  Set during the Depression of the 1930’s, Mockingbird won the Pulitzer, after which the author reportedly never wrote again.  Watchman, discovered only recently and published without editing, has been touted as the publishing event of the decade.  Watchman, thus, is the first draft or parent of the beloved American classic Mockingbird.

In Mockingbird Atticus is our honorable defender of “equal rights for all; special privileges for none” who represents a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman in the segregated South of the 1930s.  Twenty years later in Watchman, some time after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, Scout returns to Maycomb from New York City as the 26-year old Jean Louise Finch.  There, she confronts her 72-year old arthritic father, presented as a small-town Southern racist who once attended a KKK meeting, who has taken under his wing Jean Louise’s “white trash” boyfriend, and who now sits on a local citizens’ council, the purpose of which is to oppose Court-mandated desegregation.

What did it make me think about?
This novel was set in a time and place that I have trouble imagining.  It was like reading a snapshot from a particular era.  For that alone it was worth reading.  What a different world people inhabited in the Deep South fifty years ago.   I saw this novel as more than just about race- although attitudes on race create the major conflict in the story.  This novel portrays a young woman growing into her own personal value system.  As we all know, that is often a difficult road.  Scout struggles as she finds her views on race differ significantly from her father- a man she much admires.  Like many others I struggled with the portrayal of Atticus.  While I was troubled by Atticus’s view on race, I much admired his parenting style- and this book was very much about letting your child grow beyond you.  

Has our beloved Atticus in Watchman become the bigot he was not in Mockingbird? Watchman has been sharply criticized by many for its portrayal of Atticus as an aging racist, a man becoming more prejudiced over time as civil rights changes were forced upon the South. I disagree. In my view, Atticus has been the same man throughout both books, one who believes in individual responsibility, the right of self-determination, both by the individual and by small, local government, and each person’s absolute duty to contribute to his own welfare and that of his community in order to share fully in the responsibilities of citizenship.  He distrusts large, authoritarian government as it treads on the little people.  It fosters dependence on government and, so, prevents individuals from working hard to succeed. That ideology lends itself to paternalism toward people less able to meet those standards of citizenship—blacks because of slavery and segregation as well as cultural differences.  Thus, the same paternalistic Atticus would defend a wrongly accused black man in Mockingbird and would oppose a foreign NAACP in Watchman as it intrusively lobbies for changes on behalf of Maycomb’s blacks when, in his opinion, local interests best serve their needs. 

Should I read it?
Harper Lee set out to share her experience of living in the Deep South in both her novels.  In both novels the themes of race, justice, and family are explored.  "Go Set a Watchman" was her first attempt at exploring these themes and it pales in comparison to her subsequent book.  Should you read it?  This was a hard choice for me as I am one of those who truly loved "To Kill a Mockingbird".  I am not sorry I read, "Go Set a Watchman" but it is not the timeless classic that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is.  For me this novel was interesting and very thought provoking, but not a literary masterpiece.  It was an interesting look at difficult subjects.  It also showcased how Harper Lee's writing evolved, how editing does make a difference in a finished novel, and how writers progress in their craft.

Watchman is fraught with problems. Its language is often stilted and awkward.  It is replete with lengthy passages about civil rights, best characterized as preachy debate and essay, that Lee tries to pass off as dialogue.  At times I found Jean Louise to be whiny and her naïve disillusionment tiresome.  Her strident indictments of her father are inconsistent and come across as immature.  And, her dogged reliance on Atticus as her sole moral compass is disingenuous in a 26-year old.  In sum, Watchman clearly needed a strong editor.  Nevertheless, it shows Lee’s great appeal as a writer and demonstrates her creative evolution from the clumsy Watchman to the compassionate and tender Mockingbird.  And, of course, who does not want to know what became of Maycomb after Tom Robinson’s conviction, after Boo Radley saves Jem Finch and after Scout grows up?  And, most importantly, who could miss the wonderful opportunity to get inside Harper Lee’s mind one more time.

Quote-
 "Every man's island, Jean Louis, every man's watchman, is his conscience.  There is no such thing as a collective conscious."

Quote-
“Men tend to carry their honesty in pigeonholes, Jean Louise.  They can be perfectly honest in some ways and fool themselves in other ways.”

Question-
 What did you think?

Questions
Does Atticus think racial differences are due to biology?  Culture?  Other factors?

Watchman was a contemporary novel when written in the mid-1950s.  What effect do the passage of time and the evolution of race relations in America have on your perspective of the book?

