Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

     When I first heard that Harper Lee had written another book with the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, I was equally shocked and excited.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books!  So, needless to say, as soon as Go Set a Watchman was released, I rushed out to buy my copy.

     Before beginning the book, I read some of the comments posted online by people who had already finished it.  I was so disappointed and upset to read those comments.  Many people felt the book didn't live up to its expectations.  I disagree.

      Go Set a Watchman is not To Kill a Mockingbird.  However, it wasn't meant to be.  It was written before the classic, and it gives readers a deeper insight into the characters we grew to love.  As I was reading this book, I felt like I was reconnecting with old friends.  Scout, Atticus, Aunt Alexandra . . . they are all there.  Harper Lee gives us more information about the main characters, and it helps us to understand them better.

     In this book, Jean Louise is a grown woman living in New York City.  She returns to Maycomb to visit Atticus, whose health is failing.  There are glimpses into Scout's childhood (memories that include Jem and Dill), and we learn more about the Finch family, as does Jean Louise.  In fact, during her visit, she learns some things about her family and her town that make her question what she has always believed to be true.    

     I loved this book!  Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird owe it to themselves to read it!  It is fascinating to follow Harper Lee's growth as a writer and to see the development of her characters; to connect what is revealed in this book back to the classic.  I am thankful Harper Lee agreed to publish this book.  We still have much to learn from her and the characters in her stories!