filmlover Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 from the Huffingtonpost website this morning: Harper Lee, the author of the beloved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, will publish a second book this summer. Go Set a Watchman was completed in the 1950s, but set aside by the writer, who went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for the only novel she ever published. Lee's publisher, Harper, issued a statement this morning, in which the author said: I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn’t realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication. I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years. The news comes as a surprise for fans of the writer, as she's established a reputation as somewhat of a recluse. When a reporter released a biography of Lee and her sister Alice last year entitled The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee, the author responded by denying her involvement, stating: I was hurt, angry and saddened, but not surprised. I immediately cut off all contact with Miss Mills, leaving town whenever she headed this way. [...] Rest assured, as long as I am alive any book purporting to be with my cooperation is a falsehood. Go Set a Watchman, which will feature Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird as an adult woman, will publish on July 14. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/harper-lee-novel_n_6603994.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notan Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Thanks for letting us know, FL. It looks like it has the potential to be an interesting story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NipkowDisc Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 from the Huffingtonpost website this morning: Harper Lee, the author of the beloved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, will publish a second book this summer. Go Set a Watchman was completed in the 1950s, but set aside by the writer, who went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for the only novel she ever published. Lee's publisher, Harper, issued a statement this morning, in which the author said: The news comes as a surprise for fans of the writer, as she's established a reputation as somewhat of a recluse. When a reporter released a biography of Lee and her sister Alice last year entitled The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee, the author responded by denying her involvement, stating: I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn’t realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication. I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years. Go Set a Watchman, which will feature Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird as an adult woman, will publish on July 14. I was hurt, angry and saddened, but not surprised. I immediately cut off all contact with Miss Mills, leaving town whenever she headed this way. [...] Rest assured, as long as I am alive any book purporting to be with my cooperation is a falsehood. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/harper-lee-novel_n_6603994.html I finally got it! Atticus Finch is a bird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barton_Keyes Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 To me, this news is kind of a double-edged sword. On the one side, I adore Harper Lee's style of writing in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and would love to experience more of that. But then I start to wonder what more any writer could have left to say after a masterpiece like that. And part of the allure of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is that it is the author's only published novel, so I can't help but fear that the reputation and prominence of this great piece of literature may suffer with the release of a sequel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markfp2 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 To me, this news is kind of a double-edged sword. On the one side, I adore Harper Lee's style of writing in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and would love to experience more of that. But then I start to wonder what more any writer could have left to say after a masterpiece like that. And part of the allure of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is that it is the author's only published novel, so I can't help but fear that the reputation and prominence of this great piece of literature may suffer with the release of a sequel. Being that TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of my very favorite books and the movie is one of my favorites too, I'm looking forward to the new book. I'm not going into it with any expectations at all because the original is so perfect, that even Harper Lee may have a hard time topping herself. Whether it's good, bad, or great, I'll welcome the opportunity to read it. Even if it turns out to be a stinker, the original is so solid in it's reputation that it can't be harmed. Look how many great movies have had poor sequals and are still highly regarded. I think if anything, there will be a renewed interests and a re-appriciation of the origianal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Here's a USA Today Q and A piece about the new (old) book, with links to other stories about it: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2015/02/03/harper-lee-to-go-set-a-watchman-questions/22819271/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 MOCKINGBIRD, both novel and movie, are close to the tops of their respective lists in my mind. I don't know if this new novel CAN be bad enough to diminish the power and impact of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, as subsequent stories involving JAMES BOND, agent 007 in several IAN FLEMING novels didn't diminish people's allure to that character. And face it, after also reading several volumes of Fleming's writings, To me, Harper Lee is the better writer! Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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