6 stars

8 ½ stars

Marry, Kiss, Kill by Anne Flett-Giordano
297 pages

What’s it about?
This is a classic, murder-mystery written by an interesting first time author.

What did I think?
I liked it.  It was a good whodunit.  It would be a great vacation book.  What sets it apart is Giordano’s writing.  Her characters and observations are clever and contemporary. 

Should you read it?
Anne Flett- Giordano is an Emmy winning television-writer with credits on Frasier, Hot in Cleveland, Becker and Desperate Housewives.  The plot was pretty good and the characters were interesting.  Ms. Giordano’s turn of phrase is really amusing.  Sometimes I felt she could scale back the clever a little- but overall it was good.  I enjoyed it and will look forward to the next book in the series.

Quote-
                  “She’d pushed it to the back of her mind at twenty-eight, rationalized it at thirty, and tried to broker peace with it at thirty-two, but on the eve of her thirty-seventh birthday, her eyes welled up when she passed the pretzel place that had once been her favorite Betsey Johnson store.  Nola had long ago transitioned from Betsey’s colorful hooker couture into Tommy Hilfiger’s All-American Girl, which she could already feel morphing into Donna Karan, the last stop on the road to Chico’s and death.  Even the luckiest Cinderella only go one shot at her twenties.”

Question?
Was the plot or the language the star of this book?

If you like this try-

Mysteries-
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
In the Woods by Tana French

Clever writing-
2 AM at the Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

7 1/2 stars

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
304 pages

What’s it about?
This book explores the past extinctions that have occurred on Earth.  Elizabeth Kolbert uses her journalistic skills to highlight different species through time that have become extinct.  She then discusses the very real possibility that we are in the middle of the next (sixth) extinction.

What did I think?
I thought Elizabeth Kolbert made this subject very easy to understand.  She helped me see how what is happening on our planet fits into a historical perspective.   She also won the Pulitzer prize for her efforts!

Should you read it?
It is certainly pertinent and informative.  You should read this book if you have any interest in global warming, the acidification of our oceans, or how what is happening with the earth’s climate now fits into the history of the planet.   We see that throughout history, scientists have taken the same data and come to very different conclusions.  It is certainly happening today in regards to climate change.

Quote-

                  “In times of panic, whole groups of once dominant organisms can disappear or be relegated to secondary roles, almost as if the globe has undergone a cast change.  Such wholesale losses have led paleontologists to surmise that during mass extinction events- in addition to the so-called Big Five, there have been many lesser such events- the usual rules of survival are suspended.  Conditions change so drastically or so suddenly (or so drastically and so suddenly) that evolutionary history counts for little.  Indeed, the very traits that have been most useful for dealing with ordinary threats may turn out, under such extraordinary circumstances, to be fatal.”


9 stars

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
317 pages

What’s it about?
 This novel centers around two sisters, Elf and Yoli, who come at life very differently.  Elf is a famous concert pianist who suffers from depression and desperately wants to die.  In contrast, Yoli lives a full, messy life and struggles to understand the sister she loves so dearly.  Yoli is funny, self deprecating, and a great literary character.  Miriam Toews does an amazing job of writing about a difficult subject with both humanity and humor.  It is dark material and yet the book is never dark.  

What did it make me think about?
 It made me think about mental illness (depression in particular) and the toll it takes on a family.  It also examines the role of humor and acceptance during difficult times.

Should I read it?
Warning- it did take 40 pages or so before I knew this book was a keeper.  Don't give up!  I LOVED this book.  Great characters and not much plot but I highly recommend it.  The subject matter sounds so depressing but the novel has so much humor that you never feel overwhelmed.

Quote-
"I had been standing next to Elf's stretcher in the Emergency room.  Her broken backpack hung on the IV unit next to her. I was sliding my hands back and forth on the steel railing that held her in and I was crying.  Elf took my hand, weakly, like an old dying person, and looked deeply in my eyes.

    Yoli, she said, I hate you.

    I bent to kiss her and whispered that I knew that, I was aware of it.  I hate you too. I said.

   It was the first time that we had sort of articulated our major problem. She wanted to die and I wanted her to live and we were enemies who loved each other. We held each other tenderly, awkwardly, because she was in a bed attached to things."

Question-
 Should Yoli have gone to Switzerland?

If you like this try-
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Hamid, Mohsin
The Good Luck of Right Now by Quick, Matthew

9 stars

Young God by Katherine Faw Morris
193 pages

What’s it about?
Nikki is a 13-year-old girl living in rural North Carolina.  We follow her life for a short time in this very raw novel.

What did I think?
This novel was written in a bleak, sparse style that matched the plot.   Reading this book was much like watching a train wreck- you want to look away but somehow you just don’t.   The writer has style, but her characters lack depth and you start to feel like you are being beaten with a hammer.   The best sparse, raw novels are the ones where we catch a small glimpse of goodness in the face of real sorrow.  It is one dismal day after another in Nikki’s life, with not even a glimmer of humanity or beauty.

Should you read it?
It is incredibly quick and if you like raw, bleak novels then you may enjoy this.  I think there are better books out there that are written in this style.  

Quote-
“HEROIN IS THE MOST SECRET OF THEM ALL and needles are the most secret part and she has loved secrets ever since she was a little girl.”

If you like this try-
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Elegies for the Broken Hearted by Christie Hodgen
We the Animals by Justin Torres
Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodell

2 stars

The Martian by Andy Weir
369 pages

What’s it about?
Astronaut Mark Watney becomes stranded on Mars.  He is alone and without enough resources to survive.   This suspense, thriller tells his tale with humor and LOTS of science!

What did I think?
I was expecting a science fiction book and instead I enjoyed a very unusual suspense novel.   I liked the characters, especially Mark Watney and his sense of humor.

Should you read it?
If you love science and suspense then you MUST read this book.  If you do not want to read anything about botany, chemistry or physics then find another thriller.  This book was a page-turner but it also sometimes made my eyes glaze over.  Other times I found the science really interesting.   This book is not for everyone but it is absolutely made for some readers.

Quote-
“Since Sol 6 all I’ve wanted to do was get the hell out of here.  Now the prospect of leaving the Hab behind scares the shit out of me.  I need some encouragement.  I need to ask myself, ‘What would an Apollo astronaut do’?
                  He’d drink three whiskey sours, drive his Corvette to the launchpad, then fly to the moon in a command module smaller than my Rover.  Man those guys were cool.”

Question-
Was this novel too technical for you?

If you like this try-

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
The Informationist by Taylor Stevens
Station Eleven by Hillary St. John Mandel

 8 stars

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
179 pages

What’s it about?
This is a love story set in a small Western town.   Two elderly, lonely people make a conscious decision to spend time together at night, when they are the most alone.    

What did I think?
I really like Kent Haruf’s writing style.  It is sparse and economical, yet he always conveys great depth.  This was his last novel before he died.   I loved "Plainsong".   This last book is almost like reading a lengthy version of a short story. 
 
Should you read it?
I am a sucker for a good love story!  

Quote-
“What are you doing back here?  Addie said. 

I thought it would be less likely for people to see me.

I don’t care about that.  They’ll know.  Someone will see.  Come by the front door out on the front sidewalk.  I made up my mind I’m not going to pay attention to what people think.  I’ve done that too long- all my life.  I’m not going to live that way anymore.  The alley makes it seem we’re doing something wrong or something disgraceful, to be ashamed of. “

Question-
Did you dislike Gene as much as I did?

If you like this try-
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Zevin, Gabrielle
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Simonson, Helen 
Norwegian by Night by Derek Miller


9 stars
 

On the Move by Oliver Sacks
384 pages

What’s it about?
Oliver Sacks, a well known neurologist and writer, describes the ups and downs of his career and personal life in this memoir.  Sacks makes the case that ill patients are more than a collection of symptoms.  Patients have a history and a story that play into the specific illness they are fighting.  Woven into the stories of his medical career are nighttime motorcycle rides, weight lifting in L.A., and how drugs affected his viewpoint.  

What did I think?
I found Dr. Sacks and his life very interesting.  He would be a fascinating person to have dinner with.  Dr. Sacks is not only interested in the science of his patient’s illness, but in the patient’s story as well. 

Should you read it?
I enjoyed this book, but warn you it does skip around and cover quite a range of topics.  I found the man and the science interesting but at times the book tells more than I wanted to know, and at times it assumes I know  more than I do.  

Quote-
“Individuality is deeply imbued in us from the very start, at the neuronal level. . . . We are destined, whether we wish it or not, to a life of particularity and self-development, to make our own individual paths through life.”

Question-
Is Sacks a physician who writes or a writer who practices medicine? 

If you like this try-
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

6 stars